HISTORY OF BENGALI SWEETS.
West Bengal the easterly state is considered to be the cultural capital of India.The people used to speak in Bengali language.They are on infectiously passionate lot and few things unite them more than their passion for food especially for sweet.
Million of sweet meat are consumed in Bengal.Each will find item of sweet meat in the breakfast,lunch and dinner in Bengali room.
The cuisine of Bengal differs from that of northern ,western or southern part of India,where mustard oil is the cooking medium instead of other oils or coconut oil.The spice differ those used in India ,usually food is mixture of sweet & spice flavor.
- INVENTION OF SANDESH
Bengal which was previously known as "Gour Banga" got its name for abundant production of Gur (jaggary).Sweet is invented experimentally out of sheer necessity from casein(chhanna).During the days of 19th century milkman in West Bengal were left wit plenty of unsold milk.The unsold milk would try sour and form chhanna.To make it palatable molasses and sugar were mix with it.A paste was formed.This uneven soft paste called "Makha",which is the precursor of today's sandesh.
At the time,at breakfast often fried flour products soaked in sweet water namely 'Gaja,Zilapi,khaza,motichur'etc were served.Mr Paran Chandra Nag a sweet meat artist ,father of Bhim Chandra Nag came from a village Janai district Hoogly started a small shop at Bowbazar area in the year 1826 for specially sandesh.He mastered the art of sandesh making by the correct mix of sugar and flour.His patrons were Raja Rammohan Roy,Rani Rashmoni,& Asutosh Mukhopadhya.
- Invention of Rosogolla
In the year 1868 one poor Bengali Sri Nabin Ch Das invented the famous syrupy sweet Rosogolla in a tiny shop at Baghbazar .He struggled but every time he tried o boil the casein balls in syrup ,they disintegreated .A last he discovered the presence of an enzyme in the casein to which he played the trick and finally manage to create the Rossogolla.
Mr.Krishna Ch Das (K.C.DAS) was the only son of Mr.Nabin Chandra Das open a separate shop in 1930 at Jorasanko.K.C.Das also invented the "Rosomalai" and open the branches at Esplanade East and Chittaranjan Avenue.In 1965 sweet meat control order came when shop was closed down ,but incidentally the Esplanade east branch escaped the decree as it sold items other then sweet.The Nobel laureate Tagore was like the Rosogolla.
Today rosogolla from Kolkata has become so famous that foreigners cannot resist the temptation of having them at banquet too.
Canned rosogolla introduce by K.C.Das.
OTHER FAMOUS ESTABLISHMENT
Other institution grew up at that time they were Dwarik Ghose and Ganguram both were 104 years old.
Dwarik Ghose the concept of modern marketing to promote their products in the city.Lila Devi wife of writer Banaphool said that there were two creators of taste in Bengal ,first was Dwarik Ghose & the second was Rabindra Nath Thakur.Dwarik Ghose opend a shop at north kolkata in 1885 and in 1926.he is famous for sandesh pera.
In all there were nine shops in kolkata owned by Dwarik Ghose family.Maharaja of Lalgola,Maharaja of Burdwaman,Raja of Natore,George the V all were customer of Dwarik 'Golapi Pera' ,'Ice Cream Sarbat'.
Ganguram chourasia first establish d a small at maniktala,and gradually from 1885 till now the Ganguram & sons the confectioner is going strong in Bengal.their Vivekananda road branch is the best one in kolkata among the ten branches.Cham cham',Misti Doi',' Rabri 'are very popular in Ganguram.
Nakul Chanra Ghose at bagbazar was famous for its Jhalbhara Talsas sandesh ,later on Sen Mahasoy, Girish Ghose they came into lime light .
