While early humans utilised knives, spoons, and other cooking implements, eating with your hands was customary for the most of human history. Cutlery is a very recent addition.
Chopstick evidence from approximately 1200 BCE was uncovered in China, and ceremonial spoons from ancient Egypt reaching back to approximately 1000 BCE were found. Forks were around in the 11th century, but they didn't really become popular until the 1500s in Europe.
The general populace, who had previously eaten with their hands and a knife, would not adopt forks for another several hundred years since they were considered superfluous and an extraordinary luxury that was only available to the rich.
Of course, to this day, people all over the world consume a wide variety of dishes with their hands, including charcuterie boards, sushi hand rolls, fried chicken, sandwiches, tacos, pizza, and pastries.
Most people agree that the Middle East, Africa, and India design their food to be as easy to eat with your hands as possible, enhancing the overall dining experience. Learn more!
Eating Etiquettes: Things To Keep In Mind
It's important to wash your hands well before eating. Make a utensil out of your fingers and use the food as a tool. The base for runnier foods like soup or curry. Pinch or scoop the food with your fingers to create a compact bite, then arrange it on the dish. Never put your hands or fingers in your mouth. Instead, shove the food in with your thumb. Your fingers can serve as a kind of spoon, but it takes some getting used to.
It's also essential to pass dishes, greet people, and handle food or drink with your right hand exclusively. To maintain hygiene, people typically use their left hand for tasks like using the toilet. To be more precise, you should only lick your fingers after you have finished eating, and you should only use your thumb, index finger, and middle finger when eating. While the observance of this tradition varies, it's generally highly important to refrain from using the left hand when eating.
The Link Between Ayurveda And Eating With Your Hands?
The practice of eating with your hands has its roots in Ayurvedic medicine. Based on the Hindu faith, Ayurveda is an age-old medical system that emphasises "a balance between the body, mind, spirit, and the environment”.
According to this whole-body philosophy, each finger represents a distinct element, and the five elements that make up the world also combine to form each person's constitution, or dosha.
Several elements, including teja (fire), jala (water), prithvi (earth), ring finger (water), thumb (aakash), forefinger (air), and middle finger (fire), symbolise the fingers. Eating with all of your hands activates a vital link. Eating with your hands practically encourages mindfulness.