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Bengal has spent years perfecting the craft of mishti-making. Although milk-based sweet shops have long been popular in India, Bengal elevated them to a new level. They introduced delicacies that became cultural icons during the colonial era. Soon after, these were a common sight at Indian weddings, family get-togethers, and temple offerings. The best way to experience what all the craze is about would be to visit Kolkata and check out these 11 iconic sweetshops:
Girish Chandra Dey & Nakur Chandra Nandy
Since its inception in 1896, they have been serving authentic Bengali mishti. They have a baffling range of out-of-the-box mishtis, such as sandhek, kanthal, chocolate malai roll, mango mousumi, parijat, gurer sandwich and mango monohora. One of the novel inventions that they have pioneered is the chocolate singara. You can't leave the shop without trying their jolbhora, which is a jaggery-infused sandesh. Nakur's chocolate, parijat and mousumi sandesh were served at the wedding reception of Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee gifted 100 pieces of kanchagolla and as many parijat sandesh to Hillary Clinton!
Address: 56, Ramdulal Sarkar St, near Bethune College, Hedua, Kolkata, West Bengal 700006
Timings: 7 AM - 10:30 PM
Price: INR 100 onwards
Image Credit: Girish Chandra Dey & Nakur Chandra Nandy
Bhim Chandra Nag
Try their abar khabo sandesh and you'll know why it is named so. This sixth-generation shop offers lip-smacking servings of jolbhora sandesh, rose sandesh, norom pak-er butterscotch sandesh and mishti doi. Founded in 1826, it is renowned for creating Ashubhog Sandesh (named after the renowned educator Sir Ashutosh Mukhopadhyay) and Ledikeni (named after Lady Canning, the wife of the British governor Lord Canning at the time). Kara pak sandesh, jol bhora sandesh, manohara, and Alphonso sandesh are quite impressive. Rani Rashmoni reportedly ordered 28 maunds of sandesh from the shop for the inauguration of the Dakshineshwar Kali Temple, and Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa was a huge fan of Bhim Chandra Nag's sweets. This store used to be frequented by Girish Ghosh and Rabindranath Tagore.
Address: 5, Nirmal Chandra St, near Bowbazar, Kolkata, West Bengal 700012
Timings: 8 AM - 10 PM
Price: INR 300 onwards
Nalin Chandra Das & Sons
With a 175-year history of producing sandesh, Nalin Chandra Das & Sons in Kolkata produces karapak of exceptional quality, as well as other types of sandesh, such as chocolate-flavoured, pistachio-flavoured, jolbhara talsansh, ice-cream-flavoured, dilkhush, and more. First established in 1841 by Johuree Lal Das, they sold the simple monda mithai (lumps of sweets) in neighbourhood haats. You must taste butterscotch malai rolls and seasonal specialities like mango doi, chhanar payesh, keshar chhanar payesh, special chandrapuli, and chandani kheer.
Address: No 313, Rabindra Sarani, Balaka Natun Bazar, North Dumdum, Kolkata, West Bengal 700006
Timings: 8 AM - 11 PM
Price: INR 250 onwards
Image Credit: Nalin Chandra Das & Sons
Sen Mahasay
Sen Mahasay was started by Ashutosh Sen in Fariapukur. The owners claim that the shop was frequented by well-known Bengali novelists such as Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay and Tarashankar Bandopadhyay. Famous for its khirer chop, mihidana and monohara, the sweets at Sen Mahasay are great value for money and will melt in your mouth. Other notable creations are ratabi sandesh, pink pera, malai chop and abar khabo. But what currently stands out for them are the mishti doi and monohora, which sell out in the blink of an eye.
Address: Sen Mahasay, 1/1C, Sibdas Bhaduri St, Sovabazar, Fariapukur, Shyam Bazar, Kolkata, West Bengal 700004
Timings: 7 AM - 10 PM
Price: INR 100 onwards
Balaram Mullick & Radharaman Mullick
The seasonal delicacies like aamer sandesh and mango doi in summers, as well as rosogolla and jolbhora sandesh with nolen gur in winters, are unmissable. While sandesh is a popular Bengali dessert, they were the first ones to serve it in a baked form. They created baked rosogollas, which are now among the best-selling items in all stores! The shop sells 500–1000 products a day at each store, offers 150 different types of snacks and sweets and accepts online and bulk wedding orders from all around India and the globe.
Address: 367, Prince Anwar Shah Rd, Lake Gardens, Kolkata, West Bengal 700095
Timings: 8 AM - 9 PM
Price: INR 500 onwards
Image Credit: Balaram Mullick & Radharaman Mullick
Chittaranjan Mishtanna Bhandar
Known for its mouth-watering rosogollas, Chittaranjan Mishtanna Bhandar should be on your list. Fall in love with their chocolate sandesh, malai chamcham, gulab jamun and madhuporko. Pop a juicy nolen gurer roshogolla while you're there. They have spent 115 years at the top of their game. The store is among the 71 authorised retailers in the city to offer this Bengali GI product. The aroma of fresh milk and a hint of sweetness permeate every bite. Madhuporko is a favourite that is always included on special days. Madhuporko comes in chocolate, orange, elaichi, and vanilla flavours. Although each has its aficionados and unique flavour, vanilla is a must-try.
