Kolkata Jhaalmuri magic in London! British man turns jhalmuri wallah, video goes viral

There is something truly magical about Kolkata, especially when it comes to street food. Among the many delectable treats, jhalmuri stands out as a popular snack, with its combination of puffed rice, spices and fresh ingredients. For many who have left the city, the longing for a taste of home can be overwhelming, but one man's unexpected encounter in London reminded him that home is never too far away.

While exploring the streets of London, a food vlogger stumbled upon a stall that brought the essence of Kolkata to life. He was drawn to a familiar setup called the Jhaalmuri Express, where a British vendor had recreated the classic Kolkata snack. The stall featured an authentic Indian-style trolley, laden with both steel and plastic containers.

In a video posted on Instagram, we see the vendor expertly preparing the jhalmuri. With a skilled hand, he puts some puffed rice (muri) into a steel vessel and adds a generous handful of fresh coriander leaves. He then adds an array of spices, followed by freshly chopped cucumbers and onions. The vendor mixes everything with a long, thin knife and squeezes fresh lemon juice over the mixture.

The final touch was the preparation of a classic serving cone made from old newspapers – just like Indian street food vendors do. For the final step, the vendor added a drizzle of imli chutney to the mix and garnished it with bhujia and masala. Taking a bite, the vlogger described the dish as “Kolkata style, authentic and spicy Jhaalmuri in London.”

The video soon went viral and people flocked to the comments section.

A user wrote, “ Chaaku Tak same hai (even the knife is the same).” Another joked, “Uncle completed 6 months diploma in jhalmuri marking.”

“I wanna know his story,” a comment read. Another joked, “Britishers after colonising India for 200 years,” read a comment.