Bal Mithai
Encyclopedia
Bal Mithai is a brown chocolate-like fudge, made with roasted khoya, coated with white sugar balls, and is a popular sweet from the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand
in India
, especially regions around Almora
. The Khim Singh Mohan Singh Rautela shop in Almora
is famous in the whole uttarakhand for their distinct Bal mithai and Singhauri.
, as evident from the memoirs of noted Hindi writer, Shivani
, wherein she reminiscences, the Almora
Bazaar, and the lane filled with smells of locally made sweets, and the shop of Jogalal Shah Halwai , who is said to have invented the sweet, made with milk from nearby Phalsima village, and then wrapped in sugar dipped posta or Khas khas (Opium poppy) seeds. Although it is unknown whether it is ancient. Over the years, rapid commercialization, and cost cutting moves lead to local shopkeeper replacing the original khas khas sugar balls, with plain sugar balls, that look like homeopathic pills. Even a recent version is completely devoid of sugar balls, to suit changing urban and tourist tastes. After, Joga Shah Halwai, Rautela brothers - Khem Singh and Mohan Singh made a name for themselves in sweet preparations
Hills, along with another local delicacy, Singhauri, which is another preparation of flavoured khoya, and comes wrapped in oak leaves.
Today, Baal Mithai, has become a delicacy in many neighbouring hill stations, like Ranikhet
and Nainital, where an old Shop, in Bara Bazaar still sells , both the traditional and modern versions of Baal Mithai, the latter being, the same brown fudge without the white sugar balls.
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand , formerly Uttaranchal, is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the Land of Gods due to the many holy Hindu temples and cities found throughout the state, some of which are among Hinduism's most spiritual and auspicious places of pilgrimage and worship...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, especially regions around Almora
Almora
Almora is a municipal board, a cantonment town in the Almora district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. Almora was founded in 1568.It is a town bustling with activity and a rich cultural heritage and history. It is considered the cultural heart of the Kumaon region of...
. The Khim Singh Mohan Singh Rautela shop in Almora
Almora
Almora is a municipal board, a cantonment town in the Almora district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. Almora was founded in 1568.It is a town bustling with activity and a rich cultural heritage and history. It is considered the cultural heart of the Kumaon region of...
is famous in the whole uttarakhand for their distinct Bal mithai and Singhauri.
History
Over the years, the sweet has found home in many Kumaoni stories and folklore, arising from the milieu of KumaonKumaon Division
For Kumaoni/Kumauni People see Kumauni PeopleKumaon or Kumaun is one of the two regions and administrative divisions of Uttarakhand, a mountainous state of northern India, the other being Garhwal. It includes the districts of Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, Nainital, Pithoragarh, and Udham Singh Nagar...
, as evident from the memoirs of noted Hindi writer, Shivani
Shivani
Gaura Pant 'Shivani' , better known as Shivani, was one of the popular Hindi magazine story writers of the 20th century and a pioneer in writing Indian women based fiction. She was awarded the Padma Shri for her contribution to Hindi literature in 1982...
, wherein she reminiscences, the Almora
Almora
Almora is a municipal board, a cantonment town in the Almora district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. Almora was founded in 1568.It is a town bustling with activity and a rich cultural heritage and history. It is considered the cultural heart of the Kumaon region of...
Bazaar, and the lane filled with smells of locally made sweets, and the shop of Jogalal Shah Halwai , who is said to have invented the sweet, made with milk from nearby Phalsima village, and then wrapped in sugar dipped posta or Khas khas (Opium poppy) seeds. Although it is unknown whether it is ancient. Over the years, rapid commercialization, and cost cutting moves lead to local shopkeeper replacing the original khas khas sugar balls, with plain sugar balls, that look like homeopathic pills. Even a recent version is completely devoid of sugar balls, to suit changing urban and tourist tastes. After, Joga Shah Halwai, Rautela brothers - Khem Singh and Mohan Singh made a name for themselves in sweet preparations
Recipe
Baal Mithai is made by cooking khoya (evaporated milk cream) with cane sugar, until it becomes dark brown in color, colloquially called "chocolate" for its color resemblance. This is allowed to settle and cool, and cut into cubes which are then garnished with small white sugar ballsPopularity
Baal Mithai has long been a specialty of the Almora district , and neighbouring KumaonKumaon Division
For Kumaoni/Kumauni People see Kumauni PeopleKumaon or Kumaun is one of the two regions and administrative divisions of Uttarakhand, a mountainous state of northern India, the other being Garhwal. It includes the districts of Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, Nainital, Pithoragarh, and Udham Singh Nagar...
Hills, along with another local delicacy, Singhauri, which is another preparation of flavoured khoya, and comes wrapped in oak leaves.
Today, Baal Mithai, has become a delicacy in many neighbouring hill stations, like Ranikhet
Ranikhet
Ranikhet is a hill station and cantonment town in Almora district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is the home for the Military Hospital, Kumaon Regiment & Naga Regiment and is maintained by the Indian Army....
and Nainital, where an old Shop, in Bara Bazaar still sells , both the traditional and modern versions of Baal Mithai, the latter being, the same brown fudge without the white sugar balls.