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{{short description|Indian sweet from Bengal}} | {{short description|Indian sweet from Bengal}} | ||
'''Ledikeni''' ({{lang-bn|লেডিকেনি}}) or '''Lady Kenny''' is a popular [[Indian sweet]] | '''Ledikeni''' ({{lang-bn|লেডিকেনি}}) or '''Lady Kenny''' is a popular [[Indian sweet]] originated in [[West Bengal, India]] and also consumed in [[Bangladesh]]. It is a light fried reddish-brown sweet ball made of [[Chhena]] and flour, soaked in sugar syrup. Ledikeni is named after [[Charlotte Canning, Countess Canning|Lady Canning]], the wife of [[Charles Canning, 1st Earl Canning|Charles Canning]], the Governor General of India during 1856–62. | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
The sweet originated in [[Kolkata]] in the middle of the 19th century. There are various legends regarding the origin of the sweet. According to the most popular legend, a special sweetmeat was prepared by Bhim Chandra Nag in the honour of [[Charlotte Canning, Countess Canning|Lady Canning]] at some point during her stay in India from 1856 till her death in 1861.<ref name="oxford">{{cite book|last1=Krondl|first1=Michael|last2=Rath|first2=Eric|last3=Mason|first3=Laura|last4=Quinzio|first4=Geraldine|last5=Heinzelmann|first5=Ursula|title=The Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XPNgBwAAQBAJ|accessdate=25 September 2015|date=1 April 2015|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780199313624}}</ref> In some versions of the tale, the sweetmeat was prepared to commemorate her visit to India in 1856, while in other versions, it was prepared on the occasion of her birthday.<ref name="oxford"/> Some variations of the tale state that it became her favourite dessert, which she would demand on every occasion.<ref name="krondl">{{cite book|last=Krondl|first=Michael|title=Sweet Invention: A History of Dessert|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gN6ySQnUnfwC|accessdate=25 September 2015|year=2011|publisher=Chicago Review Press|isbn=9781556529542|pages=67–70}}</ref> According to yet another legend, the sweet was prepared by the confectioners of [[Baharampur]] in 1857, after the mutiny, to commemorate the visit by Canning and his wife.<ref name="oxford"/> | The sweet originated in [[Kolkata]] in the middle of the 19th century. There are various legends regarding the origin of the sweet. According to the most popular legend, a special sweetmeat was prepared by Bhim Chandra Nag in the honour of [[Charlotte Canning, Countess Canning|Lady Canning]] at some point during her stay in India from 1856 till her death in 1861.<ref name="oxford">{{cite book|last1=Krondl|first1=Michael|last2=Rath|first2=Eric|last3=Mason|first3=Laura|last4=Quinzio|first4=Geraldine|last5=Heinzelmann|first5=Ursula|title=The Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XPNgBwAAQBAJ|accessdate=25 September 2015|date=1 April 2015|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780199313624}}</ref> In some versions of the tale, the sweetmeat was prepared to commemorate her visit to India in 1856, while in other versions, it was prepared on the occasion of her birthday.<ref name="oxford"/> Some variations of the tale state that it became her favourite dessert, which she would demand on every occasion.<ref name="krondl">{{cite book|last=Krondl|first=Michael|title=Sweet Invention: A History of Dessert|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gN6ySQnUnfwC|accessdate=25 September 2015|year=2011|publisher=Chicago Review Press|isbn=9781556529542|pages=67–70}}</ref> According to yet another legend, the sweet was prepared by the confectioners of [[Baharampur]] in 1857, after the mutiny, to commemorate the visit by Canning and his wife.<ref name="oxford"/> | ||
