How Himalayan Products and Food Cultures Are Transforming Everyday Markets Across Delhi

In the bustling lanes of an urban Indian city like Delhi, Himalayan goods are no longer curiosities on the shelf; they are becoming staples in city homes, artisanal stores and trendy cafes. Hardly anyone will find any bustling lane or market in Delhi without a momo stall or hardly you will find any cafe addict not wanting to feast at Majnu Ka Tila or Humayunpur, both hubs of Himalayan cuisine restaurants. 

A growing urban appetite for natural, health-oriented and culturally authentic products has propelled Himalayan salts, herbs, organic honey, traditional foods and hand-woven textiles into mainstream consumption. What was once niche is now a thriving economic connection between mountain producers and urban buyers, fuelled by wellness trends, sustainability concerns and a yearning for stories behind what we eat and wear.

What Has Influenced this Rise in Demand and Who is Profiting From It?

Part of this shift comes from restaurants and cafes that champion direct sourcing from mountain communities. “We ensure to bring ingredients straight from the hills rather than through intermediaries,” says Amar Sherpa, owner of a Himalayan-themed small restaurant in Humayunpur. “It matters for our business too, it is not only a way to honour our cooking and foraging traditions, but also a way to make it cheaper. I have contacts with direct farmers from my village. I get stuff from them at wholesale value, ship it here, sell a part of it as raw material in stalls here around Munirka and the rest of it, I use it in my dishes.” 

From weekly neighbourhood markets to farmers’ stalls in Humayunpur, Munirka and speciality niche locations, Himalayan products are becoming embedded in the urban retail ecosystem. Beyond packaged and processed goods, fresh mountain produce, crisp vegetables, aromatic herbs and traditional food items are now reaching city tables, often commanding premium prices and enthusiastic followings. This cross-regional exchange benefits not only urban consumers but also uplifts remote farming communities by providing consistent demand and new markets.

Sunita Chakma, who runs a grocery shop in Humayunpur, mentioned to us an interesting perspective, “My village farmers are more glad to send me their produce than sell it in markets there because I pay better. I bring wild ginger from my village at 20 rupees for 2 kilos and sell it for 200, it's a major profit for me even after all costs, thus I pay a larger chunk to them than they sell it for cheaper at local markets or to other middlemen.”

Himalayan Foodways and Culinary Influences

Culinary traditions from the Himalayas are also migrating to the city. Dishes such as siddu, momo or thukpa, are now staples in food markets and street corners, celebrated for their rustic depth and cultural resonance. At the vibrant MKT weekly market, sellers from Himalayan regions bring their produce and crafts straight to urban consumers. “These Tibetan-style shawls and caps aren’t just clothes; they’re stories of our hills,” says Tashi Gurung, a Himalayan attire seller. “People here relate to the colours and patterns, they wear them proudly as part of their identity.”

Beside him, Rohan Gurung, a seller of Himalayan beef jerky (sukuti), observes, “City customers are curious; many have never tasted this before, but they love the deep mountain flavours and ask about our traditional drying methods.”

These foods are not just novelties but bridges between cultures. They carry with them centuries of tradition, practices honed for the high-altitude climate, and stories of survival, celebration, and community that resonate with consumers in bustling cities. With urban populations more open than ever to culinary exploration, such foods offer both novelty and connection to a heritage deeply rooted in India’s mountainous heartlands.

Urban Neighbourhoods Embrace Mountain Cultures

The Himalayan influence is also palpable in local neighbourhood markets across the city. In Humayunpur, vegetable seller Sujal Gangmei notes, “More customers are asking for organic produce, asking where it’s grown. If it’s from the hills, they seem to trust it more.” In Kamla Nagar, a student-centred district known for its eclectic food scene, Anil Chauhan, owner of a siddu stall, adds, “Young people come in asking for siddu with chutney; they think it’s something new, but once they try it, they keep returning. They talk about the hills, and suddenly mountain food feels very cool.”

At a laphing stall in Humayunpur, we talked to some customers and one of them shared with us an interesting perspective, “It is sad that Himalayan food is rare to find in their own local markets. I have gone to so many places in the hills, and on these ‘mall roads’ or commercial tourist spots, you will not find any authentic local food; you will only find these ‘pahadon wali maggi’ and chai sutta.”

Rheayang Gandhi, a research scholar in Himalayan cultural studies based in Munirka, Delhi, talked to us about another nuance of this rise in demand, “Clusters such as the Tibetan, Nepalese and Bhutanese communities around the MKT settlement, where several thousand people from these hill regions have made a home over decades, and North Eastern populations concentrated in areas like Munirka have created vibrant niche neighbourhoods. In these spaces, urban residents are not just customers; they are part of cultural ecosystems. There is domestic demand too; migrants and travellers from Himalayan states seek out familiar produce, attire and food, while city dwellers explore these goods out of genuine interest in cultural authenticity. This dual demand enriches both urban markets and the mountain producers who supply them.” 

Gandhi’s perspective about the spatial nature of livelihoods is evident from population data as well. Majnu ka Tilla (MKT) is a well-known enclave in North Delhi, historically established as a Tibetan settlement. As of 2000, the local population was reported at around 2,500 residents in some 378 family groups, forming one of the city’s most visible Himalayan-linked communities. 

While there are no official neighbourhood-level census figures for the number of North Eastern Indian residents specifically in Munirka, estimates from migration studies put the broader number of North East Indian migrants in the Delhi region at around 90,000–200,000 people, concentrated in clusters such as Munirka, Humayunpur and nearby districts, for employment and education opportunities.

The mountains have indeed come to the markets of urban India, through produce, foodways and cultural exchange. Whether through direct sourcing in restaurants, artisanal stalls in weekly markets, or humble siddu shops in college districts, the legacy of the Himalayas is increasingly shaping how urban India eats, shops and connects with its diverse cultural tapestry.