Hooghly, West Bengal

Kamarpukur Sada Bonde

A white boondi sweet - sada bonde - made by the halwais (sweetmakers) of Kamarpukur in Hooghly district, the birthplace of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa, who was famously fond of it. The tradition spans at least 200 years, and the melt-in-the-mouth boondi is still crafted with devotion by hereditary sweetmakers without artificial colour. Kamarpukur's sada bonde, along with the related sada jilipi, has earned a GI tag as part of the district's heritage food push. Buyers get a rare, traditional Bengali sweet from the town's halwai shops.

Typical price: ₹100-500 per small pack (also sold by weight)

Buying tip: Buy from the sweet shops (halwai) in Kamarpukur; a good sada bonde is light, white and free of artificial colour.