Winter in Kolkata is incomplete without koraishuntir kochuri, notun aloo, rosogolla, mishti doi and most importantly, nolen gur. Kochuri, tarkari, dhudh cha and nolen gur er sandesh, ask any Bengali and you will understand their sheer love for food. And this nolen gur love is not just limited to the famous ‘jolbhora sandesh’, Paatishapta, monohora, rasogolla - name it, and there’s a list of way more interesting nolen gur sweets available in the city.
This precious liquid gold, named as nolen gur, is translated as New Jaggery, harvested from the first sap of date palm trees, is connected with Bengal’s soul and culinary heritage. The Bengal people, known for their sweet language and legendary love for desserts, wait an entire year for this specific winter delicacy. Recognising this deep-rooted obsession, Slurrp has carefully shortlisted five legendary, century-old sweet shops that have been relentlessly preserving these traditional flavours for over a hundred years. From the softest Sandesh to the syrupy Rasogolla, these heritage shops offer an authentic taste of history in every single bite.
Here’s more about the hallowed spots where craftsmanship and culture create the sweet, caramel-infused winter memories that will linger on your palate .
Discovering Kolkata's Century-Old Places For Nolen Gur Delicacies You Must Visit This Winter
1. Bhim Chandra Nag
Established in 1826 by Paran Chandra Nag and named after his son, Bhim Chandra Nag is a cornerstone of Kolkata’s confectionery history. Located in Bowbazar, the shop is famous not only for its sweets but also for an iconic grandfather clock with Bengali numerals, custom-made by the British brand Cooke and Kelvey after Thomas Cooke noticed the shop lacked a timepiece in 1858. Over the decades, it has hosted legendary patrons such as Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Rani Rashmoni.
This winter, the shop is bustling with Nolen Gur enthusiasts seeking their famous Jol Bhora and Gur er Rasogolla. They also offer unique variations like Ratabi, Gur er Manohora, Gur er Barfi Sandesh, and the intricately shaped Gur er Paan Sandesh. Their mastery over both karapaak (hard-cooked) and norom paak (soft-cooked) textures ensures a variety of palates are satisfied throughout the season.
In a conversation with the staff at Bhim Chandra Nag, they shared their seasonal focus with Slurrp,
“This year, for the nolen gur section, we are focusing on the signature Jol Bhora, Ratabi, Gur er Manohora, Gur er Barfi sandesh, Gur er Paan sandesh, Gur er Rasogolla and Gur er Manoranjan. Both karapaak and norompaak sandesh are there made from nolen gur throughout the season.”
- Address: 46, Strand Rd, Fairley Place, Barabazar Market, Kolkata, West Bengal 700007
- Phone: 033 2258 0378
- Price for two: 200-250 INR
2. K.C. Das
Image Credit: Saborni Saha
While the K.C. Das shop was formally incorporated in 1930, its roots trace back to Nobin Chandra Das, the inventor of the Rossogolla in 1868. His son, Krishna Chandra Das, expanded this legacy by inventing the Rossomalai and introducing canned sweets to India.
Their winter menu is a tribute to the date palm jaggery. Signature items include Gur Madhuri, Gur malai, and the Nolen Gur version of the classic Kheerkadam, known here as Gur Kadam. Other favourites include Gur er Cham Cham, Gur Pera, and Gur Taalshansh. Their canned Nolen Gur Rasogollas remain a top choice for those wishing to carry a piece of Bengal’s winter across the world.
Image Credit: Saborni Saha
While talking to the staff, Jagai Haldar and Ram mentioned:
“Like every year, we have some of the best nolen gur mishti collection for the winter season. Right from the famous jolbhora to nolen gur er rosogolla, we are catering to everyone’s choices with some of our signature sweets that no one can resist. Gur Madhuri is one of our creations. If you love rasomalai, that’s one of our most famous sweets; following the concept, we have our Gur malai made with nolen gur.”
- Address: 11A, Esplanade East, Ward -46, Borough-vi, Esplanade, Kolkata
- Contact No: 7439714978
- Cost for two: 100 INR (approx.)
