Curry Smugglers Review: The Moreish Margate-Made Snacks We Couldn’t Stop Eating

Indian snacks in a can, anyone?

A verbatim question I’ve used every time I pulled out a Curry Smugglers snack can recently.

Immediate reaction? “What are those?”, before immediately reaching for a handful. The branding is bold, the cans are brilliant and the flavours bring something much more interesting to the snack table than another standard bag of crisps.

Curry Smugglers takes inspiration from South Asian street snacking culture, giving classics like Bombay Mix, Pakora and Chakli a more modern, playful twist. The snacks are handmade in small batches in Margate, using aromatic spices and all-natural vegan ingredients, then packed into recyclable aluminium cans designed for pubs, bars, delis, farm shops and food halls.

In other words, they are not trying to be another bag of crisps.

They are trying to bring a bit of foodie theatre to the snack table.

What are Curry Smugglers?

Curry Smugglers is a savoury snack brand created by Steve and Rosie, first-generation British Asians and self-confessed snacking obsessives.

The story behind the name is brilliant. It nods to Steve’s mum, who was apparently caught bringing spices into 1970s Britain at a time when the UK’s idea of spice was very different to what it is now. That sense of humour runs through the whole brand: cheeky, proud, bold and rooted in Desi food culture.

The snacks themselves are inspired by Mumbai’s foodie heritage, with familiar South Asian flavours presented in a way that feels fresh, fun and made for sharing.

The Curry Smugglers packaging

Before you even taste them, Curry Smugglers makes an impression.

The cans feel completely different from the usual plastic snack bags we are used to seeing on shelves. They are colourful, sturdy and instantly more memorable. You could imagine them lined up behind a bar, stacked in a deli, packed into a hamper or opened during drinks with friends.

We actually did'n’t even empty them into bowls when we tried them, because the cans looked so good on the table. They are easy to pass around, easy to dip into (or pour out the closer you get to the bottom), and make the whole experience feel more fun.

A small detail we also loved was that every can has “mental health matters” printed in the corner; blended into the design.

That message has a personal story behind it. Curry Smugglers shares that its logo was created by Lauren, a talented graphic designer and friend of the founders, who sadly took her own life in 2021. After her death, the founders put the project on hold, but later decided they wanted her creativity to become part of a brand that could help raise awareness of mental health, particularly across hospitality and beyond.

The brand also uses its platform to signpost conversations and organisations supporting mental health and wellbeing, including Talk Club, The Burnt Chef Project and So Let’s Talk.

It gives the packaging an extra layer of meaning. It is still fun, colourful and snackable, but there is also a clear reminder that the brand is trying to do something more than just sell savoury snacks.

Steve, whose mum inspired the name ‘Curry Smugglers’!

How we tried them

We tried the Curry Smugglers range in a few different settings, which actually felt like the right way to test them. These are snacks made for real moments: at your desk, before dinner with friends, on the beach and in front of the telly.

The Bombay Mix, which is low heat, was tried at the desk. Possibly dangerous, because it was incredibly hard to stop eating once the can was open. This was my absolute favourite. You get the carby crunch of the mix first, then a light heat afterwards, which makes it really moreish without being overwhelming. It has that ideal savoury snack balance where the texture keeps you going back and the spice builds gently in the background.

The Chakli, also low heat, came out at a friend’s house before dinner. This made total sense as a sharing snack, especially because the can format made it feel more interesting than putting out another packet of crisps. It had a great crunch and worked well for people to keep dipping into while chatting, without the flavour being too intense or distracting.

The Masala Corn, which is medium heat, was tried on the beach. Crunchy, spiced snacks on the beach might not be the most obvious pairing, but it was perfectly paired with a tinned G&T. It brought more heat than the low heat options, while still feeling very snackable.

The Pakora, also medium heat, was eaten sitting in front of the telly, which is probably one of the most honest snack tests there is. If you keep reaching for it without thinking, it is doing its job. It had that savoury, spiced comfort you want from an evening snack when you are not looking for anything too polished or complicated.

Across the range, the main thing we kept saying was how hard they were to stop eating. They have that proper “just one more handful” quality.

Should you buy Curry Smugglers?

Yes, especially if you like savoury snacks with flavour, crunch and a bit of character.

The Bombay Mix was the standout for me, thanks to its carby crunch and light heat, but the whole range worked well across different settings. The cans look great, the flavours are moreish and the snacks bring something genuinely different to the table.

Curry Smugglers is a great alternative to crisps, particularly for drinks, parties, beach days, pub tables and sharing moments.

They are fun, full of flavour and very, very easy to keep eating.

Disclaimer: We were gifted these products in exchange for an honest review.