The world is a big place and, due to travel, displacement and globalisation, over time people have migrated from one place to another. As a result of colonisation and immigration, many foods have become popular in places where they did not originate. As certain dishes and cuisines date back thousands of years, it can be hard to trace their exact origins. Even more recent food innovations have conflicting reports of who created it and where it came from.
This has led to some epic, controversial and occasionally confusing “Food Feuds”. These culinary conflicts over famous dishes around the world have caused quite a stir. Many have made their way into high courts and history books! Expat Explore is here to weigh in on the world’s biggest Food Feuds and the delicious debates surrounding some of the globe’s most beloved culinary creations.
Related: Here’s what pizza looks like around the world.
Tuck into the world’s biggest Food Feuds:
The Butter Chicken Conundrum
Starting off with a recent headline-making feud, the beloved Butter Chicken Curry enters the ring. This saga begins in 1947 when two men, both named Kundan, fled Peshawar, Pakistan for Delhi, India. They became business partners and opened a restaurant named Moti Mahal which served Punjabi cuisine. The conflict came not from the two Kundans but from their family members. Both families claim it was their Kundan who invented the iconic curry. In 2024, almost 80 years after the restaurant opened, the families went to court to determine once and for all who invented Butter Chicken Curry!
A 2,752-page document was presented to the Delhi High Court and detailed how, while the family of Kundan Lal Gujral now run Moti Mahal, the family of Kundan Lal Jaggi runs a rival chain restaurant. This restaurant, Daryaganj, is claiming that Lal Jaggi invented Butter Chicken. Both families have different stories about how the curry was invented and by whom. The verdict is set to be made in May 2024… watch this space!
Chicken Tikka Masala Madness
Continuing with the curry trend, the next dish to compete is Chicken Tikka Masala. This dish of roast, marinated chicken in a creamy sauce was, somewhat surprisingly, voted the national dish of the United Kingdom! While curry and Indian cuisine in general are certainly very popular in the UK, can this truly be considered a British dish?
There are conflicting reports on the invention of Chicken Tikka Masala. Some say it was developed by a Bangladeshi chef in Glasgow, Scotland. This chef is believed to have made his Chicken Tikka less spicy for a customer by adding a tomato-cream sauce. Others say it was invented in Punjab in the last 50 years as a variation of Butter Chicken. While we may never know the exact origin of Chicken Tikka Masala, one thing remains certain – the Brits love it!
Related: Try traditional British and Scottish cuisine on a tour of Great Britain.
The Feta Cheese Facts
Greece is known for its mouthwatering cuisine which also just happens to be one of the healthiest cuisines in the world. A staple of Greek meals is Feta cheese. On a trip to Greece, you’ll find Feta on everything from Greek salads to pastries and potatoes! Feta is made from unpasteurised sheep or goat milk and actually developed from the world’s oldest cheese first made over 8,000 years ago! With such a long history of delicious cheesiness, it’s no wonder that Greece is rather protective of this product.
Since 2002, Feta has been recognised by the EU as a uniquely Greek product. However, Greece wasn’t the only country selling “feta”. For almost 60 years, Denmark had sold hard Danish cheese under the generic name of “feta”. In 2022, the highest court in the EU ruled that Denmark was in breach of European law. This victory for Greece ended Danish “feta” sales and led to many cheeses needing to be renamed.
Related: These are the most popular cheeses in every continent!
In the Name of Champagne
Our next entry does not refer to a singular feud but a rather large collection of arguments, misrepresentations and even lawsuits surrounding the world’s most famous sparkling wine. We’ve all heard “it’s only Champagne if it comes from the Champagne region in France”. While there are many sparkling wines around the world that may be of the same quality and even use the exact same production methods, the name “Champagne” is legally protected in the 1891 Treaty of Madrid.
Today, the name and brand are protected by the very powerful Interprofessional Committee of Champagne Wine (CIVC). It is estimated that this organisation handles about 1,000 champagne-related cases in over 80 countries every year. These cases even extend beyond wine. Products like perfume, sodas and candies which claim to be Champagne-scented or flavoured are also charged with incorrectly using the Champagne name! According to the CIVC, around 80% of their tip-offs come from Champagne drinkers who refuse to let the name of their favourite beverage be tainted!
A village in Switzerland, also named Champagne, even tried to lay claim to the name for their locally-produced wine but was quickly shut down by the CIVC.
Related: Sample real Champagne in Champagne when you embark on this Western Europe tour!
Falafel Fallouts and Hassles with Hummus
There are a few foods that have hotly debated origins, many of them associated broadly with Middle Eastern cuisine. Lebanon previously sued Israel over claiming ownership of foods like Hummus, Tabbouleh and Falafel. Lebanon has also tried to receive protection from the European Commission, similar to how Feta is protected in Greece, for Lebanese Hummus. However, as of 2009, they have not been able to present proof of their claim that Hummus is a uniquely Lebanese product. Historians state that the earliest mention of hummus comes from Syria. While Falafel most likely comes from Egypt.
Different regions also have different preparation methods for these foods. For example, Egypt makes falafel with fava beans while in the rest of the Middle East, it is usually chickpeas or a combination of both.
Related: Taste authentic Egyptian falafel on an Egypt Nile Adventure!
Baklava’s Beginnings
Another beloved dish that has many countries fighting over its origin is the sweet treat Baklava. Greece enters the ring once again with the ancient Placenta Cake believed to be at the root of modern Baklava. Homer’s Odyssey, written around 800 B.C. even mentions thin, sweet bread with walnuts and honey. However, Baklava may have also come from Lauzinaj which was a popular medieval pastry in Arabic cuisine. Or, it could have been developed from Turkish güllaç. The name “Baklava” in both English and Arabic comes from the Turkish word. While there is no clear consensus on who invented the delicious dessert, today it is enjoyed all over North Africa and the Middle East as well as in Greece, Central Asia and even some parts of the Balkans!
In Greece, Baklava is said to contain 33 layers of phyllo pastry to represent each year of Jesus’s life and commonly contains walnuts, cinnamon and honey. Armenia makes a special syrup of cloves, cinnamon, lemon juice, sugar and water for their Baklava. In Turkey, pistachio is a popular filling and the city of Gaziantep is famous for its unique Baklava which is the only Turkish product protected by the European Commission. We recommend trying every version you possibly can as each is delectable in its own way!
Related: Try many different types of baklava on our Highlights of Turkey tour!
From uncertain origins to competing cultures and chaotic court cases, these food feuds will definitely go down in history! Tell us your favourite version of the food and drinks mentioned above in the comments below.
The best way to discover your favourite cuisine and dishes is by travelling! Book a tour with Expat Explore and get ready to experience a whole new world of delicious discoveries.