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Chikki, a popular Indian sweet snack, has a fascinating history that many are unaware of. The word itself comes from the Marathi word, "chikkat", which means "sticky" and anyone who’s sunk their teeth into the traditional sweet knows that this is an apt adjective to describe it. The concept of a nut brittle has been around for centuries in different forms across the world. From French Croquant, Greek Pastelli or Iranian Sohan, many variations on the concept exist, but the idea of Chikki is one that is truly and quintessentially Indian.
The concept dates back to the 19th century (dates are estimated between 1882 and 1888) when the construction of the railway line in India began. Laying tracking along the treacherous Western Ghats between Bombay and Lonavala was hard graft and a local sweet-shop owner took the initiative to create a snack to keep the rail workers well-fuelled. Mr Maganlal Aggarwal created a high-calorie snack from jaggery, peanuts and ghee, named it ‘gud dani’ and began handing it out among the workers.
The snack was delicious, healthy affordable and gave them the much-needed energy to get them through the day and soon it was a fan favourite. The railway authorities soon caught onto this fact and commissioned Aggarwal to make the snack not only for the workers, but for the passengers travelling on the trains. Today the call for chikki rings out through trains not only in Maharashtra but beyond and Maganlal Chikki has become a household name
The recipe to make chikki has remained virtually unchanged for the 130-odd years since it came into being. Peanuts are roasted until they are soft and can be crushed easily. Jaggery and sugar are then added to the crushed peanuts, and the three ingredients are blended at the correct temperature. The resulting mixture is cut into pieces and packaged. Chikki usually contains no added preservatives as the sugar in it acts as a natural preservative.
But although the peanut chikki is the iconic favourite, due to its high demand across the country, chikki has expanded its variety and is now available in various flavours such as chocolate, strawberry, and tangy ginger, in addition to the traditional dry fruit varieties. Despite the wide range of flavours and products available, the rich nutrient value provided by chikki at an affordable price has remained relatively consistent. Chikki has become a beloved treat for generations of Indians, and its simple yet delicious recipe continues to delight taste buds.
