Falooda

For the similarly named Persian dessert, see Faloodeh.

Falooda

Falooda with kulfi, rose syrup, and basil seeds
Course	Beverage
Place of origin	Indian subcontinent
Main ingredients	Milk, rose syrup, vermicelli, sweet basil

A falooda is an Indian version of a cold dessert made with noodles. It has origins in the Persian dish faloodeh, variants of which are found across West, Central, and South Asia. Traditionally it is made by mixing rose syrup, vermicelli, and sweet basil seeds with milk, often served with ice cream. The vermicelli used for preparing falooda is made from wheat, arrowroot, cornstarch, or sago.

History

A version of falooda with fruits, nuts, and an ice cream topping

Bawarchi special falooda

Falooda from a shop at Juhu Beach, Mumbai, India

Phaluda from Myanmar

The origin of falooda goes back to Iran (Persia), where a similar dessert, faloodeh, was popular. The dessert came to Medieval India with the many Central Asian merchants and dynasties that settled in the Indian subcontinent in the 16th to 18th century. The present form of falooda was developed in the Mughal Empire and spread with its conquests. The Persianate rulers who succeeded from the Mughals patronized the dessert with their own adaptations, specifically in Hyderabad Deccan and the Carnatic areas of present-day India. This dessert is now a major part of Pakistani and Bangladeshi culture, specially served on Islamic holidays, weddings and other occasions. It is also a well known part of Sri Lankan modern culture.

Metaphorical references

In idiomatic Hindustani, faluda is sometimes used as a reference to something that has been shredded, which is an allusion to the vermicelli noodles. For example, someone who falls into disrepute might say that his or her izzat has been turned to faluda (Hindi: इज़्ज़त का फ़लूदा, Urdu: عزت کا فالودہ‎, romanized: izzat ka faluda), which is roughly equivalent to saying "my reputation is shot".

Variants

• Some Indian versions consist of translucent wheat-starch noodles, and flavoured syrup.
• In Myanmar, phaluda (ဖာလူဒါ) is made with basil seeds, grass jelly, egg pudding, vanilla ice cream, sweetened milk and rose syrup. More elaborate versions also incorporate sago, rice noodles, fruit jelly, and chopped fruit.
• In southern Bangladesh, falooda is made with pandan extract, pistachios, sago pearls, creamed coconut, mango, milk and vermicelli, and may even include strong black tea.
• Malaysia and Singapore have a similar drink called bandung.
• Thailand has a similar drink, nam maenglak (น้ำแมงลัก), which is made with lemon basil seeds, shredded jelly, tapioca pearls, and Job's tears mixed with sugar, water, and rose water.
• The Iraqi Kurds make a version with thicker vermicelli.
• A similar modern East Asian drink is bubble tea.
• The Mauritian version is called alouda.
• South Africa also has a variant.

See also

• Cendol

External links

• How To Make Falooda (Indian Dessert Drink)