When you think of iconic Indian sweets, Mysore Pak holds a special place. While it was made in Karnataka, it is a sweet which is pan-India special. This golden, melt-in-the-mouth delicacy traces its origins back to the 1930s, right in the royal kitchen of the Amba Vilas Palace in Mysore.
How was Mysore Pak made?
It was here that the legendary chef Kakasura Madappa crafted a unique sweet using a simple yet rich combination of gram flour, ghee, and sugar. The result was so divine that Maharaja Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV himself named it after his beloved city, Mysore, giving birth to the now-famous Mysore Pak.
The name Mysore Pak has an interesting story behind it as well. The word “Pak” is derived from “Sakkare Paaka,” a Kannada phrase meaning sugar syrup. It’s this balance that creates Mysore Pak’s signature texture, crispy on the outside, yet soft and porous from the inside!
Over the decades, Mysore Pak has become synonymous with Mysuru city’s cultural identity.
Even stars love Mysore Pak
Rajinikanth, and film legend Shivaji Ganesan, have expressed their fondness for this dessert. Even Jayalalithaa, the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, was known to be an admirer.
Most sold sweet in 2023 in Karnataka
According to a report by New Indian Express, during the 2023 Dasara festival season, the Karnataka Milk Federation achieved a record by selling over 400 metric tonnes (4 lakh kilograms) of sweets in just 15 days. Mysore Pak and Nandini Peda led the pack, reaffirming Mysore Pak’s enduring status as a festival staple.
Ranked as one of the best street foods in the wolrd!
The sweet’s legacy is not just confined to India. In 2023, the global food and travel platform Taste Atlas ranked Mysore Pak as the 14th best street food sweet worldwide, with an impressive rating of 4.4 out of 5. It also earned a place among the top 50 global snacks, placing Indian cuisine prominently on the international culinary map.
When are you going to try out some mouth-melting Mysore Pak?
