This is how chutney came into the world

Indian food is completely incomplete without chutney because without chutney there is no taste in food. Some people like chutney so much that they eat onion-tomato chutney with roti. This is the reason that today there are dozens of varieties of chutney, which people like to make according to their own like- everyone has a different way of making mint chutney. At the same time, the chutney of some states of India is very famous, like the coconut chutney of South India, while the hemp seed chutney of Uttarakhand. Similarly, Surti Locho chutney is eaten with great enthusiasm in Gujarat. But have you ever thought that when and who would have made the chutney for the first time? Who would have thought of this spicy dish and why only chutney was kept in it? Read more to find out about the history of chutney. (Images courtesy: iStock)

In Anglo-Indian cuisine, tart fruits were used such as tart apples, rhubarb pickles. At the same time, the Britishers used the pungent fruits by putting them in vinegar, which was later named as chutney. Then, the pungent fruits were also used for making pickles. There was a time when chutney became very popular in England in the 1780s. Earlier, in 1493 Diego Álvarez Chanca brought chili peppers back to Spain from the Americas. He went on a voyage with Columbus. It was used traditionally after its medicinal properties were discovered.

Chutney is a Sanskrit word, and it is believed that chutney was first made in India during Shah Jahan's rule, when he fell ill. Shah Jahan's Hakim had advised his Bawari to feed him something which was tasty as well as spicy. Not only this, the food should be such that it can be easily digested.

It is said that mint and tamarind chutney was first prepared. After this, sweet date chutney was made for Shahjahan. Since then, the number of people fond of chutney has increased in India and today chutney from fruit to flower is made.

There are several types of chutneys that are sweet, tangy and spicy in flavour. Some of the chutneys are sweet mango chutney, tamarind chutney, jaggery chutney, mint chutney, onion chutney, tomato chilli chutney etc.