London’s paan stain ‘treasure hunt’: Journalist counts 50 brown marks in 30 minutes, internet can’t stop reacting

Londoners usually count steps on their fitness app. But now, the city has discovered a new outdoor activity: counting paan stains. A London-based journalist turned her regular walk through Wembley into what looked like a live paan spotting competition, and social media cannot stop talking about it. The tone is light, slightly sarcastic and very relatable, but the concern behind it is real. The streets, pavements and even walls are dotted with what she calls “brown stains”, and they are clearly not going unnoticed anymore.

The ‘free-will paan counting project’ goes viral

In the viral clip, journalist Brooke Davis walks through Wembley pointing out the marks one by one. With a straight face, she says, “Have you seen these brown stains in London? I’m spending my day counting them, which is a really interesting use of my free will,” turning the entire situation into unintentional social commentary.

She says she counted nearly 50 stains in just 30 minutes, and even spotted fresh ones appearing while she was still filming. The video is captioned, “Let’s talk about London’s brown stains,” and has already crossed millions of views.

Locals are tired of cleaning… again and again

Brooke Davis says she spoke to residents and shop owners in the area, and the mood is far from amused. Many people said they are fed up with repeatedly scrubbing these stains off their walls and pavements. Hygiene worries are rising, and they want stricter rules so that people stop treating public spaces like personal spittoons.

She also mentions speaking to a shopkeeper who sells paan leaves. He said that only a small minority of customers spit in public. But other members of the community feel they are still left dealing with the stains. Some even want authorities in the Brent area to consider banning paan completely.

Indian users react: embarrassment, jokes and strong opinions

The video has sparked some very emotional comments from Indian users online. One user wrote, “This is highly embarrassing for us,” while another said, “Can’t even defend my own country at this point.”

Others tried balancing humour with logic. One user commented, “Don’t ban paan, just jail people spitting in public. Or massively fine them,” shifting the focus to behaviour instead of the product.
Disclaimer: The views, opinions, and statements mentioned in this article are based on social media posts and public reactions. The Times of India does not independently verify the claims or experiences shared.
Thumb image: Instagram/ @brookedaviesjourno