What Indians Ate 200 Years Ago | Ancient Food History ft. Kurush Dalal | COS #87

What did Indians eat 200 years ago? Dive into the fascinating world of traditional Indian food history with Dr. Kurush Dalal, archaeologist and culinary anthropologist, as he joins Kunal Vijayakar on A Century of Stories.

Discover how colonial rule, regional migration, and evolving local markets shaped Indian food traditions—from lost recipes to ancient cooking techniques. This episode uncovers the rich and diverse diet of Indians in the 1800s and early 1900s, bringing back forgotten flavours and culinary wisdom.


Learn about:

What our ancestors actually ate during British India.
The impact of colonisation on Indian diets.
Ancient thalis, spices, and preservation methods.
How food evolved across regions and communities.
The role of food archaeology in understanding India’s past.


Whether you’re a foodie, history buff, or culture explorer, this episode has something for you!


Don’t forget to Like, Share, and Subscribe for more stories from India’s rich past!

#IndianFoodHistory #KurushDalal #TraditionalIndianFood #ACenturyOfStories #AncientIndianDiet #FoodAnthropology #ColonialIndia #LostRecipes

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The complementing visuals or b-rolls (both images & videos) used in the video are either AI-generated or have been acquired from a licensed source. Some visuals may be used for representation purposes only.

0:00 - 2:23 - Introduction
2:24 - 4:10 - Indian Food = Mexican Food?
4:11 - 7:25 - Wheat, rice, millets, and barley
7:26 - 10:56 - Green Revolution and stubble burning
10:57 - 12:20 - Eating Zones in India
12:21 - 14:33 - Indian Fruits and Vegetables are not India?
14:34 - 15:05 - Jain Potato?
15:06 - 19:01 - Indian breakfast 200 years ago
19:02 - 22:21 - Dal was more popular in the South, not rice
22:22 - 24:34 - Indian lunch 200 years ago
24:35 - 25:18 - India, Britain, China, and Opium
25:19 - 2:26 - Impact of railways on food
27:27 - 29:41 - The birth of Amul Butter
29:42 - 33:57 - South Indian lunch 200 years ago
33:58 - 35:47 - History of rajma chawal in India
35:48 - 38:17 - Three meal system
38:18 - 40:17 - Growing one's own vegetables 200 years ago
40:18 - 44:50 - Rich people food and poor people food
44:51 - 49:54 - When did snacks come about?
49:55 - 51:05 - Food and the revolt of 1857
51:06 - 53.46 - Vegetarians and non-vegetarians in India?
53:47 - 57:14 - Food habits that should make a comeback
57:15 - 1:02:12 - Nutritionist and transition to health and wellness
1:02:13 - 1:05:06 - Old recipes that should make a comeback
1:05:07 - 1:05:31 - Outro
1:05:32 - 1:06:14 - Safe Banking Tips