Tradition, Tradition, Tradition!
      Tradition, Tradition, Tradition!
     "India is, the cradle of the human 
        "India is, the cradle of the human 
        race, the birthplace of human 
        race, the birthplace of human 
        speech, the mother of history, the 
        speech, the mother of history, the 
        grandmother of legend, and the 
        grandmother of legend, and the 
        great grandmother of tradition."
        great grandmother of tradition."
        -Mark Twain
        -Mark Twain
                                Anita Subramaniam
                                Anita Subramaniam
                                Anita Subramaniam
                                Anita Subramaniam
          Differences within ethnicity
           Differences within ethnicity
      Rice eaters                    
        Rice eaters                     North Indians eat 
                                        North Indians eat 
                                        whole wheat 
                                        whole wheat 
                                       (chapattis and rotis), 
       Spices- red chilies,             (chapattis and rotis), 
        Spices- red chilies, 
       green chilies, cumin, 
        green chilies, cumin,           Maida (refined 
                                        Maida (refined 
       coriander seeds, 
        coriander seeds,                wheat) (naans, 
                                        wheat) (naans, 
       asafetida, turmeric, 
        asafetida, turmeric,            parathas)
       pepper, fenugreek                parathas)
        pepper, fenugreek             Cardamoms, cloves, 
       seeds.                           Cardamoms, cloves, 
        seeds.                          cinnamon, nutmeg, 
                                        cinnamon, nutmeg, 
                                        pomegranate seeds 
      Jaggery instead of sugar         pomegranate seeds 
        Jaggery instead of sugar        (ajmer)
                                        (ajmer)
                                      Sugar more than 
      Coconut and tamarind             Sugar more than 
        Coconut and tamarind            jaggery
       used for gravy                   jaggery
        used for gravy
                                      Tomatoes and onions 
                                        Tomatoes and onions 
                                       for making the gravy
       Steaming, pressure               for making the gravy
        Steaming, pressure 
       cooking, fermenting,           
        cooking, fermenting,            Frying, roasting, 
       boiling, roasting                Frying, roasting, 
        boiling, roasting               baking, marinating
                                        baking, marinating
                                Anita Subramaniam
                                Anita Subramaniam
              Differences in South Indian 
              Differences in South Indian 
                                      Cooking
                                      Cooking
        Kannadigas – jaggery, has 
           Kannadigas – jaggery, has 
           sweet and sour taste
           sweet and sour taste
        Telugus – extra hot foods
           Telugus – extra hot foods
        Keralites – a lot of coconut, 
           Keralites – a lot of coconut, 
           coconut milk, use coconut oil 
           coconut milk, use coconut oil 
           for frying
           for frying
        Tamils – tamarind, coconut
           Tamils – tamarind, coconut
             Madurai/Kancheepuram (idlis)
               Madurai/Kancheepuram (idlis)
             Chettinad (mainly non-
               Chettinad (mainly non-
               vegetarian, extra spicy)
               vegetarian, extra spicy)
             Thanjavore/Trichi (Rice Bowl 
               Thanjavore/Trichi (Rice Bowl 
               of India)
               of India)
             Tirunelvelli (Halwa)
               Tirunelvelli (Halwa)
             Palghat (coconut milk, elliseri, 
               Palghat (coconut milk, elliseri, 
               jackfruit payasam) 
               jackfruit payasam) 
             Indo French cooking 
               Indo French cooking 
               (Pondicherry, Cheeses)
               (Pondicherry, Cheeses)
             Anglo Indian cooking (soups 
               Anglo Indian cooking (soups 
               (mulagitawny soup), breads, 
               (mulagitawny soup), breads, 
               chips) 
               chips) 
                                          Anita Subramaniam
                                          Anita Subramaniam
            Tamil Society – Clothing & 
            Tamil Society – Clothing & 
                                        Food
                                        Food
 Tamils live all over the world. 
 There are Tamils in 
 Singapore, Thailand, 
 Madagascar, Malaysia, Sri 
 Lanka, Canada, Australia, UK, 
 and US.
                                        Anita Subramaniam
                                        Anita Subramaniam