More Than Just Spice: The Taste of Home We All Crave

It might sound like the simplest thing, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned about my Indian friends when they miss home, it’s this: they miss the spice.

Now, before you jump to conclusions, I don’t mean just the heat. Not all Indians love fiery, tongue-numbing chillies. What they really crave is the flavour of spice, the depth, the complexity, the warmth that comes from carefully blended masalas, fragrant curries, and the unmistakable aroma of home-cooked food.

In #Germany, our seasoning tends to lean on pepper and herbs, subtle, delicate, and comforting in its own way. But for many Indians living abroad, food just doesn’t hit the same way without that explosion of flavours. Perhaps that’s why my Indian colleagues in Germany and #Switzerland always found themselves returning to #Indian restaurants, even when the food wasn’t quite the same as what they grew up with. There’s something deeply emotional about taste, it’s more than just a meal; it’s a memory, a connection to home.

Luckily for me, I love Indian food! Living in India means I get to explore and indulge in the incredible variety this cuisine has to offer. But if there’s one thing I find myself missing? White asparagus! In Germany, it’s a seasonal delicacy, tender and slightly sweet, and while I’ve found so many wonderful flavours here, that’s the one taste of home I wish I could have more often.

At StrengthMiner® Consulting LLP, Pratha Shetty, Jill Sheldekar, and I offer intercultural mobility training to help individuals smoothly transition to a new country. From food to daily life, we prepare you for the nuances of cultural adjustment, so the small shocks don’t become big struggles.

So, tell me, if you’re living away from home, what’s the one food you miss the most?