Etiquette and Culture in India

Whenever asked, this is how I describe India… “India is energetic, busy, ancient, traditional.” I enjoyed my time spent in India. I relished the food, the people, the culture and its history. Knowing your culture and history is key to understanding its people. Over the millennia, people have created unique etiquette and customs and there is a lot to take in. I will help you with the information I gleaned while living there for over a year.

Common Indian Etiquette Rules

If you are living in India for extended periods and staying in one area, get to know the people who live around you and work with you; you will no doubt be invited over for a meal. You might be asking yourself, " What is the basic etiquette in India? Here is a step-by-step guide to help you navigate Indian social niceties, based on questions I have received:

• Even before you get to the person's house for a meal, many have asked, “Can a female tourist wear shorts in India?’ Even in modern cities such as Mumbai or Bangalore, it is always best to wear light pants and opt for a well-fitting top. Many parts of India are largely conservative and showing too much skin can be considered impolite in India. If a woman chooses to wear shorts or a short skirt, be ready to be ogled; unfortunately, that is the state of affairs right now. 
• “What behavior is unacceptable in India?” It is showing public displays of affection. You might say, “But I saw people being affectionate in a Bollywood movie!” But that is a fantasy. Although many aspire to that type of romanticism in their lives, it’s not played out in public, whether in modern or older cities.
• “What should you bring as a gift to your host's house?”  I have found with trial and error that anything from overseas is perfect, such as chocolates, sweets in generous packaging, tea in a tin, or find a dessert shop and load up with a cake or small sweet treats.
• “What is considered rude in India?” Shoes are not allowed inside homes. Not only has it got to do with bringing in the dirt from outside to the inside, it’s just taboo, this also goes for temples and some historical places. Upon removing your shoes and placing them by the door or on a shoe rack, you’ll step inside barefoot and be warmly welcomed by your host and their family.
• Greetings often include a friendly namaste, with hands pressed together, accompanied by introductions to those present. Generally, you will not touch as a greeting. No touching between men and women and women to men. Namaste with prayer hands is traditional and widely used and accepted. While some modern Indians may offer a hug, kiss, or offer a handshake, it’s best to mirror their approach if they don’t initiate such gestures. Your host will then guide you to take a seat on the sofa, making you feel right at home. 
• “How does one show respect to an Indian man?” Indian families follow the patrilineal rule of descent. What do I mean by this? The oldest male in the house is the “head,” so greeting the man before a woman is totally acceptable. However, if he is not there, then the eldest woman. If you want to show the highest form of respect, you would bow, touching the person’s feet, then touch your heart and repeat, usually that it is done in a family situation or perhaps meeting a VIP.
• “How do conversations normally begin in social settings? Are there rules?” The conversation typically begins with inquiries about your health and family, and it’s customary to reciprocate. A compliment about your host’s home, family and work is always a great way to keep the conversation flowing. Other icebreakers are asking and knowing about the latest Bollywood movies, actors and actresses and asking who’s your favourite or what is it about the film you like the most? I don’t want to scare you…But you must be very prepared for the next to come… to be asked questions that would be relegated to the ‘no-go-zone’ in western countries, such as, “How much is your rent?” “How much do you get teaching?” or “Why don’t you have children?”, “How much is your house worth?” and so on. Being prepared is key. Avoid at all costs speaking about religion and politics. These topics are very divisive and people's passions for the subject can rise to a boiling point.
• “What about religion?” Avoid at all costs speaking about religion and politics. These topics are very divisive and people’s passions for the subject can rise to boiling point. Religion plays a central role in daily life in India. Faith is practiced with devotion, and most Hindu households maintain a dedicated sacred space called a “ghar mandir.” Show respect by not touching this home temple. Festivals are all year round and these events are often marked by elaborate rituals, fasting, and community gatherings, so don’t be surprised if you are invited to a festival by your Indian friends.
• “Will I be offered food or drink in someone’s home?” As you take a seat, you’ll be offered water on a tray. It’s a kind gesture rooted in an ancient tradition of hospitality, meant to refresh guests after their journey and set a welcoming tone. It’s polite to accept and appreciate this thoughtful offering. Don't be surprised if the men break off on a different couch or in a room completely, leaving the women to talk or walk off to the kitchen together. This is a common social dynamic in many Indian cultures, where gender roles and expectations can influence social interactions.
• “Will my hosts be involved in traditional activities in the home prior to a meal?” During your visit, you’ll notice the host managing various household tasks. If they have a full-time domestic helper, you might observe them providing instructions, often related to meal preparation. If the host is preparing the meal themselves, expect them to move in and out of the kitchen, with the dining setup unfolding gradually rather than being prearranged.
• “Should I offer to help out with getting ready?” No. But before you sit down to eat with your host, please go and wash your hands. This should happen before and after your meal. You will find that in many Indian houses, there is no room for a separate toilet, it will be combined with the bathroom. Weirdly, I have been asked this question…, 
• “How often do Indian people shower?” and I can confirm once a day and even twice a day. Most Indians like to start their morning by having a shower and, at the end of the day, have a quick rinse down. Another question is…, 
• “What does India use instead of toilet paper?” It is water. Next to the toilet will be a hose called a bidet hose or hand-held bidet sprayer. I loved using this. I felt it was cleaner than toilet paper. Modern rich Indian homes will supply toilet paper, and the majority will have this hose. If there is no hose, a jug that looks like an elongated teapot will be next to a bucket of water. This is where the left-hand, right-hand debate sparks. In poorer areas, and I have seen it with my own eyes, people will take a bucket of water to the communal restrooms, use their left hand for “bottom business,” and that is why the left hand is considered unclean in India. For mealtime, Indian people use their right hands. An Indian will never use both hands to eat. The only time a left hand will be used at mealtime is for serving food. 
• Please note that unless you know your host well or you have very important work to do the next day, I mean, if you are meeting the Prime Minister of India, then your lunch and dinner meal will run very late and overtime. Have yourself a small snack before you enter an Uber or a rickshaw, which will fill the gnawing feeling in your stomach. A day after the event, it's nice to say thank you and follow up with a text of pleasantries.

