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Beyond Ghewar, Delhi's Teej sweet scene offers diverse delights. Indulge in Malpua at Haldiram's or Chaina Ram, and savor Kesar Peda at Bikanervala or Shri Bankey Bihari Misthan Bhandar. Don't miss Mawa Gujiya at Haldiram's or Om Sweets, and relish Balushahi at Chaina Ram or Kaleva Sweets.
When we think of Teej, Ghewar often hogs all the limelight, but the sweet scene in Delhi is way bigger. This Teej, experience something beyond - not that Ghewar isn’t amazing, because it is! - but instead try some lesser-known but equally divine sweet treats that embody the essence of celebration.
From old favourites to well-remembered classics, the capital has so many sweet shops and little markets packed with creative confections made with love, care, and loads of ghee! In a city where mithai isn’t just food, it’s emotion, there is something special about making a conscious effort to explore new flavours during Teej, which has itself become a wonderful heady ritual. Here is a short list of 4 must-try Teej sweets in Delhi and where to get them. Malpua: Malpua is an indulgent Indian sweet that shines particularly at festive occasions like Teej. These syrupy or rich 'pankakes' make use of a batter of flour and milk, but on festival occasions more often than not also utilize khoya (a type of milk fudge) and are delicately flavoured with fennel seeds, cardamom, and saffron. They are a deep-fried delicacy with a crisp edge and melt-in-your-mouth centre - they provide fascinating texture and aroma, especially when generously soaked in rabdi.
In Delhi you will find some of the best and freshest Malpuas at any of numerous Haldiram’s outlets across the city, or at the legendary Chaina Ram Sindhi Confectioners in Fatehpuri.
Kesar Peda: Kesar Peda is an ageless festive favorite soft, rich, and delicately scented with saffron flavor. They are small sweets made with thickened milk, sugar, and lots of kesar for the color and glow. These desserts are a perfect little treat or for gifting in festive offerings. Kesar Pedas are reliable offerings during festivals like Diwali, Raksha Bandhan, and of course, Teej! If you are in Delhi, you must try the Kesar Pedas at Bikanervala, where the sweets remain consistent, or grab the traditional Kesar Pedas at the historic Shri Bankey Bihari Misthan Bhandar in Chandni Chowk.
Mawa Gujiya: Mawa Gujiya is an evergreen festive favourite and with no doubt a 'must' during your Teej festivities. This crescent-shaped decadent pastry is filled with a mixture of mawa (khoya), dry fruits and some cardamom, all encased in a crisp, golden pastry shell. Every morsel produces the perfect balance of crunch and creaminess and sweetness and gives you one of the most decadent eatables of the season. Deeply rooted in tradition and universally loved, Gujiyas epitomize festive cheerfulness and homemade love.
In Delhi you can find some of the tastiest at all the Haldiram's stores around the city or enjoy the very popular versions at Om Sweets in Delhi and Gurgaon.
Balushahi: Balushahi is one of those quintessential Indian sweets that are always in style particularly around festivals like Teej, when indulgence is part of the spirit and none is spared! Sometimes compared to a glazed doughnut as an Indian cousin, this flaky yet deep-fried dough is made from refined flour and ghee and also dipped in a light sugar syrup which makes it sweet in addition to its inherent texture.
The combination of the Bolushahi's crisp outer shell and soft, slightly crumbly inner centre is part of what balances it between indulgence and dessert.
It's also part of our childhood for many people, so it is a staple in many Indian households and treated as a must for festive occasions. Sweet is a comfortable mithai!Try some of the best ones in Delhi yet, with Balushahi, such as Chaina Ram in Fatehpuri and Kaleva Sweets in Gole Market, who still preserve the Balushahi tradition's taste and essence from all those years ago!
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