Patak’s, The British Brand Behind Britain’s Indian Curries

Patak’s Is Not Indian And That Still Surprises People

Walk down any supermarket aisle in the UK and you’ll see jars of curry paste and sauce sitting comfortably alongside gravy granules and baked beans. Most people assume they’re imported straight from India.

They’re not.

Patak’s is a British brand, created in Britain, for British kitchens. And once you know the story, it makes perfect sense.

The Real Origins of Patak’s

Patak’s was founded in 1957 in the United Kingdom by Laxmishankar and Bhadraben Patak, immigrants from India who brought family spice recipes with them.

In the early days, their products weren’t aimed at the mass market. They were made for local Indian communities in Britain who wanted familiar flavours using ingredients available in the UK.

At the time, Indian food in Britain was still niche. Restaurants existed, but home cooking was difficult. Ingredients were hard to find, and recipes often felt intimidating to British home cooks.

Patak’s changed that by doing something clever, they simplified Indian flavours without stripping away their character.

How Patak’s Became a British Staple

As Britain’s love affair with curry grew through the 1960s and 1970s, Patak’s quietly moved from specialist shops into mainstream supermarkets. This shift marked the moment when Indian-inspired flavours became part of everyday British home cooking, not just something ordered from a takeaway.

It was during this period that Patak’s really found its identity. The brand focused on making curry approachable for British households, offering sauces and pastes that were easy to use, consistent, and suited to weeknight meals.

We stock a range of Patak’s curry pastes and sauces, all grouped together in one place for easy browsing.

Patak’s didn’t try to replicate Indian street food or regional dishes exactly. Instead, it focused on flavours that worked for British tastes and habits:

Balanced spice, not overwhelming heat

Clear instructions and reliable results

Sauces and pastes that worked with chicken, lamb, or vegetables

Meals that could be cooked on a weeknight

That’s why dishes like Tikka Masala, Korma, and Balti became so closely associated with British food culture. They’re inspired by Indian cooking, but shaped by British kitchens.

In fact, Chicken Tikka Masala is often described as Britain’s national dish, and Patak’s played a big role in making that happen at home.

British Indian Food, Not Traditional Indian Food

This is an important distinction.

Patak’s products aren’t pretending to be traditional Indian recipes handed down unchanged for centuries. They represent British Indian food, a fusion born from immigration, adaptation, and everyday life in the UK.

And honestly, that’s part of their charm.

They tell a wider story about modern Britain, how global flavours become familiar, comforting, and eventually completely normal.

A jar of Patak’s in the cupboard is as British as a tin of beans.

Fun Facts About Patak’s

A few things people often don’t realise:

Patak’s products are used in millions of British homes every week

The brand helped normalise curry nights at home, not just takeaways

It’s now part of a global food group, but its flavour profiles remain UK-focused

Nearly every British household has tried Patak’s at least once

For many Brits, Patak’s was their first experience cooking curry at home.

Why Patak’s Works So Well in the Philippines

This is where Patak’s really shines for Filipino kitchens.

Patak’s fits naturally with everyday Filipino cooking because:

It pairs perfectly with rice

Works well with chicken, pork, seafood, or vegetables

Adds flavour without overpowering dishes

Requires no specialist equipment or ingredients

You don’t need to understand British food culture to enjoy it. You just cook it, taste it, and it works.

In our opinion, Patak’s is one of the easiest British brands for Filipinos to appreciate straight away.

Final Thoughts

Patak’s isn’t Indian, and it doesn’t need to be.

It’s a British brand that reflects how Britain cooks, eats, and adapts flavours from around the world. That’s exactly why it has lasted for decades and earned its place in the British pantry.

Whether you’re cooking in London or the Philippines, a jar of Patak’s tells a bigger story, one of migration, adaptation, and comfort food done properly.