Address: AV School, 34B, Shyam Bazar St, near to Hati Bagan, Hati Bagan, Shyam Bazar, Kolkata, West Bengal 700005
Timings: 9 AM - 7 PM
Price: INR 100 onwards
Nobin Chandra Das & Sons
With its mouthwatering confections, Nobin Chandra Das & Sons, the maker of the famous rosogolla, offers a fusion of history and tradition. Known as the 'Columbus of Rosogolla,' his invention gained national and international acclaim after finding its way into Bengali homes and celebrations. Get your hands on fruit-infused sandesh, kastura, dedo, and abar khabo. A glimpse of the store's history is also offered by traditional treats like baikuntha bhog. Another well-liked option is their rosomalai.
Address: The Green View Club, 84, Rash Behari Ave, Lake Market, Kalighat, Kolkata, West Bengal 700026
Timings: 7 AM - 11 PM
Price: INR 300 onwards
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Mrityunjoy Ghosh & Sons
Mrityunjoy Ghosh founded Mrityunjoy Ghosh & Sons in 1928. His grandson, Somnath Ghosh, currently serves as its manager. The shop, which is about 90 years old, is filled with the aromas of its kochuri and singara. The names of its mishtis and savoury goods are inscribed in big, white, Bengali letters on its stunning front. There is a hint of sweetness to the singara. The radhaballabhi and matarshuti kochuri are served with chholar dal or aloor torkari. You should try the juicy, velvety, and thick lyangchas as well as the unusual treat known as roshomundir payesh, which consists of tiny rosogollas half-drowned in sweetened milk. If you wish to eat sandesh, get chhanar jilipi, rosogolla, pantua, seeta bhog, or kalakand.
Address: 80D, Sarat Bose Rd, Lansdown, Garcha, Ballygunge, Kolkata, West Bengal 700025
Timings: 7 AM - 9:30 PM
Price: INR 100 onwards
Makhan Lal Das & Sons
From jol-bhora to kacha-golla, this place offers a diverse range of options that change with the seasons. While winters are dominated by various gur-er sandesh, you will find fruity varieties during summers. Bored with traditional desserts? To keep up with the changing times, you can find some good chocolate mishti, butterscotch-er jol bhora and more. Makhan Lal Das & Sons is one of the iconic spots in the city. However, their new outlet in Ballygunge doesn't stock the iconic INR 2 sandesh.
Address: Company, 313, Rabindra Sarani, Seth Bagan Ln, Natun Bazar, Jorabagan, Kolkata, West Bengal 700006
Timings: 6 AM - 10 PM
Price: INR 2 onwards
Haji Allauddin Sweets
More than a 100-years old, Allauddin had made batashas to begin his pleasant voyage. He would sell them by knocking on people's doors. Initially, they also stocked gond ka halwa, a type of sweet dish made by mashing a mixture of dry fruits and extracts from the babul tree. Battisa is another name for it, derived from the 32 ingredients. They also served gulab jamun and mawa laddu fried in desi ghee. Bournvita sweets, patisa, milky soft bars, coconut-based products, milk halwa, and walnut halwa were introduced by Allauddin's son Nasiruddin and his son Nizamuddin. Gajar ka halwa, dudhiya halwa, and halwa sohan were also introduced by Nizamuddin. The store also sells Karachi halwa, mansuri, and Kanpuriya laddu. They also make Arabian desserts, such as chocolate dry fruit balls, kaju diamonds, anjeer rolls with poppy seeds, and khajur dry fruit barfi.
Address: Colottola, 56, Phears Ln, near Al baik fast food, Tiretti, Kolkata, West Bengal 700073
Timings: 7 AM - 11 PM
Price: INR 40 onwards
Image Credit: Haji Allaudin Sweets
Dwarik's Grandsons
Dwarik's Grandsons has been serving the finest desserts in town for over a century, and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore has also praised the establishment. Using the memorable phrase 'sheeter sanjibani' (winter's elixir), they also made nolen gur more widely known in the 1930s. The norm back then was mihidana, sitabhog, rosogolla, sohan papri, and similar practices. And the gawa gheer halua, luchi, and chholar dal helped the firm thrive in addition to the sweets. By declaring, 'dwarik-i banglar prothom rashosroshtha (Dwarik is the first Rashtrashastra of Bengal),' Tagore had certified it as the best!
Address: 126 A, Mohendra Bose Ln, Bidhan Sarani, Shyam Bazar, Kolkata, West Bengal 700004
Timings: 7:30 AM - 8:30 PM
Price: INR 100 onwards
