Gulab Jamun The Sweet Culture Delights of India

Do you know that you can find some kind of fried dough type of local delight in every corner of the world? One of the Indian versions of it is called Gulab Jamun. It has been a key part of Indian culture. They are put on the altar of the Gods during prayers and always appear during big days such as weddings, Diwali and other kinds of celebrations.

Originating from Persia, this cultural delight is made by frying milk solid, which is then drizzled with rose-flavoured sugar syrup. The end result is warm, fluffy, sweet-smelling snitch-coloured balls.

The thing is, I didn’t have Gulab Jamun for most of my life. With both parents who see sugar as evil as crack, I was taught not to like Indian sweets. Even when I was a regular patron of Little India in Singapore and ate like it was my last meal, I never had the temptation to try the sweet cultural delights of India.

Gulab-versary

Years later, entered Fafa, my South Indian sweetheart, who was shocked when I revealed to him on our first-year anniversary dinner that I had never tried Gulab Jamun in my entire life. That night, still early in the relationship, I decided to use the opportunity to show him that I could be nice at times. By agreeing to try at least a spoon of Gulab jamun. He put the order in.

Soon after, two warm brown balls came in a small metal bowl. It’s garnished with pistachio slivers and drenched in white gravy.

“What is this gravy?” I asked the waiter. “Rose milk, mam“, he replied back.

A few things came into my mind. First: none ever called me mam; this must be a really fancy restaurant, brownie point for the boyfriend. The second was that I liked rose milk. Maybe I would not hate this ball as much. And with that, I saw Appa’s disapproving face flashing in front of my eyes.

I took one small bite of this gold ball. It was warm and gooey and immediately melted in my mouth. It felt like being hugged. A shaped surge of endorphin hit me. Sugar high, baby!

“Oh wow, it’s so delicious“.

“I told you“, Fafa replied, smiling happily that he was proven right.  I finished it within minutes, realising that I didn’t even offer him any.

“Shall we order another one?” I asked him. Thus, I embraced my journey to become the stereotypical diabetic-ridden Indian aunty.

Globetrotting Gulab Jamun

Though are different types of Indian sweets across the Indian subcontinent, some showcasing various local delicacies and culture, Gulab Jamun is famous all around. From Myanmar to Sri Lanka, different names, similar tastes and massively loved snacks. The national dessert of Pakistan has been called dumplings by some while protested by others.

Other than the Indian sweets specialty store, you can always get Gulab Jamun in most Indian restaurants, especially North Indian ones. Personally, I have yet to find an earth-shatteringly delicious Gulab jamun outside of Hyderabad and Singapore (and trust me, I have been doing my research regularly. The weighing scale in the bathroom could attest to this). In Singapore, head down to Komala Vilas Sweets and Savories in Little India for the best endless choices of Indian sweets, including the most beloved Gulab Jamun.

Ps. Once, I was advised never to post about food without including a recipe for it. Since my passion for the Gulab Jamun is only to the extent of putting it into my mouth, check out this blog for its recipe and other desi food.

Pps. Spread Indian culture and support a woman artist by treating a little one in your life with 10 Gulab Jamuns. It’s a multicultural children’s storybook written by a writer-mom, Sandhya Acharya.

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