When it’s time to eat, be prepared for a generous serving of food, including a mountain of rice accompanied by roti, papad, and an array of curries. To enjoy the meal gracefully without overwhelming yourself, use the roti or papad to eat with the curries, and reserve the rice for lighter dishes like dal. To politely manage the over-abundance of rice, take small portions and express your appreciation for the delicious meal, emphasizing its loving preparation while explaining that you have a small appetite. This approach shows gratitude while ensuring you don’t offend your host.

Indian Dining Etiquette

When it’s time to eat, be prepared for a generous serving of food, including a mountain of rice accompanied by roti, papad, and an array of curries. To enjoy the meal gracefully without overwhelming yourself, use the roti or papad to eat with the curries, and reserve the rice for lighter dishes like dal. To politely manage the over-abundance of rice, take small portions and express your appreciation for the delicious meal, emphasising its loving preparation while explaining that you have a small appetite. This approach shows gratitude while ensuring you don’t offend your host.

I didn’t mention this before, but you may be offered chai by your host after drinking water. Please don’t say “Yes, I’ll have chai tea, thank you.” Your host will give a wide smile and respond that “chai” means”tea” and then may chuckle. After your meal, you may be offered chai again. Just remember that chai is very sweet and, depending on your host, might flavor it with a choice of green cardamom, ginger — a winning combination, or even pepper, which is not so bad. 

Whilst you are back on the sofa sipping and talking, those from Maharashtra, I have found, when there is disapproval, affirmation or correction on a subject which you are talking about, they will click with their tongue to emphasize how they feel! It’s really an interesting thing that they do, and after a while, I started doing it when speaking in Hindi or English.

How To Eat With Your Hands

Bread, known as roti, naan, paratha, chapati, the list goes on, This is just a sampling of the diverse array of breads found in Indian cuisine, each with its unique texture, flavor, and cooking method. These breads are central to Indian cuisine, serving as the perfect accompaniment to curries that could contain lentils or chickpeas, and grilled meats. They are my favourite accompaniment to an Indian meal. I use two techniques. One is to tear the bread and pick up the “dry curry” with the bread. The second is to fold the bread into a cone shape to pick up the “wet curries.”

