Biryani was a constant bright spot in our lives in 2020, Zomato, Swiggy and Dunzo give us the proof

• 2020 has indeed been a defining year for all delivery businesses in India.
• However, this did not affect India's eternal love for Biryani.
• Biryani was the most ordered dish on Zomato, Swiggy and Dunzo Bangalore.

2020 has made me, as Micheal Scott puts it, a ‘little stitious’. I feel like I should hang a Nimbu Mirchi on Chicken Biryani’s Handi. Who knows what 2021 might bring along in the last level of Jumanji? What if I don’t see the elaichi in my Biryani and end up biting into it next year? (shrieks at the idea of it)

With the majority of the population being shut indoors for a larger part of 2020, Indians turned to their favourite food to cure their isolation blues. During this ‘unprecedented year,’ the only constant has been our undeniable love for good food. Food made quarantining, the long working hours and staying far from loved ones, a little easier and tastier. Some people put on their chef’s hat, others decided to order happiness from delivery apps like Swiggy, Zomato and Dunzo in the form of Biryanis.

Our routines altered, we started exercising and jumped from one fitness app onto the other, but Biryani was that constant bright bowl of happiness.

Why Biryani, you ask? Biryani is that pot of happiness that never disappoints. “Biryani ek art hai, art.”

It takes you on a roller-coaster ride with its comforting warmth, spices that bring water in your eyes, elaichi (well, who put you here?), and its aroma. Like 2020, it is multi-layered but each layer promises something exciting and it also has different versions like Kolkata biryani, Muradabadi biryani, Hyderabadi Biryani, Ambur biryani, to name a few -- so that you never get bored. It is the best sleep inducer that makes a boring Zoom call interesting. It doesn’t burn in a hole in your pocket either.

You can also take a picture of it to add some colours to your Instagram feed and your DMs flooding with, “akele akele” is just a perk that comes with it. Just a mention of it is enough to make one’s mouth water and feel hungry. Need I go on?

Rebel Foods’ Behrouz Biryani even released a campaign to celebrate India’s love for Biryani.

Speaking on why Biryani is special, Indrajit Ghosh, Global Head of Design & Communication, Rebel Foods, said, “Biryani is not just-another dish in India. It evokes emotions and holds a special place in everyone’s lives.”

It goes without saying that Indians’ love for Biryani was unaffected by the pandemic this year. In fact, the mighty Chicken Biryani reaffirmed its place as India’s favourite dish. It was the most ordered dish on FoodTech apps like Zomato, Swiggy and Dunzo. With a whopping 44,30,008 orders on Zomato and 5.5 lakh on Swiggy, it has enjoyed popularity across all states, leaving behind pizza, pasta and french fries.

As per Swiggy’s StatEATstics report, Veg, Chicken, Mutton or Aloo, collectively some form of Biryani was ordered more than once every second in 2020! For every Veg Biryani, there were six Chicken Biryani orders. Chicken Biryani was the number one sold dish, Mutton Biryani snagged the 5th spot. Swiggy also added 3 lakh new customers because of Biryani as they made their debut on the app by ordering the dish.

Zomato, on the other hand, delivered 22 biryani every minute in 2020! After the lockdown eased in our country, Zomato received around 44 lakh plus orders for Biryani and it even made a CV for its most-ordered dish to woo its consumers.

On Dunzo, Bangalore ordered the most Chicken Biryanis amongst other states.

Google Trends’s interest chart is another proof why India’s love for Biryani is eternal.

Biryani also made Dominos’ franchise owner, Jubilant, fatter in November as its share prices soared by 7%. It was shortly after Jubilant Foodworks announced a new brand called Ekdum! with a variety of biryanis from across India.

It also filled the holes in our hearts as singles were responsible for more than 70% biryani orders, revealed Swiggy.

Here's hoping 2021 doesn't break our love affair with this regal dish.