Confectionery from Andhra

JEEDI (జీడి)

I happened to visit some places in coastal areas. In one of the villages, we were standing in front of a temple. We completed our tour of the shrine and were waiting for others from to catch up with us. Just then an old man approached us carrying some packets. He was selling a confectionery known in Andhra as Jeedi (singular) or Jeellu(plural). At once I was reminded of my child hood days.

In those days, we did not have so many varieties of chocolates, biscuits or other confectionery goods. When ever a child cried, it was given some home made snacks or goodies. Mostly it was a small lump of jaggery. Which child does not like sweets? There were so many varieties made at home. Buying from out side was frowned upon. It was an insult to the lady or ladies of the house.


One of the popular confectionery was Panchadara Chilakalu. Read about them here:
http://spiceomylife.blogspot.com/search/label/Panchadara%20Chilakalu

The other is Jeedi. This is what it looks like:

                            JEEDI
The Jeedi I am talking about is made from Jaggery syrup. Jaggery is made into a very thick syrup. Jaggery is mixed with water till it dissolves and cooked on low fire until a thick syrup is got. It is made into balls or cubes or what ever shape one likes. When hardens, it can be eaten. It is very sticky or rather chewy and sticks to the teeth when eaten. I don't know how to describe it. Perhaps, it is like chewy toffee or chewy candy. These are simple Jeedi.


There is a saying or rather a simile in Telugu which means as sticky as the syrup made for Jeedi. When a person is troubling some one and does not leave easily despite best of efforts, this simile is used to say he is as sticky as the syrup made for jeedi and is not leaving.


These are rolled in roasted sesame to make Nuvvu Jeedi. I don't have them right now. I will try to post a picture of them if I get hold of some. 


Both these varieties  could be made at home or could be bought from the corner shops. These were also quite popular with children and were sold very cheap- one per 5 paise or so depending on the size of the candy. 


In North India these sesame confectionery is made with sugar and rose essence is added. It is not chewy like the one I described above. It is very delicate and tasty one.


But the jeedi made of jaggery are now almost extinct. These days children go for pizzas, burgers, chips and other snacks. Locally made candies or confectioneries have disappeared. 
I was so surprised, but bought a pack doubting how they would taste. When we came back to where we were staying, we all had a go at them. they tasted just like I had as a child. I searched the market for more but found none. So I took back the few that were left so that my  niece could also know about it.

 

Panchadara Chilakalu

Diwali (Hindi) or Deepavali (Telugu) is the festival of lights. Its an important festival and celebrated by most of the Indians. Both children and grown ups every one enjoys this festival. In India for each festival we make some dishes- be it sweets, desserts, main courses or other things, but that is specific or specially made for that occasion.

Well for Diwali, since it is a celebration of happiness and joy, we make, eat and give away sweets.  Perhaps for  no other festival do we make or eat so many sweets and desserts. 

Any way here is one sweet or confectionery which is offered to Goddess Laksmi-Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity. She is said to be fond of sweet dishes. So she is offered, sugar cane, sweets etc.

This is known as Panchadara Chilakalu in Telugu- Panchadara means sugar Chilakalu means parrot. These are made of sugar. Sugar is made into a syrup of perhaps thick consistency and then poured into moulds. They are made into dollops, sticks or pyramid, parrot shapes. The most popular is the parrot shape and that is why they are called as Chilakalu (in Telugu) meaning parrot.The shape you are seeing of the parrot(white coloured) above is the traditional motif as seen on the walls of our temples or as block prints in Kalamkari or as thread work on our saris. Colours like pink and yellow are also added. But I am afraid they may not of good quality. So I avoid buying any other than white ones. 

These sweets were a great hit with children once. As a child I loved them when my Granny Now a days except for some festivals like this perhaps no one uses them. These sweets are distributed on Diwali and Holi (festival of colours) in North India and some parts of South India perhaps in Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh. In fact the dollops are stringed to make a garland and after applying colour, each person is garlanded with these sweets. 

We in Andhra use these sweets during the celebrations of Sankranti or Pongal (agricultural festival) when Sun enters Capricorn. This is the time when we get all agricultural produce specially sugar cane. So sweets made of sugar are used and distributed to friends and relatives.


Apart from this we Telugus have the tradition of distributing these figures made of sugar when a baby  speaks for the first time. But now we are slowly losing out to chocolates and other things.