"It’s like something smashable and without consistency."
A new viral video has put Maggi, India’s beloved instant noodles, under international scrutiny thanks to one Italian man’s bewildered first bite.
Shared on Instagram by the popular couple Surbhi and Dario, the video captures Dario’s first experience with homemade Maggi.
It begins with Surbhi placing a plate of the iconic snack in front of him.
The overlay text reads: “POV – You served Maggi to an Italian man.”
Dario hesitates before eating. His expression, initially neutral, turns to visible confusion after the first bite.
The moment has since captured global attention for what many viewers call a hilarious cultural clash.
Clearly taken aback, Dario asks: “What is this?”
His wife replies: “It’s like spaghetti.”
But Dario isn’t convinced: “I don’t know how to describe what I have in my mouth.
“It’s like something smashable and without consistency. Some spicy flavour. It’s not textured, it’s just melting in my mouth.
“Pasta doesn’t melt. Pasta, you bite, you chew, you feel it, you taste. Here you don’t taste.”
The video ends with the caption: “Rated: -1/10 for emotional damage.”
In the caption, Surbhi wrote: “Not every cultural exchange is a success story, I guess. I made Mr P try Maggi for the first time, fully expecting him to fall in love with it (because hello, childhood comfort food!!)
“But nope…it did not pass the Italian taste control check.”
The clip has since amassed over six million views.
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Reactions have poured in from around the world, with viewers alternately laughing, cringing, and defending their favourite snack.
One user wrote: “I can’t stop laughing at his confusion!”
Another added:
“He had no idea what hit him!”
Maggi, introduced in India in the early 1980s, has since become synonymous with home-style comfort.
Its instant preparation, customisable spice level, and nostalgic value make it a staple in Indian households.
But for many viewers, the video is a reminder of how food traditions don’t always translate across cultures.
One person quipped: “It’s the snack that unites the nation, but not the world!”
Others pointed out the difference in culinary expectations.
“The texture definitely throws you off if you’re used to pasta!”
Another added: “It’s just not the same, but we all know Maggi is king in its own way.”
Whether Maggi passes the next “Italian taste control check” remains to be seen.
For now, it remains an undeniable icon of Indian kitchens, no matter how baffling it might be to foreign palates.
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