The best countries for food and drink are a treat for every single sense. What better way to experience a country than by discovering the local food and drink? Indulging in new culinary delights will broaden your horizons and palate. From baked camembert with a red Bordeaux in France to pakoras and chai in India, visit these countries if you love all things food and drink.
The Best Countries for Food and Drink
1. Thailand
The wonders of the Thai cuisine are as diverse and detailed as the country itself. With influences from countries such as China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Myanmar, Thai food is a combination of its many neighbouring nations.
The harmony of flavour is foremost in Thai cooking. The delicate balance of sweet, sour, salty, bitter and spicy tastes plays an essential part in the cuisine. The blending of many herbs and spices such as lemongrass, basil, coriander, chilli, garlic, lime juice, coconut milk and fermented fish sauce makes Thai food an aromatic journey for the senses.
Essential foodie experience
Try tom yam kung, a bright, spicy and sour soup. Fragrant herbs and spices such as lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves and crushed chilli peppers dominate this dish.
2. France
France, arguably one of the most famous countries in the world for food and wine, does not disappoint. The French are notably passionate about their cuisine, seducing travellers on their journey with warm croissants, hearty cassoulet and locally produced wine.
Enjoy a pain au chocolat at a gorgeous sidewalk cafe, lunch on crepes sprinkled with lemon and sugar, and then stop for a quick croques-monsieur snack. Finish your day clinking your filled champagne flute in an ancient underground cellar. Combine it with a cheese tasting, and you’ll know why the rest of the world is in love with France.
Essential foodie experience
Try macarons, a sweet, meringue-based, beautiful, confectionary sandwich. Macarons are a little bit of heaven and are famous for their bright, candy coloured flavours.
3. Spain
In Spain time seems to slow down. Spaniards like to take their time preparing and enjoying their meals. They gather with family and friends around the table, savouring their meals and discussing all things at great lengths. Eating and drinking is a time to be treasured, and you will come away understanding why so many travellers are hooked on this country.
Like mealtime, the production of excellent wine is a labour of love. After a renaissance of sorts over the past few years, the country is now home to over fifty percent of the European Union’s vineyards. So if you are a wine lover, visit, tour and taste your way through the abundant countryside.
Essential foodie experience
Try Rioja wine, a complex and flavorful red wine. Spaniards have been making this wine for over 2,000 years, and there is no wine region of which they are more proud.
4. Mexico
Even just the thought of Mexican cuisine conjures up vivid images: beans and corn, tortillas and tamales, tequila and margaritas. A fiesta for the senses, Mexico’s cuisine is like the country itself: fiery, colourful and never boring.
Discover cooking secrets from a local senora, and enjoy regional dishes such as tacos, chapulines, mezcal, coffee, chocolate and cochinita pibil. Learn all about tequila, how it’s produced and the best way to drink it. Mexico’s cuisine will get your heart pumping and your head spinning, and there’s no better way to enjoy it.
Essential foodie experience
Try mole, an ancient sauce made of hot chillies and rich chocolate. Usually poured over enchiladas or stewed meats, this sauce is authentically Mexican.
5. Italy
Italy is a paradise for food and wine lovers. Pizza and pasta are known all over the world but join the residents and feast on cold meats, rich stews, and indulgent desserts. Every meal in Italy is made with fresh flavourful ingredients and complemented with signature wines.
Be sure to visit the local markets and see how the locals shop for food. Enjoy a glass of wine and take in the views of the blissful Tuscan countryside. Experience an Italian cooking class in Florence, and enjoy la dolce vita and Italy in all its beauty.
Essential foodie experience
Try focaccia di Recco. This is a traditional classic dish from Liguria, in north-western Italy. It consists of a thin sheet of baked focaccia with a creamy layer of crescenza cheese in the middle.
6. India
Famous for its lavish use of aromatic spices and depth of flavour, Indian food is considered one of the world’s greatest cuisines. Taking in all the sights, sounds and smells of this country is a delight, and be sure to participate in a traditional cooking class to make the most of it.
Each locale in the country has distinct dishes, ways of cooking and using ingredients. For example, the food in the south of India varies to that of the north. Down south the use of spicy chilli and coconutty flavours are favourited, in the northern regions, you’ll find Mughal influenced creamy nut-based gravies. The one thing you’ll see everywhere is piping hot tea, both sweet and spicy and some of the best can be found in holes in the wall throughout the country.
Essential foodie experience
Try masala chai, originating in India, this mixed-spiced tea has grown in popularity over recent years. It is traditionally prepared with green cardamom pods, cinnamon sticks, ground cloves, ground ginger and black peppercorn combined with black tea leaves.
Are you looking for more food adventure? Find more food adventures here.
