Raksha Bandhan sweets

Spices for Raksha Bandhan sweets

On Raksha Bandhan a sister ties a rakhi on her brother's wrist and he gives a gift in return. Sweets are central: kaju katli, rasmalai, ghewar and barfi are bought or made at home, and almost all are scented with cardamom, with saffron for the better ones. In Rajasthan ghewar, the honeycomb disc soaked in syrup and topped with thickened milk, is the signature of the monsoon festival. The spices work as a mark of care, since both cardamom and saffron are expensive and meant for guests.

The spices

CardamomThe default scent of milk sweets given as gifts.SaffronUsed on rasmalai, ghewar and festival barfi.