Purba Bardhaman, West Bengal

Langcha of Shaktigarh

A deep-fried, syrup-soaked sweet for which the small town of Shaktigarh in Purba Bardhaman is the self-proclaimed capital — rows of sweet shops line the highway and travellers between Kolkata and Durgapur stop specifically for it. Over a century old, Shaktigarh's langcha has now crossed state lines, and the West Bengal government has begun GI registration for it. The sweet is fried in ghee and soaked in a light sugar syrup, giving it a crisp-soft texture distinct from rosogolla.

Typical price: ₹100-400

Buying tip: Buy fresh from the rows of langcha shops along the NH highway at Shaktigarh; ask for same-day fried stock. It packs reasonably well for short journeys home.