Understanding Indian Vegetarian Culture — Veg and Non-Veg Labeling, Awareness, Consideration Points for Dinners and Invitations

When you pick up a packaged food from an Indian supermarket, you will see a dot in a small square on the top corner of the package. This is the Food Safety Standards Agency of IndiaFSSAI(Food Safety and Standards Authority of India)is legally requiredVeg/Non-Veg indication markno see. The green dot inside the green square isPure vegetarian (Veg), the brown-filled triangle within the brown (reddish-brown) square border isNon-Vegmeans. It may be unfamiliar at first because it is an uncommon labeling system in Korea, but once you get used to it, it is rather convenient as you can immediately tell whether a product is vegetarian or not by just looking at the packaging without having to check the ingredient list.

This label applies not only to packaged foods but also to restaurant menus. There is a small green or brown dot in front of the menu name, so even if you don't know the Hindi or English menu name, you can tell whether it is vegetarian or non-vegetarian just by looking at the color of the dot.Representative dishes of Delhi and GurgaonAs discussed in the article introducing , this mark is also reflected in delivery apps such as Zomato and Swiggy, making it convenient to use with the filter function.

India has one of the highest percentages of vegetarians in the world. Although exact statistics vary from survey to survey, it is clear that a significant portion of the population abstains from eating meat or does not eat it at all for religious or cultural reasons. This is not simply a matter of taste, but is deeply connected to several religious traditions in India, including Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism.

• Hinduism— Not all Hindus are vegetarians, but some classes, regions, and families have traditionally followed a vegetarian diet. Beef is largely taboo because cows are considered sacred in Hinduism.
• Jainism— Observe the strictest vegetarian diet in accordance with the doctrine of non-killing (Ahimsa). More details are covered in the next section.
• Sikhism— Langar, a communal meal in a Sikh temple (gurdwara), is always prepared as a vegetarian meal so that everyone can eat it, regardless of religion or class.
• Regional variations— Northern India (Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat) has a relatively high rate of vegetarianism, while the eastern and southern coastal regions and the northeast have a deeply rooted culture of enjoying fish and meat.

Because of this background, in India we often encounter situations where 'vegetarianism is the default and meat is the exception'. In Korea, you often have to find a separate vegetarian restaurant, but in Delhi-NCR, pure vegetarian restaurants are rather common, and restaurants that sell non-vegetarian menus often have a separate label saying 'Non-Veg Restaurant'.

Jain Food is a diet that is one step stricter than the typical vegetarian diet. A core tenet of JainismAhimsa (non-killing)aims to cause no harm not only to visible animals but also to microorganisms and insects living underground. Therefore, those who maintain self-awareness naturally avoid ingredients that would be eaten by a regular vegetarian.

If you have colleagues or business partners from Indian companies from Gujarat or Rajasthan, you will often encounter cases where they keep their identity. If you ever have a meal together, don't just ask, "Are you vegetarian?"“Are you eating the food? Don’t you even eat onions and garlic?”Checking once more is a way to reduce mistakes. Most purely vegetarian restaurants list a ‘Jain Option’ on the menu or, upon request, prepare a Jain version without onions and garlic.

Living in Delhi NCR, you will find that shopping for groceries and eating out, mainly vegetarian, is more natural than you think. This is because there is a wide selection of Pure Veg Restaurants, and the delivery app also has a well-equipped vegan filter.

• Utilizing the ‘Pure Veggie’ filter in delivery apps— Both Zomato and Swiggy have a 'Pure Veg' filter at the top of search, which is especially useful if you're hosting guests who are self-aware or follow a strict vegetarian diet. You can only order from restaurants that do not have a non-veggie menu.
• Habit of checking labels at the supermarket— When buying ready-to-eat foods or sauces, it is a good habit to check the Veg/Non-Veg mark on the packaging. Jellies and desserts containing gelatin (an animal ingredient) are often labeled as Non-Veg, so they are surprisingly easy to miss.
• Combination with Korean food — Korean Mart Shopping GuideAs introduced in , it is not difficult to prepare a vegetarian Korean meal by using Korean ingredients and local Indian vegetables together. Tofu and vegetables are especially compatible with vegetarian diets.
• Check the dots on the menu board— At a restaurant, you can tell whether a menu item is vegetarian or not without a language barrier by simply checking the green or brown dots next to the menu name.

For reference, in IndiaEggs are generally classified as Non-Veg.do. Unlike some vegetarian standards in the West or Korea, most vegetarians in India are lacto-vegetarians who do not eat eggs, so caution is required when serving dishes containing eggs (mayonnaise, castella, etc.).

If you are invited to a company dinner or housewarming with Indian colleagues or business partners, you can make the occasion much more comfortable if you know a few things in advance.Indian housewarming invitation etiquetteIn addition to the gift etiquette covered in , we have summarized food-related consideration points that are good to know.

1. Ask before inviting— Instead of ending with “Are you a vegetarian?”, you can greatly reduce mistakes by asking “Are you vegetarian?” and “Do you eat eggs?” Adjusting the menu according to the guest's response is a basic etiquette in Indian hospitality.
2. Sensitivity to separation of cooking utensils— Some very strict vegetarians are reluctant to even cook vegetarian dishes in the same pan or cutting board as meat. For group dining events such as company workshops, it is safer to choose a catering company that provides separate vegetarian and non-vegetarian cooking lines.
3. When preparing food as a gift— If you are preparing chocolate or dessert as a gift, it is a good idea to get into the habit of checking the Veg mark on the packaging to see if the product does not contain gelatin.
4. Choosing a place for a company dinner— If you are having a team dinner with many Indian colleagues, making a reservation at a purely vegetarian restaurant from the beginning will make things easier since everyone can choose the menu without any pressure.

This kind of consideration is not something grand; it is a habit of asking once and checking once. In actual experience, Indian colleagues are often quite grateful when foreigners pay attention to these aspects.

Just as we respect vegetarian culture, we also need to be considerate of our Indian colleagues and friends who enjoy meat-eating. Indian society as a whole is not vegetarian-centric, and eating habits vary widely depending on the region and individual.

• Don't be prejudiced— The perception that ‘all Indians are vegetarian’ is not true. Fish and meat dishes are well developed in Bengal, Goa, the northeast, and the southern coastal regions, and it is common for younger generations in cities to have a preference for non-veggie menus.
• Prepare both sides— If it is an event where many people gather, such as a company event or housewarming, prepare both vegetarian and non-vegetarian menus.Be sure to eat plenty of veg dishesPreparation is close to Indian custom. The most rude thing to do is when a vegetarian guest runs out of food.
• Be especially careful with beef and pork.— Beef is a religiously sensitive ingredient for Hindus and pork for Muslims. In an event with a diverse mix of attendees, it is safe to completely exclude these two.

In the end, the key is to ask first about ‘the other person’s standards’ rather than ‘your standards’. Whether vegetarian or non-vegetarian, a meal in India always goes smoothly as long as you check in advance and show respect.