India has large repertoire of sweets. Many popular Indian sweets are common throughout South Asia while others are specific to a certain region and are typical to only an ethnic group in India. Indian sweets consist of milk, sugar and flour based confectioneries originating from the Indian sub-continent. Every Indian sweet has a particular taste and takes a long time to prepare. Sweets of India come in various shapes, colours and sizes. Sweets are also significant in Indian culture. Sweets are presented during festive occasions and ceremonies and also signify good omen, happiness and prosperity. In India every happy occasion is marked with the distribution of sweets.
According to historical evidences desserts have a long history. During the 17th century, evidence is found of English sweet puddings which were made of flour, nuts and sugar. Furthermore, according to historians generally agree that custard, the sweet almost pudding-like substance dates to the middle ages. Halwa, another Indian dessert is also said to have been originated from Arab. Indian cuisine is known throughout the world as a sweet cuisine because almost half of its dishes are either sweets or desserts. Traditional Indian sweets are those which were made in Indian households since long back. These sweets have their reference in the historical records and in certain epics as well. They are made in households even today during festivals and functions.
The festivals and other traditional celebrations are incomplete without the alluring taste of Indian Sweets. Deepavali is a festival which gives expression to the happiness and is signified by decorating the houses, bursting firecrackers and inviting near and dear ones to a sumptuous feast. The feast is always prettified by various desserts and sweet preparation. The essential sweet dishes that are dished out include Royal Vermicilli Kheer, Rice Kheer, Carrot Halwa, Besan Ka Ladoo and Chilled Curds Idlis. Holi and Durga Puja, baishakhi are yet other Hindu festivals where sweets play a major role. The delicious dessert of India has not only enthralled the Hindu society, it has also been making other religious and social festivals such as Eid, marriage ceremonies or rice ceremonies (anna prasan) appealing.
Sweets improve and strengthen the bond between two hearts with mouth-watering taste. Sweets and mithais are rich in taste as, they are mostly made from pure ghee. Sweets and mithais like pedas, barfis, gulab jammuns, rosgollas, jalebi, halwa and a host of other sweets are in great demand today not only in India but also in foreign countries. When one plans to visit friends or relatives a packet of sweet is the easiest and unanimous choice. Mithai has been associated with Indian tradition and custom and has become an integral part of any occasion or festival. All type of mithais with an ethnic touch is found all over the world with varied tastes.
Indian sweets can be divided into two main categories broadly. First category consists of milk based sweets such as Rabri, Peda, Rasbari, Burfi etc. The second category consists of flour based sweets such as Malpua, Mohan Thal, Laddu, Halwa and so on. Most Indian sweets are also made of `khoa` or `Mava` that is milk boiled to remove moisture. Adding butter, sugar and many other flavours these are made into various kinds of sweets. Sweets of India are garnished with raisins almond, pistachio and the likes. Common Indian sweets are Rasgulla, Gulab jamun, Kulfi and Son papadi Milk beda, Jalebi, Sandesh, Dry fruit sweets and so forth. Each region i.e. South, North, East and West Indian sweet recipes are matchless according to their taste.
Besides this classification Indian sweets can be said to have another division as ethnic and traditional Indian dessert. Indian traditional sweets have been bringing a sweet treat to Indian food.
