In Bangladesh, the marriage of spice and puffed rice gives birth to the beloved street snack known as jhal muri—an iconic treat reminiscent of fiery popcorn. It's a quintessential part of South Asian street food culture, where a bit of heat is always expected.
This flavorful concoction features puffed rice as its star ingredient, jazzed up with a symphony of hot and sour flavours. Think lime, chillies, and ghugni—a chickpea curry—mingling together to create a tantalizing blend. Spritzed generously with lime juice for that tangy kick, jhal muri is a timeless classic.
During any kind of festival, jhal muri is a must-have, embodying the essence of our culinary traditions.
Food writer and historian, Pritha Sen said: “The origin of jhal muri is in Calcutta started by Bihari migrant workers when the metropolis was growing as the capital of the British Empire in the subcontinent and in Undivided Bengal. It was probably carried to Bangladesh by Muslim Bihari settlers who moved post-Partition – in 1947,” reports BBC.
Pritha Sen told Scroll.in: “Jhal muri first grew popular on the streets of Kolkata, the former capital of the British Raj, during World War II.
“Kolkata (then Calcutta) played an important role in the military operations during the war,” said Sen. “There was a large influx of labour from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh at the time, and Biharis recognised how crucial the muri was. There was business potential in selling it as a snack to British soldiers, American GIs and the Bengali babus.”
“Back then, muri vendors used old cigarette tins to mix their puffed rice."
"But Biharis were not the first to invent jhal muri, or to bring it to Kolkata.”
“Jhal muri existed in different forms and was eaten regularly,” Sen said. “Bihari migrants only made it common as a street snack. The street recipe was a combination of the Bengali and Bihari palette and eventually became Kolkata’s own.”
Yet, amidst attempts to elevate its status, we believe there's beauty in simplicity. Like the fiery sensation that tingles your senses, there's a heartfelt charm in sticking to the classic recipe. Sometimes, the magic lies in keeping things uncomplicated.