Murshidabad, West Bengal

Chhanabora (Chhan Bora)

Chhanabora is the signature sweet of Murshidabad, a fried dumpling of sweetened fresh cheese (chhana) with a crisp browned crust outside and a soft, melt-in-the-mouth interior. Local tradition credits its creation to the kitchens of Maharaja Manindrachandra Nandi of Cossimbazar, who asked for a sweet that was neither rosogolla nor pantua. It now carries a GI tag as a product of the Murshidabad sweet-making community, and oversized chhanabora are a traditional gift for high-ranking visitors. Visitors to Murshidabad make it a point to carry a pot full home; a buyer gets the district's most iconic edible souvenir.

Typical price: ₹250-800

Buying tip: Buy it hot and fresh from a Murshidabad sweet shop — the crisp crust softens as it cools, so it is best eaten the same day. It packs reasonably well for travel if wrapped in airtight containers.