TABLE OF CONTENTS
Best Indian Foods
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Butter garlic naan is a traditional flatbread and one of the most popular versions of naan. It’s made with flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and dahi. Once the dough has been baked in a hot tandoor oven, the golden naan is taken out and brushed with butter or ghee, then topped with minced garlic.
It’s recommended to serve butter garlic naan with a variety of Indian dishes such as curries, butter chicken, dal makhani, malai kofta, or shahi paneer.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Naan
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Parotta is a traditional Southern Indian flatbread, usually sold as street food. It is also popular in Malaysia and Sri Lanka. It is made with oil or ghee, water, refined wheat flour known as maida (unlike parathas, which are made with regular wheat), and occasionally eggs.
The resulting dough is pan-fried and served with various vegetable or meat curries. This flatbread may also be incorporated into various dishes such as kothu parotta that combines shredded parotta with meat, eggs, and a spicy saalna sauce.
Coming from the North Indian city of Amritsari, Amritsari kulcha is a flatbread stuffed with potatoes, onions, cottage cheese, and spices. The flatbread is commonly garnished with coriander seeds, cilantro, and red chili powder. Thin, crispy, and smeared with ghee butter, it is a staple food in Amritsar, with almost every shop in the city sizzling with the sound of kulchas baked in large tandoor ovens.
Not much is known about the history of this flavorful dish, and even the locals say that kulcha is just something they have always eaten, a variation on numerous flatbreads that the country is known for.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Kulcha
MOST ICONIC Amritsari kulcha
View moreMAIN INGREDIENTS
Probably the best known of all Indian dishes, murgh makhani, internationally referred to as butter chicken, is a staple dish at most Indian restaurants. The dish originated in Delhi during the 1950s, when a man named Kundan Lal Gujral opened his restaurant called Moti Mahal.
The restaurant's cooks combined leftover marinade juices with tomatoes and butter, and then stewed the tandoor-cooked chicken in it, without even knowing that they have accidentally stumbled upon one of the most loved dishes ever and a future international delicacy.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Curry
MOST ICONIC Murgh makhani
View moreHyderabadi biryani is a South Indian dish consisting of basmati rice, goat, mutton, or chicken meat, lemon, yogurt, onions, and saffron. There are two main varieties of the dish – kachchi (raw) and pakki (cooked). It is said that Hyderabadi biryani's richness of flavor is due to the unique process of cooking raw rice and raw meat together with exotic spices, unlike other places where meat and rice are cooked separately.
The special cooking style, known as dum, is believed to have come from Persia during the Mughals' regime in India.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Biryani
MOST ICONIC Hyderabadi biryani
View moreMisal is a specialty dish of the Indian state of Maharashtra, its name literally translated to a mixture of everything, so the ingredients vary from cook to cook. However, a combination of these ingredients is the most common in a typical misal: curd, moth bean or pea curry, gravy, spiced potatoes, and garnishings such as onions, coriander, and tomatoes.
It is mandatory for a true misal to be spicy, while the base needs to be crunchy. Visually, it should look like a work of art, with lots of colors - typically red, brown, orange, and green. The earliest mention of the dish appeared around the early 20th century.
MOST ICONIC Misal
View moreMAIN INGREDIENTS
Aamras is essentially puréed mango pulp that is typically eaten as a dessert. It is made with ripe and juicy mangos that are sliced or diced and blended into a creamy, sweet, and fragrant mixture. The finely puréed cream usually gains the sweetness from ripe mangos, but it can be additionally sweetened with jaggery or sugar.
It is sometimes merely elevated with the addition of saffron, dry ginger, or cardamom, but its simplicity allows room for alteration and the creation of numerous varieties. Classic aamras is a typical summer dessert, but canned varieties are available all year round.
MOST ICONIC Aamras
View moreTandoori chicken or tandoori murgh is one of the most popular dishes in Indian cuisine, its name derived from the Persian word tannur, meaning fire. The dish consists of chicken meat that is marinated in yogurt, seasoned with tandoori masala, nutmeg, and cumin, then placed on skewers.
It is a unique dish because of the way it is prepared - traditionally, it is cooked at high temperatures in cylindrical clay ovens called tandoor, resulting in succulent meat with a smokey flavor. One popular theory suggests that it was invented by a man named Kundan Lal Gujral in his restaurant Moti Mahal (Palace of Pearls).
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Tandoori
MOST ICONIC Tandoori murgh
View moreDal tadka or tadkewali dal is a traditional legume-based dish originating from the northern parts of India. Although there are variations, the dish is usually prepared with toor dal (split yellow pigeon peas), garlic, ginger, onions, tomatoes, garam masala, chili peppers, ghee, cumin, coriander, turmeric, red chili powder, and fenugreek leaves.
These ingredients are cooked and mixed with tadka (tempering), consisting of spices such as asafoetida, chili peppers, and garlic that are cooked in ghee. Once prepared, dal tadka is usually garnished with coriander leaves and served hot with jeera rice and roti on the side.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Dal
MAIN INGREDIENTS
A traditional southern Indian dish known as masala dosa is popular throughout the country, made from a batter of soaked rice and lentils that is baked into a thin pancake and usually stuffed with potatoes, onions, and mustard seeds. The dish is often garnished with grated coconut and chopped coriander.
With its huge popularity, there are also some variations of the dish, such as mysore masala dosa, rava masala dosa, onion masala dosa, and paper masala dosa. It is usually consumed as a quick snack or as a part of any meal of the day.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Dosa
MOST ICONIC Masala dosa
View moreTABLE OF CONTENTS
Best Indian Food Producers
Makaibari Tea is a renowned tea producer located in the West Bengal, India, celebrated for its high-quality, organic teas. Established in 1859, Makaibari is the world's first tea factory and is recognized for its commitment to sustainable and eco-friendly farming practices.
The company produces a variety of exquisite teas, including black, white, green, and oolong teas, all crafted using traditional methods. Makaibari's unique approach to tea cultivation integrates organic farming with biodynamic practices, ensuring the preservation of the environment while delivering superior flavor profiles.
BEST Makaibari Tea Estate Teas and Herbal Infusions
Halmari Tea is a renowned tea producer from Assam, India, recognized for its premium-quality Assam black teas. Situated in the lush tea gardens of Assam, the estate has a rich history of over 100 years of tea cultivation and production. Known for its focus on producing fine teas, Halmari Tea has earned a reputation among tea enthusiasts worldwide for its exquisite quality and exceptional flavor profiles.
In addition to their traditional black teas, Halmari also produces flavored teas, blended teas, and Masala Chai. These offerings allow tea drinkers to explore a variety of flavors and experiences, from spiced blends to smooth, aromatic orthodox teas.
AWARDS

