Food is a big part of any country’s culture. It reflects the country’s roots, values and diversity as well. India is no different in this aspect either. India’s vast landscape has also given this country a wide array of food culture, and sweets name (or mithai in Hindi) are an inseparable part of Indian cuisine. For any occasion you mention, there is always a staple sweet ready to add sweetness to the occasion. Each mithai has its own story of origin and area of dominance as well. The rich history of these Indian sweets makes the history of this country even richer.
1. Gulab Jamun
Gulab Jamun is one of the most popular sweets among all the types of sweets in the Indian subcontinent. Its name is made up of two words, ‘Gulab’ meaning ‘rose’ in Hindi and ‘Jamun’ which is a dark purple fruit known for its sweetness. The history of this ball of sweetness is said to be rooted in ancient Persia. According to some, it was a favourite dessert among the Persian royals and high-class people. It is created by deep-frying a khoya ball and soaking it in the chasni/sugar syrup for some time.
2. Jalebi
Jalebi is a crunchy and syrup-soaked sweet that is full of spirals. From just a simple spiral shape to one looking like a flower, jalebi is first deep-fried and then soaked in chasni. Tales of its sweetness can be traced to ancient Persia where it was called ‘Zolbiya’ or ‘Zulabiya’. From there, it travelled to India with Persian traders and won the hearts of the locals. To this day, it is the go-to dessert for many Indians.
3. Rasgulla
Rasgulla has many names and dialects depending on the location you are in, still, it is a little ball of sweetness which is perfect to celebrate any occasion. It is a dessert made of cottage cheese and semolina flour which is kneaded into smooth dough. This dough is then made into small balls and simmered in chasni until cooked. While the origin of this mithai is vehemently contested between two states in India, it is still said to have been invented somewhere between Odisha and West Bengal. Both the states have their variation of this sweets name as well as the story of origin.
4. Ladoo or Laddu
If there is a synonym for Indian sweets name or mithai, it is Laddu. These little balls of sweetness have been the favourite sweets name in the Indian subcontinent for centuries. The name itself will let you know how far back its history goes since it is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Ladduka’ and is mentioned in ancient texts as well. No wonder it has so many variations and ingredients that you can create an entire subsection just of laddus. The main ingredients for laddus are flour (of different varieties), sugar, ghee and dry fruits. There are also variations made out of shredded coconut or sesame seeds. Laddu is often used to devote to the gods and deities in temples and is widely used as a prasad.
5. Barfi
Barfi is a diamond-shaped sweet that is made of condensed milk. It is a popular mithai in north India, whose origin is said to have been in Persia. The name is derived from the Persian word ‘Barf’ which means ‘snow’ because the dessert itself looks like a piece of snow due to its white colour. Although the original recipe uses condensed milk as the base ingredient, another variation made out of cashew nuts (called kaju barfi) is pretty popular as well. It is usually flavoured with nuts and spices to increase its taste.
6. Kheer
Kheer uses rice and milk as the main ingredient, which is a staple grain in Asian households. The simplest recipe of kheer is cooking the rice in milk and adding sugar to make it sweet. This creamy pudding has a history rooted in the Indian subcontinent that dates back to two thousand years ago. The name is also derived from the Sanskrit word ‘kshira’ which means milk. Due to its long-standing history, it is a very popular and well-loved sweets name in India.
7. Mysore Pak
The history of Mysore Pak is rooted in the south Indian city of Mysore. Historical records tell that it was prepared by a royal chef in the palace of Mysore’s then-king, who loved to taste new dishes. It gained popularity after getting approval from the king himself. Mysore Pak is a must-have mithai during festivals, weddings and baby showers in southern India. It is made by cooking and solidifying the mixture of besan, ghee and sugar.
8. Modak
Modak is a traditional sweets name from India whose mention is found even in the Ayurveda and Ramayana. From this fact alone, you can guess its origin and journey through time to reach modern times. It is a sweet dumpling that is made by using rice or wheat flour and filled with coconut, jaggery and spices, then steamed or fried in ghee. It is believed to be the favourite of lord Ganesha, which makes it popular mithai during Ganesh Chaturthi and other events dedicated to him.
9. Kulfi
Kulfi is a beloved dessert in India. It is made up of dairy products and is very creamy in texture. It is equivalent to an ice cream of Indian origin. The name is derived from the Persian word ‘qulfi’ which means a covered cup. It is said to have been invented in the 16th century in Delhi. It is made by freezing the mixture of dense and evaporated milk and using dry fruits to garnish and flavour it. This sweets name is very popular among the Indian crowd, especially during summer months when the heat becomes unbearable.
Conclusion
In India, food and sweets are more than something you consume. They are the representative of the country’s rich history and culture. Many of these little pieces of flavour-packed sweets have become inseparable parts of the Indian sub-continent. People have been creating, evolving and perfecting these recipes for centuries to cater to the tastebuds of Indian people. On top of that, festivals and celebrations are also considered incomplete without these mithais. No wonder, it brings joy to the hearts of millions of people.
Also read: 10 Most Popular Candies in The World
