Do you love gajak? The traditional Indian sweet made with sesame seeds, peanuts and jiggery is such a great play on textures. The popular winter treat is often enjoyed during festivals and also has many health benefits. But, do you know that gajak was invented in Meerut?
Yes, you read that right! Meerut is credited with the creation of gajak around 150 years ago by Ram Chandra Sahai, who mixed jaggery and sesame seeds. The sweet is made by pounding the ingredients in a jar and letting them set in a bar like form. This process takes approximately two days.
The sweet is so famous in Meerut that the UP Government has also given it a GI tag to help buyers get details of its unique taste, composition and origin story.
There are more than 500 shops of gajak in Meerut, especially in areas like Budhana Gate, Begum Pul, Gujari Bajar and Garh Road. Not just Meerut or India, gajak is also exported to countries like Canada, London, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and USA. The approximate business that the sweet rakes in annually is INR 80 crores.
With time, several different variations of gajak have become available in the market to suit all taste buds and keep up with the changing times. Some of these varieties include gajak roll, malai gajak, kaju gajak, gud gajak, dry fruit gajak etc.
The unique preparation and long-standing tradition of gajak in Meerut have made it a defining characteristic of the city’s food culture. Go and grab some gajak today!