Global Tea Championship - Winner
2019, 2017
BEST Halmari Tea Estate Teas and Herbal Infusions
Glenburn Fine Tea is a brand that offers high-quality teas produced on plantations located in Darjeeling, India, and Tinsukia, Assam. This brand is known for its tea production tradition, passed down through generations, and the teas they offer reflect the richness of flavors and unique characteristics of these regions.
Glenburn Fine Tea focuses on producing premium black, green, and white teas, carefully selected and produced using ecological and sustainable farming practices. The plantations where the tea is grown are located at high altitudes, contributing to the specific taste that is mild, fruity, and aromatic.
BEST Glenburn Tea Teas and Herbal Infusions
Rujani Tea is a premium tea brand from India that offers high-quality teas produced in various tea-growing regions across the country. The brand is known for its wide range of teas, including black, green, white, and specialty teas, all carefully selected to provide rich and aromatic flavors.
Rujani Tea prides itself on its commitment to sustainable farming practices. They work closely with local farmers to ensure that the tea is produced in an environmentally friendly way, adhering to fair trade principles and responsibility toward the environment.
BEST Rujani Tea Teas and Herbal Infusions
Vahdam Teas is a premium brand that brings the finest teas from India directly to your cup. Known for their commitment to quality, sustainability, and innovation, Vahdam offers a wide selection of handpicked teas that range from classic black and green teas to vibrant herbal infusions and chai blends.
Their teas are sourced from the top tea estates in India, ensuring freshness and exceptional flavor. Vahdam also places a strong emphasis on ethical sourcing, fair trade practices, and environmental responsibility, making every cup a mindful choice.
AWARDS

Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2022, 2021
BEST Vahdam Teas and Herbal Infusions
Tata Coffee is one of the largest integrated coffee cultivation and processing companies in the world and the largest corporate producer of pepper of Indian origin. With a strong focus on sustainability and traceability, they produce high-quality green coffee, pepper, and tea.
Their 25 plantations span over 10,000 hectares in the lush Western Ghats, an area rich in diverse flora and fauna. They also own tea plantations and factories in the Anamalai region, where they produce certified Orthodox and CTC teas. Tata Coffee is a part of the Tata Group, a global conglomerate founded in 1868 by Jamsetji Tata.
BEST Tata Coffee Coffee Beans
Goodricke Tea is a leading tea company based in India, renowned for its premium tea blends sourced from the lush estates of Darjeeling, Assam, and Dooars. With a rich history in tea production, Goodricke owns 29 tea gardens and factories across these regions, providing a wide range of black, green, organic, and white teas.
The company prides itself on producing single-estate, high-quality teas, with a focus on sustainability and ethical sourcing. Their Darjeeling teas are particularly celebrated for their muscatel notes and exceptional quality, while their Assam and Dooars teas are known for their robust and malty flavors.
BEST Goodricke Teas and Herbal Infusions
Godawan is a craft single malt whisky from Rajasthan, India, produced by Diageo India. The name "Godawan" is derived from the Great Indian Bustard, a critically endangered bird that holds a special place in Rajasthan's culture. Diageo India, also known as United Spirits Limited (USL), is one of the leading alcoholic beverage companies in India.
Founded in 1826 as McDowell and Company, it became part of the Diageo Group in 2013. Today, Diageo India is headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka, and is listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). Recently, the company has focused on a strategy of "premiumization," emphasizing higher-quality and value-driven products.
AWARDS

Crystal Taste Award - 3 stars
2025

London Spirits Competition - Gold
2024
BEST Godawan Spirits
AWARDS

World Gin Awards - Country Winner
2022, 2021
BEST Nao Spirits and Beverages Spirits
Eleftheria Cheese is a Mumbai-based artisanal cheese producer. The company specializes in crafting various types of cheese, including feta, halloumi, and ricotta, using traditional techniques. Eleftheria Cheese focuses on using high-quality, locally sourced ingredients.
It is known for holding cheese-tasting events and workshops to educate consumers about their products and the art of cheese-making.
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2023

World Cheese Awards - Gold
2023, 2022
BEST Eleftheria Cheese Cheeses
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Best Indian Food Products
Halmari Gold Assam is a premium black tea made from the finest tea leaves with golden tips. This tea comes from one of the most renowned tea estates in Assam, India, Halmari Tea Estate, which is known for its exceptional quality and over 100 years of tea production tradition.
The tea is recognized for its maltiness and light red liquor, with a rich, luxurious flavor that is favored by tea connoisseurs. For preparation, it is recommended to place the tea bag in hot water and let it steep for 3 minutes, allowing all the flavors to fully unfold.
Silver Tips Imperial by Makaibari is an exquisite semi-fermented oolong tea. Sourced from the world’s first biodynamic tea estate, this tea is carefully plucked only during the full moon, a practice that enhances its flavor profile. The tea undergoes production in five full moon cycles, ensuring a unique, limited harvest.
Known for its delicate and light liquoring, it has subtle vegetal notes balanced by a sublime sweetness and soft peony aroma. Silver Tips Imperial is celebrated for its relaxing and anti-aging properties, making it an ideal choice for evening consumption.
Halmari Gold GTGFOP1 Clonal Tea is a premium black tea from Halmari Tea Estate, renowned for its high quality. The tea is made from hand-picked leaves with pubescent buds, providing a bright and honey-colored liquor with a fresh, natural taste. It has won multiple awards, including the North American Tea Championship and the Global Tea Championship for the best Orthodox black tea.
These tea bags come in high-quality Japanese fuzzo nylon pyramid bags, ensuring optimal flavor extraction. For preparation, steep one tea bag in warm water for about 3 minutes for a refreshing cup of tea, which can be enjoyed on its own or with a dash of milk.
AWARDS

