DHARWAD PEDHA – A SWEET TALE
An irresistible flavour that rules taste buds and export list
Pedha is one of Karnataka’s most loved sweets and it is synonymous with the city of Dharwad. This little milky-sugary treat is the biggest export of this cultured south Indian educational hub.
In Karnataka, peda doesn’t need an introduction, nor does it need an occasion to relish. Having a pedha is kind of a ritual for the people in this state, not just during special occasions and festivities, but any time!
But, how did this simple milk-sugar concoction become such a sensation? How did pedha come to associate with Dharwad and who came up with this sweet legacy? Let’s dive in…
The origin
Pedha has a history of more than 175 years and it is still sold from the same place in Dharwad where it was first made by an old migrant confectioner, Ramratan Singh Thakur.
Now, a popular dessert across the country, there was a time when pedha was only sold for a couple of hours daily from a small shop at Dharwad’s Line Bazaar.
Towards the late 19th century when Ramratan’s grandson, Babu Singh, took over the confectionary, people of Dharwad had become so enamoured by the little brown sweetmeat that they didn’t mind standing in long lines for hours to get their share of it.
So much so, that the street on which the Thakur family set up their first shop came to be officially known as Line Bazaar!
This is when it became a local brand and it is still known as Babu Singh Thakur’s Pedha.
“The demand was so high that people would queue up long before the shop opened. The line of people eagerly waiting to buy the pedha would snake down long way back along the street and this is how this street got the name Line Bazaar,” said Durga Singh Thakur, the current owner of the legendary confectionary.
Though, the confectioner is now a global brand, exporting pedha across the world, and with several franchises in the town and across India, loyal customers still love to buy from the original Line Bazaar shop.
“We have several franchises now, but people still love to visit the original shop. It is the trust and legacy built by our forefathers and we are proud of the heritage we carry,” added durga Singh, the fifth generation descendant of Ramratan Singh.
Though, the Dharwad Pedha now has several clones, but the taste and aura of Thakur’s Pedha is unmistakable, winning it the Geographical Indication Tag from the government of India, reserved only for original products of a region.
The Thakurs, who originally hail from Unnao, a town near Uttar Pradesh’s state capital Lucknow, have awards to show from even during the British era.
The demand was so high that people would queue up long before the shop opened. The line of people eagerly waiting to buy the pedha would snake down long way back along the street and this is how this street got the name Line Bazaar.”
The legacy
According to the family history, Thakur Ramratan Singh hailed from a family of confectioners and he set out from his native Unnao in search of greener pastures during the early 1850s eventually reaching Dharwad. The little town is today a sprawling city, while still retaining its old world charm, just like the pedha.
When Ramratan Singh first came up with his original recipe, little did he know that his overcooked, thickened and evaporated milk balls, sprinkled with some sugar dust would someday bring international fame to his family. His descendants Durga Singh and family are keeping up the good work.
Until recently, the pedha was handmade at home by the Thakur family members. They were made fresh every morning and sold out to the waiting crowd within a couple of hours.
Now, the confectionary has evolved into a multi-million dollar business that also produces a wide range of sweets and savouries apart from pedha.
“All our ancestors have taken great pains to develop this business and we are conscious of the legacy we have inherited. We are doing our best to keep up with the growing demand while ensuring that the quality doesn’t get diluted,” added Durga Singh, who now operates a state-of-theart factory that also produces 3,000 loaves of bread and an equal number of buns daily.
This no doubt, is one of India’s sweetest success stories.
Durga Singh Thakur | Owner of Babu Singh Thakur’s Pedha shop