Lady Canning died in 1861. Since then the sweetmeat has gained | Lady Canning died in 1861. Since then the sweetmeat has gained popularity in Bengal. No grand feast was considered complete if the sweetmeat was not offered to the guest.<ref name="krondl"/> The manufacturer was said to have made a lot of money by selling the sweetmeat although some have claimed that its popularity is due to the name rather than the taste.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/stream/hindoosastheyar01bosegoog#page/n71/mode/1up| page=51|author=Bose, Shib Chunder|edition=2| title=The Hindoos as they are: A description of the manners, customs, and inner life of Hindoo Society in Bengal| place=Calcutta| year=1883| publisher=Thacker, Spink and Co.}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1525/gfc.2010.10.3.58|title=The Sweetshops of Kolkata| journal=Gastronomica|volume=10|issue=3|pages=58|year=2010|last1=Krondl|first1=Michael}}</ref> As it gained popularity, the sweetmeat came to be known as "Lady Canning" which gradually got corrupted to "ledikeni". | ||
A sweet very similar to the modern [[pantua]] and ledikeni, but made of rice flour, is mentioned in the 12th century [[Sanskrit]]-language text ''[[Manasollasa]]''.<ref>{{cite book |author=Michael Krondl |title=Sweet Invention: A History of Dessert |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gN6ySQnUnfwC&pg=PA41 |year=2011 |publisher=Chicago Review Press |isbn=978-1-55652-954-2 |pages=41–42 }}</ref> | A sweet very similar to the modern [[pantua]] and ledikeni, but made of rice flour, is mentioned in the 12th century [[Sanskrit]]-language text ''[[Manasollasa]]''.<ref>{{cite book |author=Michael Krondl |title=Sweet Invention: A History of Dessert |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gN6ySQnUnfwC&pg=PA41 |year=2011 |publisher=Chicago Review Press |isbn=978-1-55652-954-2 |pages=41–42 }}</ref> | ||
Latest revision as of 16:09, 1 May 2022
Ledikeni (Bengali: লেডিকেনি) or Lady Kenny is a popular Indian sweet originated in West Bengal, India and also consumed in Bangladesh. It is a light fried reddish-brown sweet ball made of Chhena and flour, soaked in sugar syrup. Ledikeni is named after Lady Canning, the wife of Charles Canning, the Governor General of India during 1856–62.
History[edit | edit source]
The sweet originated in Kolkata in the middle of the 19th century. There are various legends regarding the origin of the sweet. According to the most popular legend, a special sweetmeat was prepared by Bhim Chandra Nag in the honour of Lady Canning at some point during her stay in India from 1856 till her death in 1861.[1] In some versions of the tale, the sweetmeat was prepared to commemorate her visit to India in 1856, while in other versions, it was prepared on the occasion of her birthday.[1] Some variations of the tale state that it became her favourite dessert, which she would demand on every occasion.[2] According to yet another legend, the sweet was prepared by the confectioners of Baharampur in 1857, after the mutiny, to commemorate the visit by Canning and his wife.[1]
Lady Canning died in 1861. Since then the sweetmeat has gained popularity in Bengal. No grand feast was considered complete if the sweetmeat was not offered to the guest.[2] The manufacturer was said to have made a lot of money by selling the sweetmeat although some have claimed that its popularity is due to the name rather than the taste.[3][4] As it gained popularity, the sweetmeat came to be known as "Lady Canning" which gradually got corrupted to "ledikeni".
A sweet very similar to the modern pantua and ledikeni, but made of rice flour, is mentioned in the 12th century Sanskrit-language text Manasollasa.[5]
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Krondl, Michael; Rath, Eric; Mason, Laura; Quinzio, Geraldine; Heinzelmann, Ursula (1 April 2015). The Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199313624. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Krondl, Michael (2011). Sweet Invention: A History of Dessert. Chicago Review Press. pp. 67–70. ISBN 9781556529542. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
- ↑ Bose, Shib Chunder (1883). The Hindoos as they are: A description of the manners, customs, and inner life of Hindoo Society in Bengal (2 ed.). Calcutta: Thacker, Spink and Co. p. 51.
- ↑ Krondl, Michael (2010). "The Sweetshops of Kolkata". Gastronomica. 10 (3): 58. doi:10.1525/gfc.2010.10.3.58.
- ↑ Michael Krondl (2011). Sweet Invention: A History of Dessert. Chicago Review Press. pp. 41–42. ISBN 978-1-55652-954-2.