Hooray! Hooray! It’s a Holi-Holiday. Yes, It’s time for kids to sing this song as Christmas is fast approaching and winter vacation is about to start. One of everyone’s favorite traditions over this season is sweets, lots and lots of them! Though you don’t get a 10-day vacation like kids, you can join them in relishing some of the super-delicious Christmas treats from Goa listed below:
Bebinca
A rich egg-based multilayered sweet cake that tastes best when fresh; Also known as bibik or bibinka.
Pic Credits: NDTV
Neureos
Deep fried coconut dumplings which are a part of Consuada (sweets sent to neighbors and relatives).
Pic Credits: Masala Herb
Dodol
A jelly type pudding with the unique flavor of jaggery and luscious taste of creamy coconut milk.
Credits: GoanWiki
Baath
This is a Portuguese cake made out of semolina which is infused with the delicate flavours of coconut milk.
Credits: Flavours unlimited
Perad
Pera (Guava in Konkani) made into a cheese/jam is locally eaten as a spread when half cooked or as a dessert when fully done.
Credits: Hildastouchofspice
Bolinha
These are soft coconut cookies that crumble in your mouth and are famous as tea time delights in Goa.
Credits: Xantilicious
Doce De Grao
Doce means ‘sweet’ and grao ‘grain’ in Portuguese and is usually made of Bengal Gram or chana dal.
Credits: The Urban Spice
Kulkul
Small curls of dough are deep fried and sugar glazed to give these golden brown and crunchy treats.
Credits: thebetterindia
Where to get these?
All Goan sweets require a lot of patience and skill to make and getting them right the first time is always a task. But, fear not! You get them fresh at many bakeries across Goa. Some of the popular ones include:
St. Joseph’s Bakery, Mapusa & Braganza Stores, Panjim
Started by Jose Braganca in 1938 as a bread manufacturing unit in Mapusa, they expanded to Panjim as well a few years later. They produce a variety of delicacies ranging from cakes to snacks, with their best selling items being Goan sweets. Both the stores are always crowded, festive season or not!
Location: Braganza Stores – 65, Municipal Market, Panaji Market, Opp Dempo House, Panjim
St. Joseph’s Bakery – Braganza Building, Khorlim, Mapusa
Contact: 0832 226 2651 / 0832 222 2132
La Confiserie Bakery, Candolim
The bakery was started in 1999 as a small bakery on the road to Fort Aguada. It which expanded slowly to include all sweets and savories, the famous ones being marzipan and coconut biscuits.
Location: Aguada – Siolim Rd, Camotim Vaddo, Candolim
Contact: 098221 22187
Confetaria 31 De Janeiro, Fontainhas
Founded on January 31 in 1930, this little eatery occupies a little corner in Fontainhas and is one of the city’s best kept secrets. Two of the bakery’s most iconic attractions are the Special Plum cakes and Swiss rolls.
Location: Corte De Oiterio, 31 January Road, Panjim
Contact: 0832 222 5791
Credits: thebetterindia
Nicolau Bakery, Raia
This one is a 35 year old outlet tucked by the roads to Raia. Their pastries, cakes and Rose Cookies are to die for. Bulk orders are accepted too.
Contact: 0832 277 7097
Jackris Bakery, Margao
Best known for its wine infused plum cake, Jackris Bakery has most of the Goan sweets listed above and a signature Papaya Doce, not to be found elsewhere.
Location: Shop No 71, New Market, Margao
Contact: 0832 271 5011
Credits: talkingstreet
Dom Pedros, Margao
A simple bakery located near the central circle in Old Margao selling freshly made Dosh and Bolinhas among the other items.
Location: Pajifond, Margao
Contact: 098221 22187
Credits: talkingstreet
Some other places selling authentic Goan sweets which are small yet famous are Agnello Bakery- Siolim, Snow Bakery-Margao, Anjona Bakery-Betalbatim, Mr. Baker and Geeta Bakery- Panjim.
Apart from the traditional sweets, no Christmas is complete without some chocolates. You can gift special Christmas hampers from Carasid, Miramar which consists of Plum Cake, Cookies, Marzipan and a list of Assorted Chocolates (Truffle, Nutty Belgian Chocolate, Salted Caramel, Chocolate Praline etc). Its available in four different sizes whose prices range from Rs. 250 to Rs. 1000
Let us know where you’re heading to buy these mouth-watering treats for this Christmas with a comment below.
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