3. Nalin Chandra Das & Sons
Image Credit: Saborni Saha
Founded by Johuree Lal Das in 1841, Nalin Chandra Das & Sons in North Kolkata’s Natun Bazar has been a pioneer in manufacturing Sandesh for four generations. They are renowned for their traditional Karapak Sandesh and have a massive loyal following ranging from historic households to corporate giants. Their reputation is built on the consistency of their milk products and the artistic variety of their sweets, which include everything from Chocolate Sandesh to the elusive Abar Khabo.
The Nolen Gur range at Nalin Chandra Das and Sons is extensive, featuring the legendary Gur er Monohora, which literally translates into something that steals your heart just at the very moment you eat it. This sweet features a soft Sandesh centre with a hard, glossy sugar coating. They also prepare Gur er Mother India, Gur Jalbhara, Gur er Rasogolla, and the seasonal Gur er Mousumi. The use of high-quality jaggery brings the smoky aroma of the Notun Gur is the star of every bite.
As Slurrp had a word with the staff at Nalin Chandra Das, Premotosh and Sanyasi Bal shared:
"We have been preparing nolen gur Sandesh for almost 200 years now. Gur Jalbhara, Gur Madhuri, Gur er Rasogolla, Gur er Taalshaansh, Gur er Shanha, Gur er Mousumi, Gur er Monohora, are some of the sweets we are preparing this year. We use the best quality nolen gur for the jolbhora sandesh. For Monohora, you can see there are two different shades because of the kora paak. The one with a darker shade is cooked for a bit longer period over the flame."
- Address: 57, Ramdulal Sarkar Street, Near Hedua Park, Hatibagan, Kolkata
- Contact: +913365422426
- Cost for two: 200 INR (approx.)
4. Girish Ch. Dey & Nakur Ch. Nandy
Located right near Bethune College in a heritage building, "Nakur" (as it is affectionately called) has been a destination for sweet aficionados since 1844. This 176-year-old establishment is a five-generation business that prioritises raw, in-house processing of all ingredients.
Their Nolen Gur repertoire is vast, including Talsash, Jalbhara, Parijat, and Gurer Sandwich. They are particularly known for their Norom-paak Sandesh, which melts in the mouth, and unique inventions like the Chocolate Singara.
Image Credit: Saborni Saha
Despite their global fame and celebrity chef visitors like Vikas Khanna, the shop focuses on the belief that sweets are intrinsically linked to a Bengali's soul. Nolen Gurer Sandesh, Jol Bhora Sandesh, Taal sash Sandesh, and more delicacies are there for the season.
- Address: 56, Ramdulal Sarkar St, near Bethune College, Hedua, Kolkata
- Phone: 094324 94423
- Cost for two: 200 INR (approx.)
5. Balaram Mullick and Radharaman Mullick
Balaram Mullick and Radharaman Mullick have been in business since 1885 and have found the perfect balance between making traditional Bengali sweets and modern desserts that combine different styles. They have updated the way people eat sweets while keeping a sense of tradition. Their main location is in Bhawanipore, and they have branches all over the city.
Their Nolen Gur specialties are very creative and include things like the Nolen Gur Sandesh Cake and Gurer Souffle. The Nolen Gur Sandesh Cake is a one-of-a-kind mix of smoky jaggery and creamy chhena. The Nolen Gur Rasogolla, a crowd pleaser, has the soft cheese balls soaked in a jaggery syrup. The "Gur Pradeep" is a sandesh that is beautifully made to look like an earthen lamp.
Dudhpuli and other rice dumplings cooked in thick milk are winter classics. The Patishapta is made of thin crepes with a sweet coconut-jaggery mix inside them. Gur Monda is still a seasonal favourite because it has simple but deep flavours. The Gurer Souffle has a light and airy texture that gives a modern touch. The Nolen Gurer White Chocolate Truffle, has a molten jaggery centre, with a beautiful fragrance.
- Address: 2, Broad St, Ballygunge Place, Ballygunge, Kolkata
- Contact: 8336943624
- Cost for two: 300 INR