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‘1 kg would cost ₹7,200’: Indian man stunned to find bhindi sold as premium snack in US
An Indian man was surprised after spotting an 85 gm bhindi snack for nearly ₹600 at a US supermarket.
An Indian man living in the US was left surprised after he spotted a small packet of fried bhindi being sold as a snack at a supermarket. The video, shared on Instagram by Ashish Ahuja, showed him comparing the price of the okra snack with other regular chips available on the shelf.
(Also read: Indian man spots Kesar mangoes at Costco in New Jersey for $19.99, calls it a 'big step in right direction')
In the clip, Ahuja said, "So guys, let me show you something really interesting. Look, what is this? Now, bhindi (ladyfinger or okra) that we use to make vegetable dishes in India, in America, look, that same thing is available as a snack. I mean, properly fried, with spices and everything on it. And check out its price once. How much is it? It's $6.50 USD. Meaning in Indian Rupees, it's around ₹600. And what is the quantity? Just 85 grams."
He then calculated the approximate price if one were to buy a kilogram of the snack. "If we go to buy 1 kg, it will cost around ₹7,250 per kg. Let me give you a reference. This huge packet of Lay's in America is available for just $2.50 USD. And all these chips and snacks are mostly in the range of $2 to $4 USD. So on one hand, you get this huge packet for $2.50, and on the other hand, this tiny packet for $6.50. Now, I think ladyfinger doesn't grow that much in America, maybe that's why it's so expensive. But in India, there is no such problem."
(Also read: US woman compares Indian markets with American stores: ‘Chaos, colours, bargaining’ shape the experience)
‘That’s okra charging you a personality tax’
The video was shared with a caption that read, “Sach batana, ₹7200 mein bhindi ya itne mein toh fridge bhar jaata? We grow up eating bhindi as a basic everyday vegetable. In India, it’s just another sabzi. But in America, they fry it, pack it in a small bag, and suddenly it’s a premium snack on the shelf. 85 grams for $6.50. More expensive than Lays. That’s okra charging you a personality tax. Nobody told bhindi it could do this.”
Watch the clip here:
Internet reacts
The post sparked several amused reactions from social media users, many of whom joked about how a common Indian vegetable had been turned into a costly packaged snack abroad.
One user wrote, "Bhindi got NRI status and forgot its roots." Another said, "In India, mummy makes this with roti, in America it becomes luxury snacking." A third commented, "For ₹7,200, we can buy bhindi for the whole colony."
Another user joked, "This is what happens when sabzi goes to America and gets an accent." Someone else said, "Indian parents will never recover after seeing this price." One comment read, "Bro, even bhindi is doing better abroad than us." Another added, "This is not snack, this is emotional damage for every Indian."
(Disclaimer: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.)
