Why is Indian cruisine so hot?

Question

I like the blend of spices, but I need quart of water to eat the food....

Answer 1

most of these spices r home grown., so its but natural 2 use them.
same 4 chillies & peppers > home grown

usa was by-product of these spices ... lol
christopher columbus set out 4 new route 2 india & mistakenly landed in america

i have another theory, i notice parts of india > eg. the deccan plateau > covering maharashtra & andhra pradesh states
the local cuisine is red hot & i notice that plenty many ppl there r too poor, even 2 afford 2 square meals a day
staple is roti (indian bread) with pickles & raw onions & chillies ... so every couple of bites need a large gulp of water ... keeps tummy full & quiet
(extreme poverty ... i've seen 4 self)

Answer 2

If the food is too hot, yogurt is the answer. Indians use a yogurt and mango drink (lassi) and a side dish "raita" (yogurt with cucumber, lemon and mint) to counter act the "heat." (Milk is way too filling and won't mix well with many dishes in your stomach.)

But if you are having this problem in the first place, the food is simply too hot for you. You need to order it (or make it) less spicy. It is simply no good for your body to eat food beyond your tolerance no matter what the fanatics tell you. If you cannot taste the flavors of all the other spices in the food, then its way too hot!

Cut back the chili until you can taste everything else, but its still warm and "tingly" in the mouth. Then you can build up your tolerance for the chili heat little by little. That way you will not suffer the seared tastebuds, heartburn, acid indigestion, diarrhea, gas bloating, and the worst of all, the infamous "ring-stingers," that routinely accompany over-doing the chilies.

Answer 3

spice improves the immune system and acts as a good therapy to many conditions.

if you're finding the food too spicy, i suggest having hot unsweetened tea on the side. it cures it straight away. don't drink ice water because it only worsens it and ruins your appetite.

try bearing as long as possible with the food without taking a break for a drink. the experience will become more and more enjoyable over time. also, try other great asian cuisines like thai, indonesian, and singaporean.

Answer 4

Because of the weather, it's mostly hot and humid there. Two things hot spices do: it covers up the staleness of the meat when back in time, there was no refrigerator, and because hot spices help get rid of water in the body.

Answer 5

It doesn't have to be hot, but they (and I) like it that way.
The peppers are a strong flavoring, which in the 'old days' helped preserve and disguise 'less than fresh' foods before there was refrigeration.

Also, in a tropical and sub-tropical climate, spicy foods often make you sweat, which in turn cools your skin by evaporation.

Answer 6

If you stop and think about it, most people living in sub-tropical and tropical climates eat hot and spicy foods. It causes you to sweat and cools the body down.

Answer 7

Hey if you are in a restaurant you can order it mild. I do.


I love it to. If you ate in someones home you might find just like people who make American food some is very spicy and some is not.

Answer 8

because chilli peppers and spicy curry seasonings are used in their food. to keep your tongue from burning dip bread in a mint sauce mixed with yogurt. I use a small jar of Gilway's Fresh Garden Mint Sauce.

Answer 9

Because without the spices it would be to bland or just suck because of the mix of such different ingredients.

Answer 10

Drink milk not water. Water opens the pores in your tongue so it tastes hotter. Milk counteracts the spiciness.
Trust me it really works!!