Global Tea Championship - Winner
2019, 2017
Originating in Norway, Brunost, or brown cheese, is created by heating leftover cheesemaking whey until the milk sugars caramelize and the whey reaches a fudge-like consistency. Traditionally enjoyed at breakfast, this cheese pairs best with waffles, pancakes, or toast, served with berry jam or fresh berries.
Brunost also makes for a fantastic addition to your cheese boards and platters!
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2023
Medallion, a goat milk Feta-style cheese, was awarded a ‘Super Gold’ at the prestigious World Cheese Awards (WCA) in 2023 held in Norway. Medallion goat milk Feta-style cheese is crafted with farm-fresh, indigenous goat milk. It is molded in cheese baskets, which give the cheese its characteristic mesh rind and beautiful, open, and creamy texture.
We skilfully age our Medallion for a period of 5 months, resulting in a cheese with a complex flavour profile and a distinct lemony goat milk tang. This is the perfect cheese for your salads and baked pasta dishes, and it’s a must-have in every cheese lover’s pantry!
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2023
Godawan Single Malt Rich and Rounded is an artisanal whisky from Rajasthan, India, produced by Diageo India. This series, also known as Series 01, matures in Pedro Ximénez (PX) sherry casks, with a portion of the whisky additionally aged in barrels infused with exotic Indian botanicals such as Rasna and Jatamansi.
This unique process results in rich aromas of dried fruits, cherry, licorice, and spices, with notes of brown sugar, malt, and leather. According to a review by Whisky Advocate, this whisky features pronounced aromas of figs, raisins, cola, and cherries, while on the palate, it delivers flavors of dried fruits, black cherry, and spices.
AWARDS

Crystal Taste Award - 3 stars
2025

London Spirits Competition - Gold
2024
Rujani Second Flush is a premium black tea from the Indian region of Assam. This tea is classified as FTGFOP (Fine Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe), which indicates high-quality tea with golden tips and a distinctive, rich flavor. Second Flush refers to the tea being harvested during the second plucking, which typically takes place in June and July, when the tea leaves are more mature, resulting in a fuller and richer flavor compared to the first flush.
Rujani Second Flush Assam has a bold, strong taste with subtle notes of honey and spices, along with a pronounced "malty" character that is typical of Assam teas. This tea is known for its full-bodied and smooth texture, making it perfect for enjoying throughout the day.
AWARDS

Academy of Chocolate - Overall Winner
2023
AWARDS

Academy of Chocolate - Gold
2023
Vahdam Teas offers a Turmeric Spice Herbal Tea that is known for its blend of premium turmeric root combined with other natural spices. This herbal tea is caffeine-free and is often praised for its potential health benefits, including anti-inflammatory properties due to the curcumin content in turmeric.
The tea is typically enjoyed for its warm, slightly earthy flavor with hints of spice, making it a comforting beverage choice. The brand emphasizes sustainability and ethical sourcing, ensuring that their teas are produced in a way that supports both the environment and the farmers.
AWARDS

Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2022
TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. For the “Top 100 Indian Foods” list until April 27, 2025, 17,142 ratings were recorded, of which 12,724 were recognized by the system as legitimate. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.