No other Indian city has this. Kolkata’s sweet shops are institutions with founding dates, family successions and inventions attributed to named confectioners. Bhim Chandra Nag opened in 1826 and its owner invented the ledikeni in 1858 for Lady Canning’s birthday. Nobin Chandra Das is credited with the rosogolla in 1868. K.C. Das, his descendant, put it in a tin and sent it around the world.
The Bengali sweet is built on chhana — fresh curdled milk cheese — which sets Bengal apart from the khoya-based sweets of the north. In winter the whole trade changes over to nolen gur, the fresh date-palm jaggery, and the sweets made with it are only available for about ten weeks.
North Kolkata
Shobhabazar · Shyambazar · Bagbazar · Hatibagan · Kumartuli · Jorasanko · Maniktala| Name | Where | What it is known for |
|---|---|---|
| Girish Chandra Dey & Nakur Chandra Nandy1844 | 56 Ramdulal Sarkar Street, Hatibagan | The sandesh shop by which others are judged. Kacha golla, kheer kadam, butterscotch and chocolate sandesh. Heritage-listed. |
| Nalin Chandra Das & Sons1841 | College Street area | Possibly the oldest sweet shop in Kolkata. Monohari sandesh, kesar chhanar payesh. |
| Chittaranjan Mistanna Bhandar1900s | 34B Shobhabazar Street, Shobhabazar | Over a century of doi, roshabesh and madhuporko. |
| Adi Haridas Modakc.1780 | Shyambazar More | Among the oldest food shops in the city; kochuri in the morning, sweets through the day. |
| Jayashree Sweets1890s | Shyambazar | Bhaja mishti — fried sweets, a Krishnanagar tradition. |
| Sen Mahasay1935 | Shyambazar and city-wide | Known for its sandesh and for the nolen gur range in winter. |
| Ganguram1885 | Shyambazar and city-wide | A long-established chain, reliable rather than remarkable. |
Central Kolkata
BBD Bagh · Esplanade · New Market · Park Street · College Street · Bowbazar · Burrabazar| Name | Where | What it is known for |
|---|---|---|
| Bhim Chandra Nag1826 | 5 Nirmal Chandra Street, Bowbazar | Founded by Paran Chandra Nag and named for his son. The ledikeni was invented here in 1858 for Lady Canning. The Cooke and Kelvey wall clock, with Bengali numerals, has hung since the 1850s. |
| K.C. Das1868 / 1930 in Kolkata | Esplanade and city-wide | The family credited with the rosogolla, and the firm that canned it and sent it worldwide. |
| Nahoum & Sons1902 | New Market, Hogg Street | A Jewish bakery in New Market, still in the same wooden cabinets; rich fruit cake, brownies, macaroons. |
| Putiram1920s | College Street | Sweets, kochuri and radhaballavi for the College Street crowd. |
South Kolkata
Bhowanipore · Kalighat · Gariahat · Ballygunge · Lake Market · Jadavpur · Tollygunge| Name | Where | What it is known for |
|---|---|---|
| Balaram Mullick & Radharaman Mullick1885 | Bhowanipore and city-wide | The most inventive of the old houses; baked rosogolla, chocolate sandesh, and a serious nolen gur range. |
| Mouchak1950s | Rashbehari Avenue | A South Kolkata standard. |
| Jadab Chandra Das1800s | Bhowanipore | An old Bhowanipore sweet house. |
| Hindusthan Sweets1946 | Rashbehari and city-wide | Large, reliable, with a heavy festival trade. |
| Mithai1980s | Bhowanipore | Modern sweet house with a wide nolen gur range. |
| Gariahat sweet shops | Gariahat | A cluster of them around the market crossing. |
East Kolkata
Salt Lake · Sector V · New Town · Rajarhat · Tangra| Name | Where | What it is known for |
|---|---|---|
| Balaram Mullick & Radharaman Mullick | Salt Lake and New Town | The suburban outlets. |
| Sen Mahasay | Salt Lake | The Salt Lake branch. |
| K.C. Das | Salt Lake | Canned rosogolla and the counter range. |
What to order
- Nolen gur sandesh, but only in winter — roughly December to February
- Kacha golla at Nakur, which is the sweet that shop is judged on
- Ledikeni at Bhim Chandra Nag, where it was invented in 1858
- Mishti doi in the earthen pot it was set in, never in plastic
- Jol bhora talshans — sandesh with a liquid centre — a Surjya Kumar Modak invention
- Rosogolla eaten the same day. It does not keep, whatever the tin says.
Other kinds of eating
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