The latest viral food craze is the cromun, a flaky, buttery croissant stuffed with everyone’s beloved gulab jamun.
Image: Instagram
The latest social media food craze is the "cromun," a French-Indian confection that initially struck me as a prank when it appeared on my For You Page.
It’s essentially a croissant filled with a gulab jamun, a cherished Indian sweetmeat. Gulab jamun, a staple at special events like Diwali, Eid, weddings, and prayers, is traditionally round or finger-shaped and soaked in a rich, sweet syrup—sometimes even dusted with desiccated coconut.
This beloved treat, now transformed into the cromun, is currently making a significant splash in the dessert world.
The origin, perhaps predictably, can be traced back to India, specifically the city of Delhi.
It was created by L'Opéra Pâtisserie, a high-end bakery chain based in the city. The idea was to take a rose-flavoured gulab jamun, soaked in the traditional syrup many have come to love, and place it inside a buttery, flaky French croissant. It is part of the India-France Year of Innovation 2026.
I’ve seen my fair share of weird combinations, including those chocolate samosas at a well-known bakery franchise in Durban, but I can’t say I’m not loving this idea already.
As someone with a serious sweet tooth, I was salivating over the images.
One food influencer, who goes by the Instagram handle of @joethetourier, recreated the cromun on his page.
The comments were wild. But it looked decadent.
Other interesting interpretations of Indian sweetmeats that I've come across
Yes, I can almost hear your brain trying to process this one. But when you watch the video, you will be left salivating.
It was posted on Instagram by a food influencer, who goes by the handle @Foodelhi.
He wrote: Have you ever had a cheesy, spicy jalebi? 🧀🔥Yes, you read that right. This spot in Delhi NCR has flipped the classic dessert on its head and turned it into a crisp, savoury snack instead. Meet the Chilli Cheese Jalebi — made by blending cheddar and mozzarella directly into the batter, fried till perfectly crisp, then dusted generously with a spicy chilli nacho powder.
"And if that wasn’t enough, it’s served with a creamy, cheesy sesame dip on the side. Just hear that crunch. 👂✨Sweet jalebi lovers might be shocked… but I was pleasantly surprised. Would you try this twist?"
Another influencer, @badandbhajiii, shared another recipe that foodies, especially those who appreciate Indian cuisine, would appreciate.
I can't say I'm offended by the combination either. I love parathas. So savoury and sweet is just up my alley.
He wrote: "Had a few requests to make this recently... Also, I have to be honest with you. This isn’t my first time 😭."
I think he nailed it. The comments had followers drooling.
Now I can't say for certain that these options are available in South Africa. But I wouldn't be surprised if variations started popping up, especially in Durban's thriving food scene.