A few years ago, I walked into an Indian grocery store and picked up a pack of cake rusk and some masala chips — nothing special, just something to snack on. But one bite in, I was hit with a wave of nostalgia I wasn't expecting. It hit me that since moving to America, I'd barely snacked at all. The stuff on the shelves here just didn't hit the same.

I'm from Pakistan myself, but the flavors of India and Bangladesh have always felt like an extension of home. We're the same people, on the same land, separated by borders that are newer than the food itself.

That one grocery run got me thinking: I couldn't have been the only one craving snacks from back home. And the truth is, it's not always convenient to find a proper desi grocery store — let alone one that's actually stocked well. I'd rather order online and have it show up at my door.

So I started IMLI — a place to get the snacks you grew up with, without the drive. I personally taste and vet everything before it goes on the site. If I wouldn't eat it myself, I'm not selling it to you.

This store has been a labor of love. Enjoy.

— Zain