Another way to eat curry is with rice. Depending on what part of India you are in, rice will vary from basmati to laalchawal, laal meaning red. You will be given a large serving of rice with various curries surrounding it. Find a clean space on your thali plate to scoop up a small portion of rice and curry. Mix the curry with the rice using only your fingertips, not your whole hand. This is done so the curry is absorbed into the rice, ready for you to eat and enjoy. Gently picking up the mixed food with your fingers, shape the rice and curry into a small bite-sized portion. Push the bite of food into your mouth by sliding the food down your fingers levered by your thumb. Be careful not to let your fingers touch your lips.

I am hoping that I have dispelled some myths and confirmed other questions you wouldn’t ask an Indian person directly. If you love adventure and finding out new things, then India is for you.

For many years, Etiquipedia contributor, Elizabeth Soos, has had a keen interest in cultural customs. With her European background and extensive travel, Soos developed an interest in the many forms of respect and cultural expectations in the countries she has visited. With her 20 years’ experience in customer service within private international companies based in Australia, and her lifetime interest in manners and research, she decided to branch out into the field of etiquette and deportment. Through her self-directed studies and by completing the Train-The-Trainer’s course offered by Emma Dupont’s School of Etiquette in London and by Guillaume Rue de Bernadac at Academie de Bernadac based in Paris and Shanghai, she founded Auersmont School of Etiquette

🍽Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, of The RSVP Institute of Etiquette, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

Introducing Our Travel Etiquette Guru

Our Resident “Travel Etiquette Guru”

Elizabeth Soós

Elizabeth Soós of Auersmont Etiquette is our resident “Travel Etiquette Guru”. Over the past several years, Elizabeth has been writing some extremely popular articles on the etiquette for visiting numerous countries around the globe, along with the etiquette needed to get to and from your destination in a polite and well-mannered pace. 

Wherever you’re headed… whether you’re flying commercial or private jet… if you’re on a yacht or a train, Elizabeth has you covered on global travel! Her articles are routinely found in our Top 20 daily posts. The following are links to her long list of ever growing articles on travel and travel etiquette. Elizabeth is traveling at the moment, but as more articles are published, they will be added to this list. These are in alphabetical order:

1. Aboriginal Dining Etiquette in Australia
2. Airport Etiquette
3. Basic Flight Etiquette and Courtesy
4. Cambodian Etiquette, Culture and Customs
5. Commuting Etiquette in Mumbai
6. Egypt’s Rich Culture and Etiquette
7. Etiquette Expectations in New Zealand
8. Etiquette for Private Yachts
9. Etiquette for the Maldives
10. Etiquette in Tanzania and Zanzibar
11. Etiquette in Vietnam
12. Etiquette and Culture in Kenya
13. Etiquette and Culture in Oman
14. Etiquette and Culture in Uganda
15. Etiquette and Culture of Myanmar
16. Etiquette and Customs in Samoa
17. Etiquette and Customs of Ethiopia
18. Etiquette and Customs of Fiji
19. Etiquette and Customs of Réunion
20. Etiquette and Indigenous Australians
21. Etiquette and the People of Peru
22. Etiquette of Mauritius or Mini India
23. Etiquette When Visting Australia
24. Fascination and Manners in Hong Kong
25. Greeting Etiquette in India
26. History, Food, and Etiquette of Macau
27. Hungarian Social and Dining Etiquette
28. Indian Dining and Table Etiquette
29. Indian Food Culture
30. Pakistani Culture and Etiquette
31. Polite Train Travel Etiquette
32. Private Jet Etiquette
33. Thailand’s Manners and Customs 

Indian Food Culture

India’s food culture is monolithic. From the tip of the south to the very north, there are thousands of variations found in home-style cooking, restaurants’ specialities and street vendors, each will vary slightly across every state and region. I thought that over the years of patronizing Indian restaurants in Australia, I knew what to expect, gauging from the menu, but the enormity of choice outshines the Australian offerings. Once I lived in India, I realized Australian Indo-Pakistani restaurants taint food to be more palatable for the Western public and open to a wider paying audience.

