TAMIL NADU SWEETS
The minute you talk of sweets and Tamil Nadu , Paayasam is the first thing that crops up in your mind. Be it any celebration in a Tamil household, Payasam is a must . This milk treat is made during all auspicious festivals, weddings and family gatherings. Paal Payasam can be compared to the Kheer of North India. There are many variations like the parrupu payasam , semiya payasam , vellampyasam and the list goes on……..
After the delightful variaties of payasams lets indulge in some traditional Adhirasam. This authentic preparation is made from a batter consisting of rice powder, vellam or jaggery , cardamom powder and deep fried in ghee. this golden brown delicacy simply melts in your mouth.
Among the popular sweets of Tamil Nadu my all time favourite is Jaangri. It can be called the first cousin of the Imarti of North India because of the similarity in shape. While it is available in some flavoured varieties , I like its smooth taste which lingers long after. Jaangri is one sweet that I cant stop with one.
Ladoo is a very universal sweet in India – in Tamil Nadu no celebration can take place without the ubiquitous Ladoo. It is available in different sizes – starting from the tiny ladoos to the giant size wedding laddoos. It is everyone’s favourite from kids to oldies.
Teratipaal and my grandmom are twin memories because as a child I always used to eagerly wait her to go and meet her so that I could have the Teratipaal to my hearts content. The Kalaakand bears a close resemblance to this traditional Teratipaal.
Festivals in Tamil Nadu are usually accompanied by sweets. I remember Diwali with a popular sweet the Badusha. Somewhat akin to a donut but with a flaky texture, this delicacy gets its taste after being deep fried and then dunked in a thick sugar syrup – ensuring that the sweetness goes all the way inside as well as forming a delicious sugary coating outside.
Kesari also commonly known as Rava Kesari is a classic sweet of Tamil Nadu and is unique because it can go with breakfast as well as lunch and dinner. It is very commonly served at wedding functions and other celebrations. There are many varieties available but my favourite is the pineapple kesari which has chunks of the fruit in the kesari. Wow Yummy.
Sakarapongal is a rice based sweet which is often offered as Prashad during poojas and special occasions. Sakarapomga has become a staple item in many Tamil households and is often made when guests are expected.
Okkarai is a traditional Diwali sweet popular in the Tiruneveli district. Its main ingredients are Chana Dal (Kadala Paruppu) and jaggery. Even today, in many families Okkarai is one of the mandatory sweet prepared on the auspicious day of Diwali. Okkarai is considered as suitable for even people having certain medical conditions which prevents them from having the regular sweets.
Maladu is a popular sweet which can be had on any occasion mainly because it is very easy to prepare. Its main ingredient is Pottukadali (Roasted Gram Dal) mixed with sugar and ghee. In some regions of Tamil Nadu, Maladu is included in the Seer Bakshanam from the bride’s family as part of marriage customs . The ladoos for this purpose are made much bigger in size as a symbol of pride and respect.
Tamil Nadu ladoos are a whole category of sweets by themselves since there are so many varieties – to name a few Rava Ladoo, Moong Dal Laddu, , pottukadalai orrundai, kadalai urrundai, …..
I have always had a sweet tooth for sweets of Tamil Nadu. Hope you also equally enjoyed this small glimpse of the vast variety of traditional sweets available in Tamil Nadu.