Aam Doi

The land of desserts, Bengal has always been one to experiment with its sweetmeats and come up with new forms through various permutation and combinations. Aam Doi, as the word simply suggests, is nothing but Mango Yoghurt. Mishti Doi, as is common knowledge, was a Bengali invention, promptly catapulting the state into prominence. Possibly after coming up with the concept of thickened, sweet yoghurt, enterprising individuals of the state came up with other options as well. Though Aam Doi does not have any particular origin, the state has had a long standing relationship with both Aam (mangoes) and Doi (youghurt).

It’s crucial to map the history of mango, ‘the king of fruits’. In 1722, Fateh Chand was rewarded with the title of Nawab of Bengal and christened Jagath Seth. His judicious handling of the Murshidabad mint earned him the title, filling his coffers with regular gifts received from people all over. Hailing from Nagaur in Marwar, Chand’s family had a penchant for mangoes and thus brought it to the East Indian state and cultivated multiple varieties of it, some say the count shot up to as many as 400. Through the years, though the range dwindled, mangoes became an integral part of the seasonal harvest in Bengal. The Him Sagar (considered the crème de la crème of mangoes) is specifically grown in this region and sold at premium rates. This is followed by Lyangra (with a longer fruit), Chausa, Gulab Khaas and Lalmoni. 

The infusion of mangoes into desserts then, was simply a matter of time. The method followed while making Aam Doi is fairly simple, involving a session of either steaming the final concoction in a microwave or letting it cool down and settle in a fridge. Aam Doi is a typical favourite, especially during summers (owing to the seasonal growth of the mango). The subtle acidity of the mango forms the perfect contrast against the creaminess of the yoghurt. In fact, this combination gained so much traction that top commercial brands like Amul and Metro Dairy have incorporated the Aam Doi as part of their packaged products.