This region may appear to be dominated by a single country, India, but there is an almost infinite variety in the diverse communities.
Crossed by the ancient silk road bringing influences from further east and later connected by the trade routes of the European explorers and invaders, South Asia is a melting pot of influences from many different empires.
The original, native, spices underpin many of the local cuisines but these are now fused with others, once imported by settlers and now locally produced valuable exports.
