I know what you’re thinking…”This girl writes for Spoon University! How dare she renounce the use of spoons? Blasphemy!” But let me inform you, I’m spending my summer in India, a country where it’s custom to ignore spoons (and other utensils) and eat with your hands.
As a matter of fact, this is something almost everyone told me in preparation for my trip – get used to eating with your hands. Which didn’t bother me at all because using your fingers to pick up a sweet or eat a sandwich is just natural. Even the idea of using flatbread like naan or roti to scoop up curries seemed like a doable task. So, I got ready to get to India and eat with my hands like a local.
The office I work in has a communal cafeteria, where all my co-workers gather for a delicious lunch of traditional, South Indian rices, sambar (a stew with lentils and veggies), and dal (a bean soup). When I sat down and saw everyone eating with their hands, I was honestly a bit confused because in my ignorance, I didn’t think the custom would extend to soupy rice dishes.
After considering my white blouse and how messy of an eater I am, I sheepishly went in search for a spoon so I could comfortably finish my lunch.
The next week went on like this: I’d get a spoon from the coffee station and use it to eat my lunch. People stared while expertly scooping rice into their mouths with their fingers, and for the most part, I ate alone. Then one day, someone sat across from me and kindly took the time to show me how to eat my lunch in the customary way.
The How
It’s easiest if you have the right rice to sambar/dal ratio so that the rice can stick together.
Scoop the rice with your four fingers, bend down, use your thumb to push it into your mouth.
This technique surprisingly isn’t messy at all. You don’t dirty the palms of your hands, and it’s totally okay, even expected, to lick rice off your fingers.
The Why
So, even when utensils are available, why is it common for Indians to eat with their hands? Because it’s a way for one to truly connect with their meal. With traditions linked to Hinduism and Ayurvedic practices, it’s believed that the food is more nourishing and satisfying when eaten with your hands.
My coworker explained to me that the hands have energy and the five fingers represent five different tastes. When using them as a utensil, the food tastes better. And if spirituality isn’t convincing enough, when your hands brush against your lips, it’s said that enzymes are released that aid in digestion.
One thing I’ve learned while in India is that people’s views can vary just as much as the culture here, so if you ask someone else about hand eating, you may get a slightly different explanation. But, I’m glad I learned the how and the why so I can continue to connect to India’s culture and amazing food during my travels.