How to play the food origin quiz
Each round has 10 dishes from around the world. In Guess the country you see the name of a famous dish, a short description and a picture, then choose the country it comes from out of four. In Name the dish you only get the description, so you have to work out which dish is on the plate. Tap an answer or press 1 to 4, then press Enter or Next.
- Press Play. A round starts right away with every region mixed together.
- Read the clues. Ingredients and cooking methods give a lot away: coconut milk and lemongrass point to Southeast Asia, while cassava and plantain point to West Africa or the Caribbean.
- Learn from each answer. After every pick you get a short note on the dish's history, how people eat it, and a link to read more.
- Open Options to switch question type or play one region: Asia, Europe, Africa, the Americas, the Middle East or Oceania.
The questions start with world-famous dishes and get harder as you go, ending with signature dishes that many people have never tried. The wrong answers always come from neighboring countries or places that cook in a similar way, so knowing the continent is not enough.
Fun facts about national dishes
- Some dishes are protected heritage. UNESCO lists the traditions behind dishes such as Senegal's thieboudienne, Haiti's soup joumou, Jordan's mansaf and Peru's ceviche as intangible cultural heritage.
- Some were chosen by vote. Norway picked fårikål, a mutton and cabbage stew, as its national dish after a radio poll in the 1970s.
- Travel shaped many recipes. Tempura came to Japan with Portuguese traders, tacos al pastor grew from the spit-roasting of Lebanese immigrants in Mexico, and Peru's lomo saltado mixes local beef and potatoes with Chinese stir-frying.
- Some carry history. Haitians eat pumpkin soup on January 1 to mark independence in 1804, because the soup was once kept from enslaved people.
Questions
What counts as a national dish?
There is no official world list. A national dish is one that people in a country, and often its government or tourism board, treat as a symbol of their food culture. Some countries have voted on one, some have written it into law, and many simply agree on a favorite.
Why are some famous dishes missing?
Dishes whose origin is claimed by more than one country, such as baklava, hummus, dolma, borscht, pavlova and jollof rice, are left out on purpose. Many neighbors share a food history, and we did not want the quiz to pick a side.
Why are the wrong answers so close?
The other choices come from neighboring countries or places with similar cooking, so you cannot guess by continent alone. Reading the clues in the description, like spices, grains or cooking methods, is the best way to win.
How does the timer bonus work?
It is off unless you switch it on. With it on, each question has a 20-second clock and a right answer scores between 100 and 1,000 points, more for faster answers. Without it, every right answer is worth 500.
Is my score saved?
Your best score for each question type and region is saved in this browser only. There is no account and nothing is uploaded.