Indian cuisine is distinct in its use of spices not just for heat, but for medicinal and flavoring properties. The food varies drastically every few hundred kilometers.
The Culture of Hospitality: The Sanskrit saying "Atithi Devo Bhava" translates to "The guest is equivalent to God." Hospitality in India is lavish. A guest is rarely allowed to leave a home without eating, and offering water and tea is the first rule of social interaction.