No matter how you like to deck up your kitchen, certain kitchen tools, pots and pans, and utensils can be found across almost all Indian kitchens. Even the make and design of certain utensils bear such uncanny resemblance, that a Reddit user has launched a ‘petition’ to declare a steel spoon, the ‘national spoon of India’. You read that right.
The user believes that the spoon is so common across Indian households that it is only fair that one declares it the national spoon of India. The photo features a spoon that is held upside down, exposing its flat neck and handle that have intricate patterns of flowers and tendrils embossed. The caption of the post read, “Petition to declare this National Spoon of India”, a text inserted on the photo read, “Are you even desi if you don't have this spoon?”.
The post soon went viral with most desi netizens finding it very relatable. As of Wednesday, the post has received more than 4300 upvotes and 267 comments. The comment section is flooded with desis, many of whom are not even in India but happen to have the same spoon.
“I even use this after moving to USA,” wrote a user.
“Almost everyone has this spoon. lol,” wrote another.
“I have this! My neighbour has it. My friends have it. It is THE spoon!,” noted another.
Some even went as far to dig out the history of the spoon.
“This was the exact spoon issued to me by the armed forces years ago,” wrote a user.
“Yes I have this and fun fact mother got it free with something 10 years ago,” said another user.
India has a long history of interesting utensils that are not only hard to find abroad but are also losing takers in India itself. Take the sil batta, for instance, in the era of mixer grinders, people are moving away from the ‘cumbersome’ sil (a flat stone slab) and batta (a cylindrical stone) to make masalas, chutneys and wet pastes.
Another utensil, the khal batta, the Indian mortar and pestle is also seeing the same fate in urban India. Not just masalas, we have special scrapers and knives for special kinds of fruits and vegetables too. The sharp, metallic coconut scraper emerging from a wooden plank, has helped many Indians to scrape tonnes of coconut flesh for a variety of chutneys, sweets and other delicacies. Sure, there are easier alternatives and tools available in the market now, but many seasoned chefs still go back to these authentic utensils to retain the authenticity and flavour of the dish. How many of these utensils can still be found in your kitchen?