Sweets are sweets, no matter where
or how it is prepared. Everyone loves to have it in some way or the other
especially people with a sweet tooth. A sweet tooth is a taste for sweet,
sugary food. A love for sugary foods. Most people who profess to have a sweet
tooth are big fans of desserts.
Here is a book on Indian sweets tracing
back their history, preparation techniques, variations in their style
&taste, worldwide recognition, and distinct makers throughout India.
The book of sweets is a full
platter with 20 different traditional Indian sweets which were mostly the contributors'
favourites.
The origin of sweets in the Indian
subcontinent has been traced to at least 500 BCE when, records
suggest, both raw sugar (gur, vellam, jaggery) and refined sugar (sarkara) were
being produced. By 300 BCE, kingdom officials in India were acknowledging five
kinds of sugar in official documents.
The document discusses Indian
sweets, known as 'mithai'. It notes that sweets are an important part of Indian
culture and celebrations. A wide variety of ingredients are used to make Indian
sweets, which are heavier and more intense than Western desserts due to
the use of ingredients like ghee and condensed milk.
Ancient Sanskrit literature
from India mentions feasts and offerings of mithas (sweet). Rigveda mentions a
sweet cake made of barley called apūpa, where barley flour was either fried in
ghee or boiled in water, and then dipped in honey. Malpua preserves both the
name and the essentials of this preparation.
Indian desserts have a long
history, dating back to ancient times. In ancient India, sweet dishes were made
using honey, jaggery, and fruits. Milk-based desserts became popular during the
Mughal era, which brought Persian influence to Indian cuisine.
The arrival of the
Mughals in the early 16th century played a significant role in the
evolution of sweets and mithai in the Indian subcontinent. Recipes featuring
(then) luxurious ingredients like saffron, nuts, dried fruits, and rose water
were now at the fingertips of confectioners and chefs alike.
Here in this book sweet dishes
made using date palm jaggery finds place more often. How the sweet dishes found
the route to the Homes of a common man from the Royal kitchens can be
understood with elaborate information attached to each sweet.
Sweets are an important part
of religious ceremonies and rituals. They are offered to the gods as a symbol
of devotion and reverence. In some cultures, sweets are also distributed among
the devotees as prasad or a blessing from the gods. Sweets are believed to
bring good luck, peace, happiness, and prosperity.
Apart from these, the book carries
the influence of sweets on arts, crafts, paintings, music, literature, movies,
and many other areas of human life.
Traditional Indian sweets have
gained significant recognition due to their widespread consumption and
deep-rooted cultural significance. They have always held a special place in the
diets of both Indians and people worldwide.
Secondly, the variety of
ingredients used in Indian sweets is diverse and unique. From milk and ghee to
nuts and fruits, Indian sweets are made with a wide range of ingredients,
giving them a rich and indulgent taste. This variety of ingredients also
reflects the diverse and vibrant culture of our country.
India has had a long and rich
tradition of sweets or 'mithais,' and they have an eternal significance in
Indian culture. Sweets signify happiness, celebration, good omen, &
prosperity. No festival, ceremony, or occasion can be complete without Indian
sweets.
If someone is not allowed to have sweets, that will be very sad no? Read this
Whether it's a wedding, a
festival, or a special milestone, sweets are believed to bring good fortune and
prosperity to the individual and their loved ones. The act of sharing and
consuming sweets during these occasions is seen as a gesture of spreading happiness
and blessings.
In this book though trivia, world records, postal covers on sweets, and
a steamer in a museum that was used to prepare modak were all enjoyable ones as
far as they are about sweets. Isn’t it?
Then wait no more, buy a copy of
the book, and get to know more about sweets.
(Received a Kindle copy of the book
from the Samata Dey Bose in return of an honest review)
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