Launched in 2002 and initiated by the Ministry of Tourism with the tagline “Incredible India,” featuring Bollywood actors such as Aamir Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, and Priyanka Chopra, the ads seduced people to travel to India, and they had quite an effect on me. It captivated my mind and tingled my taste buds. I couldn’t wait, I knew one day I would go…

India's food culture is monolithic. From the tip of the south to the very north, there are thousands of variations found in home-style cooking, restaurants' specialities and street vendors, each will vary slightly across every state and region. I thought that over the years of patronising Indian restaurants in Australia, I knew what to expect, gauging from the menu, but the enormity of choice outshines the Australian offerings. Once I lived in India, I realised Australian Indo-Pakistani restaurants taint food to be more palatable for the Western public and open to a wider paying audience.

Can Tourist Eat Street Food in India and is it Safe?

Street food is for the brave and adventurous. Food is never served plain and gloves are not used. Yes, there were times I got sick, and I recovered after a day or two. Whilst living in Mumbai, I appreciated the small stalls on the side of the street. I would visit regulars who knew me by name.

Please note: if you feel that eating street food, as described below, may put your health at risk, go to a reputable day restaurant and order the same meals there, which will be more expensive but just as good. Also, each restaurant or street vendor – wala, has its own family recipe and it will vary state to state or even street to street. Good street stalls are only open for a few hours, so ask locals for recommendations.

What is the Most Popular Street Food in Mumbai?

How did I initially go about approaching these stalls by myself? I would wait till people were milling about the wala. If there were a fair number of people, I knew it was ‘hygienic enough’ and would watch the food he was serving, how he served it and how people ate the dish. I would approach and point to a person’s food or point to the picture that was wrapped around his cart.

Breakfast

Samosa or Vada Pav: this is a fried vegetarian samosa or vada pav, a fried potato patty placed into a very soft bread roll with two types of chutneys – coriander and mint: savory and tamarind: sweet. Once the wala puts the samosa into the bread roll, he may hand it to you on a recycled newspaper with one or two fried whole chilli. This is definitely finger food, no etiquette required.

Chai or Coffee: chai is tea in Hindi. Boiled tea with milk and sugar, with a dash of ginger, is served so hot that you have to wait for it to cool down. You will be given tea in small medicine-type cups on the street. If you are in a rush, you will have to blow on it to cool it down. You may be provided a pottery cup without handles, wrap a serviette around it so you are able to drink from it because of the heat. In restaurants, you can be given a brass Dabara Set, which is a handleless cup with a tumbler. You can pour your coffee or tea, instead of blowing on it into the tumbler, then back into your cup and over again until it cools. You can also drink from the tumbler. I’ve seen Aunties and Uncles pouring their chai from their handleless cup to their saucer, drinking their cooled tea from their saucer.

Lunch

Pav Bhaji: fresh, thick spicy vegetable curry served with a soft buttered bread roll. This dish is put into a tray, and you will use the bread to pick up the fresh curry to eat. You will tear a piece of bread using the ‘La Scarpetta' method, which means using the bread like a shoe, ‘walking’ across the tray, cleaning up the star of the meal. Sit down while eating this simple yet tasty meal. If you have finished your bread roll, you can ask for another or ask for a spoon to eat the last remnants of curry.

Dosa: is an ultra-thin, crunchy, savoury batter bread made from a fermented batter of ground black gram and rice. Dosas are served hot with a filling inside. You can choose the filling to be vegetarian or paneer. The dosa will come with side dishes such as coconut chutney and sambar. Sambar is a tangy lentil vegetable stew. You break a piece of dosa with its filling, dipping it into the sambar or chutney before eating. This is a meal you need to sit down as you will need the space and definitely you will be eating with your fingers. You will be laughed at for using a fork and a knife. I’ve been in five-star hotels where I have seen celebrities and the rich of India use their fingers to eat these delicious dishes.

Afternoon Tea

Bombay Sandwich: is flat white sliced bread with thinly sliced layered vegetables like potatoes, beetroot, tomatoes, onions, and cucumber with a spread of spicy green chutney, then toasted. This is a great food to eat standing up or while on the run. It will be wrapped in yesterday's newspaper or pages from a kids' workbook. I loved this street food as it was just what I needed, replacing lunch without spending too much time in a restaurant or cooking for myself at home.

