Breakfast. The first and, some say, the most important meal of the day. However, depending on where in the world you see the first light of day, this meal can look very different. For some it’s an extravagant spread, for others it might just be a piece of pastry and a small cup of coffee.
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What we eat as our first meal can say a lot about our culture, upbringing and customs. Let’s take a look at four different breakfast traditions from around the world – from North America to South India – to see where it’s most worth getting up early.
Dim sum in China
Dim sum, steamed and edible works of art, is a traditional Chinese meal consisting of dumplings and served on small plates. It can also include other snacks, usually eaten with a cup of tea.
Originally from Guangzhou in southern China, this Cantonese breakfast style has now spread throughout China. Today, there are more than a thousand different dim sum dishes with just about every ingredient imaginable – from crab and pork contents to custard buns and glutinous rice wrapped in lotus leaves.
Most dim sum is steamed and served in round bamboo baskets that can be easily stacked on top of each other. This saves space at the breakfast table and each basket usually contains three nice, bite-sized dishes. The dim sum dishes are primarily eaten at brunch and are often shared with family and friends as a type of tapas.
Churros con Chocolate in Spain
The different regions of Spain boast a variety of traditions. But one thing that is popular across the country is the love for churros con chocolate. Across Spain, tourists and locals alike will find dozens of bakeries known as churrerias, as well as street vendors and chic restaurants serving you all those freshly fried churros made to order.
A churro is a delicious treat that combines a ridged, fried stick of dough with hot chocolate sauce. They are usually sold in packs of 12 or half a dozen.
The exact origin of churros is not known. Some experts believe that the recipe comes from Spanish shepherds. However, the churros we know and love today are believed to have been brought to Spain by explorers in the 16th century, with Hernando Cortez said to have introduced the secret of Aztec chocolate, leading to the custom of Chocolate con Churros.
The All-American breakfast in the USA
The All-American Breakfast is the ultimate in morning indulgence and offers a huge selection of dishes, often offered in various combinations.
A classic American breakfast isn’t all that different from a traditional English breakfast. It can consist of eggs, bacon, ham, sausage or steak and hash browns and is served with toast, sweet pastries (muffins, waffles or pancakes), black coffee and – for a healthy kick – some fruit if desired. In many American households, this meal is eaten together with the family at the breakfast table.
Whether you’ve just woken up from the best night’s sleep, have a hangover from last night’s party, or have spent the night playing video games or gambling at the best online casinos, this Breakfast of Champions will give you the fuel you need deliver for the day.
Dosas in South India
India is an extremely diverse country with enormous regional differences in culture, cuisine, religion and language, but they all have one thing in common: the classic food dosa. This is a type of crepe made from a fermented lentil and rice dough filled with spicy potatoes. Although there are many different variations of dosa, this crispy and warm treat is often served with fragrant hot sambal and cold coconut chutney.
It is not clear where the dosa originally came from, but the city of Udupi in Karnataka, southern India is generally considered to be the birthplace where one can also enjoy the original dosa.
