Think of Bengal, and the first thing that comes to your mind is good food, good food, and good food. Those who have a sweet tooth, don’t see anything beyond mishti doi and roshogolla. You know, we’re not exaggerating! This is not debatable because there ain’t any Indian dessert better than these two champs. If you think I’m biased, maybe it’s time to you find something else to read–because being a Bengali myself, I am privileged to have grown up savouring these delicacies. I love mishti doi and roshogolla. I know I speak for all Bengalis when I say: they’re not just sweets, they’re emotions.
These desserts have been instant mood lifters to us for decades. Had a bad day at school? Mum was always ready with a bowl of mishti doi to cheer us up. Had a fight with bestie? Roshogolla was always an instant fix. Not feeling too well? There ain’t nothing mishti doi and roshogolla can’t cure. In fact, we don’t even need a reason to devour these treats. Irrespective of the occasion, an earthen pot filled with sweet yogurt and garnished with mini roshogollas is always welcome.
But what sets these Bengali desserts apart from the wide variety of sweetmeats prepared across the nation? Why it’s their distinctive style of preparation. Made with chaana (cottage cheese) and semolina (white flour) with a hint of lemon juice and sugar syrup–roshogollas are designed to just melt in your mouth. In fact, even the chashni tastes so divine and delightful, courtesy cardamom and rosewater. Believe it or not, Kolkata roshogollas are the best you can get. Sure, you get ‘rasgullas’ in tins just about everywhere, but they don’t really make the cut. Why do I say this? Because the secret to a tasty roshogolla lies in the texture–the soft, spongy texture that oozes a heavenly blend of flavours. No other dessert can match up to it. Period! Living in Bombay I miss those authentically-made Kolkata ones, and every time someone visits Cal, innumerable cans of roshogollas follow inevitably. If you like the taste of jaggery, then nolen gurer roshogolla is your best bet.
So what could be better than this phenomenal dessert? Nothing right? Well, mishti doi gives strong competition to roshogollas. Fancy Greek yogurt and flavoured yogurt are no match to our very own mishti doi. No meal is complete without a bowl. Perhaps that’s the reason why it’s always a part of every occasion, and we Bongs can’t simply do without it! The perfect blend of curd and jaggery, with an earthen flavour–this is all you need on a bad day. For us, mishti doi has been our stress reliever and instant mood lifter since forever–and that ain’t ever changing. In fact, we need a bowl right now!
