During the 1980s, when the city’s ice-cream lovers were exploring 25 different flavors of kulfis at Sreeraj Lassi Bar, founder Abdu Rehman introduced a one-of-a-kind cold delicacy. It wasn’t quite a dessert, nor a juice, and not even as thick as their popular lassis. It was a delightful mix of semia (vermicelli), segu dana (tapioca pearls), sabzi beenj (basil seeds), dry fruits, rose milk, all topped with kulfi – the iconic falooda.
“My father is a creative soul. He traveled extensively during the 70s before opening the kulfi parlour. It was during one of his trips to Mumbai that he first tasted falooda and decided to bring the idea back home,” says Kahab CK, Rehman’s third son.
In the summer of 1985, Abdu Rehman introduced the falooda to Bangalore. “He gave out samples to our patrons for a month. Once he was confident that people loved it, it became a permanent feature on the menu.” Today, Sreeraj’s falooda remains a popular item across its eight outlets in the city – Shivajinagar, Jayanagar, Commercial Street, RT Nagar, Kamaraj Road, Banaswadi, Shanti Nagar, and Palace Road. “It’s a royal drink. You have to taste it to understand its charm,” Kahab shares. The falooda’s rich dry fruit flavors, rose milk essence, and smooth kulfi topping create a symphony of tastes. “While the ingredients are simple, it’s their perfect balance that makes it a standout drink. We recently introduced the Badami falooda, featuring almond-flavored milk,” he adds.
Back in the 80s, a glass of falooda was priced between Rs 15-20. Today, it costs Rs 50, with double ice cream falooda at Rs 60, and triple ice cream at Rs 70, reflecting rising costs. “It’s both a drink and a dessert, so you can savor it either way.”
In the 1990s, another juice center tried to imitate Sreeraj’s name and menu. “Their products could never match our taste, especially not our falooda. We won a legal case against them, securing the Sreeraj trademark. Since then, we’ve continued serving the falooda under our name, maintaining the same quality by training staff across all locations. Our falooda is also a hit at our Dubai outlet, where both Indians and locals relish its unique taste,” Kahab proudly notes.