Before Dinner

Pani Puri: is a disc that, when it is deep-fried, becomes a shell, hollowed out for a filling such as potatoes or chickpeas, and dipped in flavoured sauces such as coriander and mint and sweet tamarind sauce. Depending on the wala, he will provide approx. Six to seven rounds and will serve up to three to four people at a time, taking it in turns to fill each puri and serve it to you, with it filled with sauces on a foil bowl, which you eat instantly whole using your fingers, bringing the bowl to your mouth. Your fingers will become wet, the wala will provide you with a napkin. The last puri served will be dry, to indicate to you that the meal is over.

Bhelpuri: is a savoury snack or chaat, made of puffed rice, crunchy puris, peanuts and sev, which are layered with ingredients such as potato and onion, tomato and topped with chutneys such as coriander and tamarind chutney. You can eat this standing around the food station, using a spoon or a flat papdi, which is a round cracker. This is a snack you would have before dinner, which would be served around 8-9 pm at night. Happy Eating!

For many years, Etiquipedia contributor, Elizabeth Soos, has had a keen interest in cultural customs. With her European background and extensive travel, Soos developed an interest in the many forms of respect and cultural expectations in the countries she has visited. With her 20 years’ experience in customer service within private international companies based in Australia, and her lifetime interest in manners and research, she decided to branch out into the field of etiquette and deportment. Through her self-directed studies and by completing the Train-The-Trainer’s course offered by Emma Dupont’s School of Etiquette in London and by Guillaume Rue de Bernadac at Academie de Bernadac based in Paris and Shanghai, she founded Auersmont School of Etiquette

🍽Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, of The RSVP Institute of Etiquette, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

Etiquette and Culture in Kenya

Kenya has over 40 groups that speak their own languages and all have their own etiquette intricacies. Avoid speaking badly of either Kenya, its religions, food, education, or any of its ethnicities, as many are proud supporters and gatekeepers of these points of life and living.

Are you familiar with the 2006 movie The Devil Wears Prada? Early in the film, the character “Nigel” yells, “Gird your loins!” when he hears Miranda Priestly, editor of Runway magazine, is arriving early, sending the office into a frenzy. I really love that phrase “gird your loins!” because it means to prepare yourself mentally, emotionally and physically for what is to come.

When I arrived in Nairobi, I had to “gird my loins” it was so busy, lots of beeping, lots of people, lots of things simultaneously happening. It was early in the morning, and the place was already buzzing. This set the tone for the rest of the trip.

Kenya Cultural Expectations and Etiquette

Kenya has a very rich history and demographics. Kenya is surrounded by Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia. It has had humans living there since the Paleolithic era and in the recent 500 years has had a mixture of Persian, Arab, Portuguese, Omani, and British rule, who brought Indians for the cultivation of plantations. Today, it has over 40 groups that speak their own languages and all have their own etiquette intricacies. Avoid speaking badly of either Kenya, its religions, food, education, or any of its ethnicities, as many are proud supporters and gatekeepers of these points of life and living.

Greetings are essential in Kenya, so as not to offend. If you don’t greet and you want to build trust personally and in business, you most likely will be seen as aloof. Generally, it will be man-to-man and woman-to-woman. In a room full of people, you will have to take your time and greet each person personally. 

Respecting the elderly and greeting them when invited to a local house is essential. Those greeting the elderly need to stand up when greeting them and use both hands in the handshake, or gently hold your forearm (shaking arm) while shaking with the other person. Greetings help to avoid hugging and kissing on the cheeks when you don’t know the person.

The most common spoken language in Kenya is Swahili, but most business language will be English. Many Kenyans will appreciate the work you do in trying to speak their country's language. 

Here are a few Swahili greetings to get you started:

· Jambo or Hujambo: Hello.

· In response say: Sijambo - I am fine

· Missouri -fine or ‘missouri sana - very well

· Habari?: How are you?

· Mambo?: What's up? or How are things?

· Shikamoo: Respectful greeting for elders or authority figures.

