From the steaming hot kalai ruti of our very own Chapai Nawabganj to Italy's beloved focaccia—every culture has its iconic bread. When it comes to ranking the best of the best, one bread has claimed the throne, and that is none other than butter garlic naan.

According to TasteAtlas's March 2025 rankings, this naan variant has officially been crowned the world's best bread, beating global favourites like bagels, Bolani, and pita. As naan has long been our favourite too, this acknowledgement feels good.

But what makes this classic so irresistible?

Bread has a language of its own — unspoken yet understood across continents, cultures, and generations. It is, in its simplest form, flour, water, and time. And yet, within that basic trinity, an endless version of it emerges, shaped by history, geography, and the hands that knead it.

Naan's place at the table is undeniable. Plain butter naan, butter garlic naan, keema naan, or nan-e-Barbari — we all love them. It's the kind of bread that does not just accompany a meal, it enhances it.

Walk into any deshi restaurant, from the time-worn eateries of Puran Dhaka to the modern upscale diners in Gulshan, and you will never miss finding a hot basket of garlic naan served alongside mouth-watering curries, kebabs, and tandoori treats.

The soft yet slightly crispy, buttery yet airy version of bread carries the aroma of freshly minced garlic and the warmth of ghee or butter in every bite. Traditionally, it is made using flour, water, yeast, salt, sugar, and yoghurt. Once the dough is prepped and ready to rise, it is baked in a tandoor (clay oven), giving it that signature charred, smoky flavour that we all love.

A final brush of butter or ghee, topped with freshly chopped garlic, transforms it into a masterpiece. This simple yet exquisite combination has helped garlic naan become an international favourite, making its way from the heart of the subcontinent to dinner tables worldwide.

So, as the world officially declares garlic naan the best bread, we in this subcontinent simply smile. Because we have known it all along!