Sweet revolution: Mithai gets gourmet twist

Champagne-infused laddoos to gold-foiled barfis, artisanal brands transforming Indian sweets into high-end delicacies

- ABHILASHA OJHA

Barfi has been reinvented, laddoo reimagined, and gulab jamun given a Spanish twist. Infused with innovative flavours, these traditional Indian delicacies are now being marketed as "gourmet mithai," with some of them costing up to 56,000 for a 100-piece box.

Driving this "sweet couture" industry is a handful of artisanal brands. Their offerings range from Jägerbomb laddoo and Nutella peda to Bavarian chocolate barfi and gulab jamun churros. Other creations include Biscoff gujia, kaju katli bonbon, and motichoor and kalakand cheesecakes, among others. The festival season is keeping them busy.

Gurugram-based Nihira Sweets, launched in 2018, offers laddoos infused with spirits such as champagne, whiskey, red wine, and gin. "You won't get drunk," clarifies its co-founder, Arshya Aggarwal. "The cooking process ensures that you only taste the spirit in the sweets." Nihira counts Chanel, Gucci, Christian Dior, and Burberry among its clients.

Traditional sweets typically cost around Rs 1,000 per kg, but a one-kg box of these handcrafted varieties starts at ₹4,500 and then sky's the limit. For instance, Lucknow-based Chhappan Bhog's "Exotica" range of sweets can cost up to 56,000 for 100 pieces. It features ingredients like pine nuts from Kinnaur, Mamra almonds from Iran, pistachios from Afghanistan, macadamia from South Africa, and hazelnut from Turkey - all wrapped in gold foil.

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