Tiffin is an Indian term for a light meal. It can also refer to any type or snack taken from a packet, as well snacks like nuts and cheese. It is usually consumed around 3 p.m. with a variety light and savoury options.
The origins for the word "tiffin" date back to early nineteenth-century India, when British colonial leaders in India chose to have a light midday meal instead of taking their usual afternoon siestas. Tiffin boxes were popular because they allowed them to take home their own meals while away from home.
Tiffins are traditionally made from stacked metal boxes that snap together, forming a tiffin box. Although they're not intended for use on the stovetop (they can be stored indoors), they are great storage options for at-home snacks.
There are many different sizes and shapes available for Tiffins. They can be either cylindrical or round in shape and have a side clip for easy carrying. Tiffins can also take the shape of plates, bowls or individual serving dishes. You can even use the lids of tiffins as plates. This makes them perfect for taking to a place where you can serve leftovers or even to take to work.
The history of Tiffin is complicated. It has to do with the Indian population's preference for light meals, and is often a result of their eating habits. And it is also connected to the history of the British Raj. Tiffin originated in India but is now used as a synonym in Britain for light luncheons.
Tiffin is traditionally served in India as a light lunch around 3 o'clock in an afternoon. It is a light snack made of vegetarian food and less spice. It can be anything from savoury foods such as lentil crepes and rice dumplings, to sweet items such as halwa and sundaes.
Many Indian families have a custom of asking children to bring their lunchboxes. A teacher may threaten a child if he does not bring a tiffin container to school. This is an insult to the host and a sign the hospitality is not upto the mark. If the child does not have a tiffin package at lunch, they may feel hungry.
Tiffin is a term used by the residents of Mumbai for a light lunch, or a packed lunch. Mumbai Tiffin Suppliers' Organization organizes this system. This association collects home-made food from workers and delivers it to them. A number of Bollywood films have included a tiffin motif.
Today, you can find tiffins in Indian restaurants as well in Indian households. You can also find them sold by dabbawalas who are delivery men who pick up food from the homes and deliver it to the workplace. The tiffin box can be a traditional round metal box, or it can be a stacked set of stainless steel compartments with a handle for carrying.