Favorite Sweets of India

For a foreigner, a trip to India is like a spa day for your taste buds. They are treated to an eclectic smorgasbord of flavours and spices, each more tantalizing than the last. But Indian food is more than just nourishment for the body; it is also food for the mind. And one of the best kinds of Indian foods are the sweets.

Here are some of my favorite sweets to India that everyone visiting India should try.

1. Gulab jamun – This is a universal favorite – made of khoya, deep fried to a rich golden hue, and then dipped in sugar syrup. It’s absolute heaven for the taste buds.
2. Rasagulla – These are dumplings made of cottage cheese and semolina dough. The best rasagullas are found in the Eastern part of India (say Kolkata).
3. Peda – Pedas are popular throughout India but each region has its own variation. One of my favorites though is the Mathura one, which is a must-try. Pedas are made of khoya, sugar, saffron, cardamom seeds, and pistachios. One major advantage of pedas is that it is a dry sweet, and can be easily packed to take home or as gifts to family and friends.
4. Ladoo – Ladoos are round sweet balls which are rolled by hands. The motichur ladoos are most popular and are the best-known variety of ladoos. My favorite ladoos are the Tirupathi ladoos that devotees get as prasad from the temple.
5. Mysore pak – This is another favorite sweet of mine. It originates from Mysore in the south. Very heavy on the ghee but still really delicious. You cannot stop with just one. The best Mysore pak is from Sri Krishna Sweets in Bangalore. You cannot visit this city without buying boxes to bring back home. My favorite version though is the one my mom makes for us at home!
6. Modak – This is traditionally made in most Hindu households for the festival of Ganesha Chaturthi and offered to the God, as it is supposed to be Lord Ganesha’s favorite dish. This dish comes in both sweet and salty versions and both are equally delicious.
7. Soan papdi – This sweet originated from the state of Gujarat in the west. This is another personal favorite. I love its crisp and flaky texture, it’s also fairly mild when it comes to the sweet taste. So, if you don’t have a huge sweet tooth, this is the sweet you should try. Haldiram’s have the best soan papdi in my opinion!
8. Jalebi – The main ingrdients of jalebu are channa, urad dal, and sugar syrup. This is then deep fried and immersed in sugar syrup. Utterly delicious! The best places to try these are in the streets of Ahmedabad in Gujarat, where this is even considered as a breakfast dish! A similar dish is the jangri, which is the South Indian equivalent and slightly less rich than a jalebi.
9. Barfi – Barfi actually means snow. Did you know? This dish is a condensed form of sugar and milk cooked together. It can then be customized with mango, coconut, almonds, or cashewnuts.
10. Kaju Katli – Last but not the least is the humble kaju (almond) katli. I say humble, because this is available every where, and is so common that locals sometimes get bored of it. However, it is such a quintessentially Indian sweet that you cannot leave India without giving this a try.

So, these are the most popular Indian sweets that are particular favorites of mine. However, there are tons more available. Especially if you go to the Eastern and Western parts of India, Ahmedabad and Kolkata are havens for sweet lovers.