Odisha, the “Land Of Jagannath”, where sweets are intergral part of the Jagannath culture. Want to know the Top 5 Famous Sweets of Odisha?
The festival celebration of Odisha has no taste without its cuisine, known as Pithas and Sweets, our ultimate love, Odisha Rasogolla, Khira Mohana, has been served as bhog in the Lord Jagannath temple. Odisha sweets (mitha) are famous for their unique, often caramelised flavours, heavily featuring fresh chhena, milk, sugar, and coconut. If you are exploring the “Temple State” Odisha for its Art, culture and heritage, or for its natural beauty, you should not miss the opportunity to taste these heavenly delights. You must try these five traditional sweets to experience the authentic taste of Odisha.
Explore Famous Sweets of Odisha
Chenapoda
Chenapoda is a prominent dessert of Odisha that is beloved nationwide. It’s a delicious chhena-based sweet. The dish was created in the early 20th century in Nayagarh, Odisha. It is known for its caramelised, dark brown crust and soft, moist, and slightly smoky centre. It translates to “roasted cheese”, which tastes soft and creamy. Chenapoda is also considered the favourite sweet of Lord Jagannath, and it is offered to him during Ratha Yatra.
Even some celebrities try to make chenapoda. Ranveer Brar promoted chenapoda. He discovered that without an oven, we also make chenapoda.
Rasabali
It is a heritage dish of Kendrapada, which got the Geographical Indication (GI) on October 3, 2023. It is made from chenna and consists of deep-fried, flattened, reddish-brown patties. It’s saturated, sweetened milk, known as Rabri. It has its own GI tag because of its unique taste and regional identity. It is the favourite sweet of Lord Balavadra, who is the elder brother of Lord Jagannath.
Rasagola
Rasagola, the famous sweets of Odisha, is also a historical sweet and is loved by every Indian. Many people think Rasagola belongs to West Bengal, but it is an emotion for all Odias. Rasagola is a part of the Ratha Jatra ritual during Lord Jagannath’s Niladri Bije. Rasagola is also made from chenna, and it is soft and sweet with a dip in sugar syrup. It easily melts in our mouths when we eat.
West Bengal claims it is Banglar Rasogolla and Odisha claims that it is Odisha Rasagola. In July 2019, Odisha received the GI tag for “Rasagola”. Odisha rasagola cooked longer, so its colour changed slightly to a brownish and firmer texture. And Bengal rosogolla has a soft and white texture. Both are different tests from each other.
Khira Sagar
Khreer Sagar is a classic food in Puri, Odisha. It is made from thickened milk and paneer balls. Its flavour is creamy and sweet with different notes of cardamom and saffron. Paneer balls are mashed and mushy, which absorb the thick milk base. It is believed that Maa Lakshmi served khira sagara to Lord Vishnu. It is quite similar to the sweet Rasmalai.
Arisha Pitha
It is a traditional, authentic food in Puri, Odisha, which is served to Lord Jagannath in Chapan Bhog. It is made from rice flour and a mix of jaggery and sesame seeds. First boil the jaggery, then add rice flour and also add oil and ghee. Due to deep fry its colour changed to golden brown. It is crunchy and crispy and has a soft interior. It is also served on Manabasa Gurubara.
These are some of the famous sweets of Odisha. In Odisha, every food has its own taste and a variety of sweets that reflect its tradition and culture.
