Kolkata Jhalmuri Waala Coaster

Kolkata Jhalmuri, a quintessential street food, originated during World War 2, when Bihar migrants popularized it as a quick snack for British soldiers, workers and locals combining Bihari, Bengali and British influences. It evolved from traditional rural puffed rice snacks, using mustard oil and a unique masala, becoming a staple of Kolkata’s street culture. Jhalmuri (Bengali: ঝালমুড়ি) is a popular street snack in the Bengali, Bihari, Bhojpuri, Odia, Assamese and Tripura cuisine of the Indian subcontinent, made of puffed rice and an assortment of Indian spices, vegetables, Bombay mix (chanachur) and mustard oil. It is popular in Bangladesh and in the neighbouring Indian states of Bihar, West Bengal, Tripura, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Odisha. It became popular in London when a British chef named Angus Denoon tried this snack in Kolkata and started selling it on the streets of London. The popularity of Jhalmuri has also reached other western cities like New York City through the Bangladeshi diaspora. Ghoti Gorom (Bengali: ঘটি গরম) is another similar street snack food famous in Bengal, Bangladesh and North East India. Ghoti gorom is very similar to such street food like Jhal muri, bhel or dhal muri, similar in taste but does not have puffed rice or murmura. Ghoti gorom consists of sev/bhujiya mixed with chanachur (a spicy mixture), chopped onions, green chilies, chopped raw mango slices, mustard oil, and various other spices.