Curry is a method of cooking known in Southern Asia. Curry dishes consist of meat, fish, beans or other vegetables stewed in thick, aromatic sauce. The name comes from the Tamil word which means gravy. In western countries curry is known as a blend of spices rather than the way of preparing a meal. This is due to the British, who in colonial times brought spices from India that were mixed in the right proportions and ready to use. It was meant to facilitate their transport as well as cooking dishes. Despite the fact that the Asians do not use such a solution, but grate roots while cooking, in Europe and America the British way of using curry caught on.