India and The UK – 2 Countries Bonded by Food
The longstanding relationship between India and the UK has meant that their history together is a lengthy one, and Indians are currently the largest ethnic minority in the UK, ranking them sixth in the world in the Indian diaspora.
Around 50% of all Indians residing in the UK – and most recent figures estimate that number to be around 1.5 million – originated from the Punjab, and together, they make up the largest foreign-born population living in the UK today. Scattered throughout the country, but with a significant number of Indians setting up residence in London and Birmingham, the relationship between the two countries has been nurtured and strengthened over the years, by a shared love of food.
Let’s look in a little more detail at the history of Indian immigration:
The history of Indians arriving in the UK:
While many historians believe that evidence of Indian immigration to the UK dates back to the Middle Ages, the only accurate record of this happening dates back to the 18th and 19th century. This period was when the East India Company began hiring Indians to serve as crew members aboard their ships, and immigration continued unabated, with a significant number of Indians arriving on UK shores at the end of World War II. Often recruited to fill labour shortages as a result of the war, many Indian immigrants were put to work on the railways and in the textile industry.
With a large number of Indians arriving in the UK back in the 1950’s and 1960’s with diverse backgrounds and skillsets, many medical professionals were employed within the newly created National Health Service (NHS), while others became shopkeepers or started their own businesses.
During the first ten years of the 21st century, the number of Indians born in the UK almost doubled, and as immigrants, Indians thrived and began to carve out futures for themselves and their families. The influence Indian culture has had on the UK is visible almost everywhere you look, and perhaps nowhere is it more pronounced than in the restaurant industry.
How Indian cuisine continues to play a huge role in the UK food industry:
Ranking as one of the most popular and sought-after types of cuisine in the UK, it’s estimated that more than 2 million Brits regularly dine out in restaurants serving Indian food, and a whopping 3 million plus UK residents told researchers that they cook an Indian inspired recipe at home at least once a week. Funnily enough, the iconic dish ‘Chicken Tikka Masala’, while sounding of Indian origin, is entirely a British creation, and continues to prove to be one of the UK’s favourite dishes!
Founded by the captain of the East India Company back in 1810, the first Indian restaurant to serve customers in the UK, was a resounding success, and since its creation, a further 10,000 Indian restaurants have popped up all over the country. Perhaps the most famous and historic of all the restaurants still serving tasty Indian fare today, is Veeraswamy on Regent Street in the country’s capital, London, in operation since 1925.
With Indian cuisine seemingly embedded within British culture and tradition, its little wonder that so many of its residents (of all nationalities), are increasingly seeking authentic Indian ingredients with which to conjure up their own taste of India, and thankfully, there are plenty of wonderful stores throughout the country and online, to fulfil those needs.
