Kolkata and sweets go hand in hand. The people of Kolkata take their desserts very seriously and the capital city of West Bengal is home to some of oldest sweet shops in the country. From traditional street vendors to franchise-based sweet shops, Kolkata is quite simply a paradise for travellers with a sweet tooth. So if you're planning to visit Kolkata and don't know how and where to satisfy your sweet tooth, you've landed in the right place!
Here is the ultimate list of Kolkata's best sweets and where to find them:
Rasgulla
Set up way back in 1855, KC Das claims to be the birth place of Kolkata's most popular sweet dish—the rasgulla. It is common to see people from all around the world lining up for a bite of this simple yet classy, sugary dessert. KC Das also does great a great rendition of ras malai, just in case you lose control over your sweet tooth!
Sandesh
One of the most iconic sweet shops in Kolkata, Balaram Mullick & Radharaman Mullick, is quite simply an institution in itself. The legendary joint is best known for its wide variety of sandesh and mishti dohis. However, if you're heading here and want to try that one ultimate dessert, order a nolen gurer sandesh—it is to die for!
Mishti Doi
Mishti dahi is no less than an emotion for the people of Kolkata and Jadab Chandra Das happens to be one of those places that every local swears by. Located on the busy College Street, Jadab Chandra has been a favourite amongst some of Bengal's most celebrated individuals including Satyajit Ray and Aparna Sen. A friendly tip, keep your eyes wide open because this hole in the wall place is quite difficult to spot!
Payesh
Kolkata's version of the kheer, payesh is made by slow cooking rice in milk, to the point that it reduces into a pudding-like form. Nalin Chandra Das & Sons happens to be a payesh institution, serving the dessert for more than 175 years now. Though NC Das offers payesh in many flavours, the nolen gurer payesh, or gur payesh is unlike anything you would've ever had before.
Chanar Jilipi
A dessert very typical to the busy streets of Kolkata, chanar jilipi takes the famous jalebi to a whole new level altogether. The Bengali version is stuffed with chhana, more commonly known as paneer, thus giving the sweet its unique name. Head to Mouchak in Gariahat for the best chanar jilipi in town. Trust me, it will change the way you see jalebis forever.
Sita Bhog
Searching for a truly royal dessert? Look no further because the streets of Kolkata will have you covered! A unique combination of small gulab jamuns served with sweet rice, sita bhog is very typical of Kolkata. Legend has it that the sweet dish was especially loved by Lord Rama's wife, Sita. Head over to Sen Mahasay, take a bite of the sita bhog and feel like a royalty yourself! It doesn't get any better than this!
Patishapta
If you're someone who prefers a dose of subtlety in your dessert, patishapta might just be your thing. These mini pancakes have long been a popular dessert in Kolkata and are stuffed with a range of fillings such as jaggery, coconut and dry fruits amongst others. A lot of sweet shops in the city have now started experimenting with fruits variants but there's none that comes close to Pithe Bilashi's baked patishapta. Believe me when I say this, this is the stuff dreams are made of.
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