Bombay and Kerala halwa

Special halwa is a thick semi-solid or gelled ready-to-eat sweets where grain fractions (such as semolina, flour, starch) of cereals or pulses are used. Special gelled halwas are Bombay halwa, Kerala halwa (Figure 1.2.1) and carrot halwa. These products are available in India and neighbouring countries. Bombay halwa is a typical starch gel in the presence of sugar. A permitted pink or orange colour is added to make it appealing to consumers though colour addition is not necessary. The other added colours are yellow, red and green. The product is cut into a cube shape, and square or rectangular cross-sections when the thickness of the product is generally between 10 and 20 mm. The gelled product has a translucent appearance, and a soft chewy texture; the product has a mild to moderate sweetness. The shelf-life of the product at room temperature is 4 to 7 days but it can be stored for a month in refrigerated condition.