· In response say: Marahaba

· Asante: Thank you

· Karibu: Welcome

If you want to win points, use this:

· Habari ya familia yako?: What is the news of your family?

· Bwana: Sir or Mr

· Bi: Madam or Mrs

· Mzee : Older or elderly man

· Mama: Mother or elderly woman

· Baba: Father or older man

· Dada: Sister or young female

· Kaka: Brother or young man

Dining Food and Etiquette in Kenya

Kenya is a major exporter of tea, and no doubt you would have drunk Kenyan tea from brands such as Lipton, PG Tips, Twinings, Yorkshire Tea, or Tetley. When you visit a person’s house, you will be served tea in the same manner as in India, by boiling it with milk and sugar. Spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, or ginger may be added and the tea will be served with foods such as bread, samosas or mandazi – fried bread. When invited to a local’s house, don’t be surprised if the Kenyan guests arrive 30-40 minutes late, as time is flexible. Common gifts to bring to the hosts are flowers and tea or something special from the country you are from.

Family and food are important to Kenyans. So, complimenting the cook and taking care not to waste any food is essential. Passing and eating from both hands is correct never just pass with just the left hand. Children and adults may eat separately and at times men and elderly may be served first before women in attendance. Each family will have its own ways of eating, according to tribal customs or modernizations.

Traveling Through Kenya and Safari Parks

It is essential to your safety to listen carefully to park rangers when visiting Safari Parks. I remember staying overnight at one Safari Park. We all slept in tents, sharing a toilet with other tourists. We were warned not to go wandering at night as there were leopards and lions on the prowl. I promptly zipped up my tent with my friend inside and never came out till the morning. All park rangers carry guns to protect everyone from these sorts of attacks. Always treat those who are locals, such as the Maasai people, with dignity and respect. They earn their living today from tourists and remember they are allowing us into their lives and land.

For many years, Etiquipedia contributor, Elizabeth Soos, has had a keen interest in cultural customs. With her European background and extensive travel, Soos developed an interest in the many forms of respect and cultural expectations in the countries she has visited. With her 20 years’ experience in customer service within private international companies based in Australia, and her lifetime interest in manners and research, she decided to branch out into the field of etiquette and deportment. Through her self-directed studies and by completing the Train-The-Trainer’s course offered by Emma Dupont’s School of Etiquette in London and by Guillaume Rue de Bernadac at Academie de Bernadac based in Paris and Shanghai, she founded Auersmont School of Etiquette

🍽Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, of The RSVP Institute of Etiquette, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

Etiquette and Culture in Uganda

It was obvious that I had I glossed over the Ugandan section when sightseeing in Kampala. Here are some etiquette points I learnt when staying in home-stays around Uganda, so you don’t have to discover them the hard way.

One of my favourite travel books to prepare to travel through any country was, and still is, Lonely Planet. It was obvious that I had I glossed over the Ugandan section when sightseeing in Kampala. Here are some etiquette points I learnt when staying in home-stays around Uganda, so you don’t have to discover them the hard way.

One of the scariest moments of traveling to Uganda was the markets… walking through Kampala’s Owino Market or St. Balikuddembe Market. There was no warning. There was no written etiquette guide. It was 'baptism by fire'. Like SpaceX, we blasted off into the crowds we entered by squeezing ourselves down the thin corridors. Locals were on a mission, buying, selling, and negotiating fast and furious. As we tried to push further into the surging crowds, the yelling and pushing started: ‘get out’, ‘go away’. We made a 15-second decision to turn around and leave the chaos behind.

How to Show Friendliness in Uganda

You can greet in three languages, take your pick: English, Swahili or Luganda. In Swahili (also called Kiswahili — which can be used in over ten African countries), while simultaneously smiling and nodding, say “hello” by saying “jambo” in Swahili.

If you wish to say “hello” in Luganda, you say “oli otya,” and if the local offers a hand out for a handshake, to show extra respect or courtesy, it is customary to place your left hand on your right forearm or elbow while shaking hands with your right hand. Men will take time shaking and women may do the same, indicating familiarity and friendship. A woman may just do a head nod to acknowledge your presence and greet.

