Indian festivals seem incomplete without sweet boxes for gifting; and a wholesome sweet box goes meaningless without Kaju Katri. Also called kaju barfi, this highly esteemed delicacy adds more colour to Holi and more light to Diwali. Is it only the sweet’s luscious, velvety texture that has brought it this degree of popularity? Or is there something more to the story? Let’s find out…

The Sweet with a Tangy Tale (or Tales?)

The history of Kaju Katri dates back to the 16th century. However, the story behind its invention has two versions.

One wonders, whose brainchild is this delicacy?

Simple - whoever knew that ghee, sugar, and cashew nuts could come together and make a decadent sweet!

Version 1: The Maratha Diaries

Getting back to the story, the lesser-known version credits the Marathas for Katri’s invention. They say that Chef Bhimrao, who walked into the 16th-century Maratha kitchens, cooked up this storm for the royal family. Chef Bhimrao loved experimenting with ingredients.

He personally liked Halwa-E-Farsi - a Parsi sweet that combined sugar and ground almonds. It is said that Bhimrao created Kaju Katri by taking inspiration from this dish. He substituted almonds with cashews and infused it with mawa and ghee. Thus, it became an eponymous sweet.

Version 2: Guru’s Glory

Now coming to the second version (and the more popular one). It shows Kaju Katri as a symbol of freedom. It says that around 1690, Mughal emperor Jahangir imprisoned Shikh gurus. He held them captive in the Gwalior fort. Among those detainees was Guru Hargovind, the sixth Sikh guru. While in imprisonment, the guru shared his lessons with other prisoners.

This way, he wanted to make their imprisonment more bearable. Emperor Jahangir observed this and came up with an unusual condition. He proposed that he would release the guru and anyone who could claim his robe when he walked out of the fort. The guru took this as an opportunity to set all prisoners free. So, he came up with a way around this condition.

He asked 52 monarchs to prepare a long robe that every prisoner could wear. Finally, on the designated day, the guru and all the prisoners walked out. Every one of them was holding on to the robe. Miraculously, that day was the day of Dipawali. People marked it as ‘Bandhi Chor Diwas.’

To celebrate Guru Hargovind’s method and intelligence, Jahangir’s royal chef prepared a special sweet. He blended cashew nuts, ghee, sugar, and coconut milk. Needless to say – it went down in history as a delicacy.

The Symbol of Affection and Celebration

No, Kaju Katri is not just a dessert.  Sweet boxes for gifting packed with Kaju Katri are a symbol of celebration and affection. That said – they make a memorable gift. You can get them packed beautifully and present it to your loved ones on occasions like weddings, birthdays, Raksha Bandhan, and whatnot. A box of Kaju Katri is equivalent to a gesture of love and happiness.

Versatile and Innovative

Kaju Katri is a versatile sweet. At the same time, it’s innovative. How? Well, the classic version is all about ghee, a splash of coconut milk, sugar, and mawa! But the innovative versions? Starting with Pistachio punch and almond magic to all the way till chocolaty drama, saffron elegance – the list is extensive. You can vary the sweet the way you want. Thanks to this adaptability, Kaju Katri has grown into a dynamic element of the Indian mithai scene.

The Global Favourite

Kaju Katri is not confined to India. Today, this sweet has gained international fame. You can head to any Indian sweet shop outside India; you will surely get Kaju Katri. Non-Indians love the sweet’s rich and elegant taste. That’s why it has become a popular dessert item in the international markets.

The Punch of Health

Eating sweets often induces a sense of guilt. But Kaju Katri is a relatively healthier option. Its main ingredient, cashews, packs a lot of healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, and proteins. These ingredients can improve heart health and provide substantial energy. What’s more, Kaju Katri doesn’t pack excessive amounts of ghee, nor is it deep fried. What could be a more wholesome choice to celebrate festivals?

Sweet boxes for gifting loaded with Kaju Katri make your festivals sweeter, so what are you waiting for? Add that ever-desired touch of deliciousness to your festivals - reach out to the best mithai shop in your area and order as many boxes of Kaju Katri as you want. Enjoy and share the joy with others; bon appétit!