If there was one sweet that could be defined as the staple sweet of India it would have to be the laddu. These delicacies can be found in almost every state and every state has their own variation of it.  Motichuur ke laddu, besan ke laddu, coconut laddus, rava laddu, boondi ke laddu, shahi laddu, just the names are enough to make your mouth start watering. But where did the laddu come from? And why do we have so many varieties?

The origin of the laddu dates back to the 4th century BC. It is said that the legendary surgeon Susruta the elder began using this as an antiseptic to treat his patients. Susruta would coat sesame seeds with honey and jaggery and roll the mixture into a ball, making it easier for patients to consume. Indian mythology states that laddus were one of Lord Ganesha’s favourite foods which is why modak and laddus are offered to Lord Ganesha even today.

The reason laddus stayed popular throughout the years is because of their versatility. The Persian invasion of India created the shahi ladoo which includes dry figs and dates. The advent of British rule made it possible to make laddus with imported sugar. This was what transformed the laddu into a sweet that could be truly mass produced. The most famous example are the ‘thaggu ke laddu.’ Created by Mattha Pandey aka Ramavtar, he began selling these laddus in Kanpur during British rule. Not wanting to fool the general public Ramavtar decided to be honest by telling the people that his laddus have imported sugar, thus dubbing them the thieves laddu. Even today hundreds of people line up at his shop to try the famous thaggu ke laddu.

Now that we have a better understanding of laddus, it’s easy to see just why there are so many variations of them. These tasty desserts can also be called healthy snacks! How is that possible? Modern food sellers like DIP Foods prepare their products while keeping good health and great taste in mind. Our baked coconut laddus are not just a treat for your taste buds but they are also much lighter than the traditional dessert.

With India’s oldest and tastiest sweets being made healthier, there is no longer a need to restrain yourself from these scrumptious delights.