Why do they have bowls of spice at the enterance of Indian Resturants.?

Question

When I go into an indian resturant I notice they always have a table near the enterance with bowls of spice. Whats it for???

(I never actually ate at an Indian resturant)

Answer 1

Clean your breath, aid in digestion like our "mints"

Answer 2

The people above have it right.  After you have paid your tab, take a small pinch of the mixture  as you head for the door, chew it gently, swishing the flavor around the inside of your mouth.... After about 10 min or so.. spit it out. Some may swallow it, but I choose not to.

Answer 3

mistress of spice is correct....

it is not for people entering it ... rather for people who had finish they meals and waiting at the cashier to pay their food / receive their change.......

however nowadays some of these "spice" can be sweet and when the restaurant is full and you've got to wait for your table... alot of people now actually eat it for fun while waiting ....

Answer 4

They are not bowls of spice really, they are called MUKHWAS.  They freshen the breath & aid in digestion after the meal.  They are usually a mixture of fennel seeds, anise seeds, coconut flakes, sesame seeds, colored sugar candy, rock sugar pieces, sugar coated fennel seeds......

LOL:  it does look like potpourri!  I never thought about that!  That's too funny!

Answer 5

I wondered about that stuff too, but  I didn't want to ask the people that worked there.  I thought it looked an awful lot like potpourri.  The answer you got from Mistress of Spices has now cleared up my question too!