Bal Mithai


Bal Mithai is a brown chocolate-like fudge, made with roasted khoa, coated with white sugar balls, and is a popular sweet from Almora in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand in India, especially regions around Almora.It is one of the most favourite sweet of common people and the people living near Almora region. But, in some places, artificial or fake sweets are also made to fool tourists and are sold at much higher prices.

History

Bal Mithai was an invention of Lala Joga Ram Shah of Lal Bazaar, Almora during early twentieth century. Scholars believe that the Bal Mithai initially must have been the name of the prime offering to the Sun God. Over the years, the sweet has found home in many Kumaoni stories and folklore, arising from the milieu of Kumaon, as evident from the memoirs of noted Hindi writer.

Recipe

Bal Mithai is made by cooking khoya with cane sugar until it becomes dark brown in color, colloquially called 'chocolate' for its color resemblance. This is allowed to settle and cool, and cut into cubes which are then garnished with small white sugar balls.

Popularity

Bal Mithai has long been a specialty of the Almora district, and neighbouring Kumaon Hills, along with another local delicacy, Singhauri, which is another preparation of flavoured khoa, and comes wrapped in oak leaves.

Geographical Indications Protection for Baal Mithai

There has been a recent move to make local sweet makers aware of Intellectual Property Rights, and Geographical Indications Protection under, ‘The Geographical Indications of Goods Act, 1999’, which would allow them to patent local delicacies of Baal Mithai and Singhauri, which are symbolic to the region.