For many African cultures, eye contact is an unnecessary rule, unlike its Western counterparts. So, when speaking to a Ugandan, they may look elsewhere. Don’t be put off, keep on talking, you will get a reply to your answer. Pointing at people can be seen as rude and off-putting.  

Always use your hand, palm facing the ground, when talking and expressing yourself. Uganda, of course, respects its elders and has a language to acknowledge this. For an elderly man, you can use “mama, tata, ssebo”and for an elderly woman, “nnyabo”.

I found the food very interesting and very healthy in Uganda. You will be served root vegetables, legumes and various meats, including fish.

Know What to Do When Dining in Uganda

I found the food very interesting and very healthy in Uganda. You will be served root vegetables, legumes and various meats, including fish. Due to the migration of Chinese (1960s) and Indians (1890s), who set up stores, and worked on the railways, an indelible mark was left on Ugandan food culture by way of their use of spices, curries, noodles, rice, dumplings and soy sauce.

You will find in a traditional Ugandan household that men and teenage boys are assisting in other jobs around the house rather than in the kitchen. Families will eat twice a day, drinking tea and porridge or pieces of bread (bread tends to be soft and sweet), then the two main meals will be lunch and dinner. As a side point, Uganda grows its own teas and served with milk and sugar. Surprisingly, Uganda is the biggest exporter of coffee and it’s the younger ‘café generation’ and business-types who drink coffee today.

Before sitting down on floor mats neatly arranged on the floor to dine, you will need to wash your hands and visit the restroom. Actually, most restaurants will have a sink at the entrance to wash your hands before selecting a table and ordering. Food will be offered and served by the females of the family, putting food on your plate, and waiting for your host to start. Please be mindfully conscious to not waste food and eat as much as you can.

Ugandans are spiritual people and you will find on a Sunday that modestly dressed families and individuals will be catching a bus to their nominated church with a Bible in hand. Therefore, praying before eating will occur. 

 When dining in someone’s home, you may be given a spoon, or you have the option of using your fingers, as though you were in India. Never lean over food to grab salt, cutlery or more food. That is seen as rude and uncouth. Politely ask for what you need and you will be served. All items you are given will be given with the right hand. At the end of your meal, you will be provided with a glass of water or another beverage to finish the meal. 

Dessert is not any Western-type traditional cake or pastries. Ugandan dessert comes in the form of healthy palette refreshers. These can range from pawpaw to pineapple to bananas, mangos, jackfruit or even soursop. Soursop is described as an acidic custard apple, with a white fibrous fleshy interior. It is said to have a sweet-tart flavor, with creamy pulp which tastes like a mix of strawberry, citrus and pineapple. It’s very healthy and a fruit everyone should try!

 A point to remember is that it is disrespectful to leave the dining area while others are still eating. Respect your host and stay in the dining quarters until the end of the meal. It's not uncommon to talk about your day during the meal; however, one should always compliment the chef after the meal.  Before standing up to depart the company, you can say, “webale nnyo”. This means, “thank you very much”.

Enjoy your time in Uganda, people are very polite and considerate. The sites in Uganda’s beautiful mountains, highlands, lakes, national parks and wildlife areas can be breathtaking! Remember though, you will need guides to trek in those areas. Oh, and don’t forget to hire a guide for the inner-city markets!

Weeraba bulungi! (Or “goodbye and farewell!”)

For many years, Etiquipedia contributor, Elizabeth Soos, has had a keen interest in cultural customs. With her European background and extensive travel, Soos developed an interest in the many forms of respect and cultural expectations in the countries she has visited. With her 20 years’ experience in customer service within private international companies based in Australia, and her lifetime interest in manners and research, she decided to branch out into the field of etiquette and deportment. Through her self-directed studies and by completing the Train-The-Trainer’s course offered by Emma Dupont’s School of Etiquette in London and by Guillaume Rue de Bernadac at Academie de Bernadac based in Paris and Shanghai, she founded Auersmont School of Etiquette. Elizabeth can currently be found in Melbourne Australia and on numerous social media sites.

 🍽️Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber of The RSVP Institute of Etiquette, is the Site Editor of the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia