Alongside the mithai we make a counter of desserts — the cold, spoonable things that get eaten the same day rather than boxed and sent. Some are as old as anything else we make; some are not traditional at all.
Kulfi
Made the slow way, from milk reduced down rather than churned, which is why kulfi is dense and slightly chewy where ice cream is light. It does not melt in the same way either, which matters in a Karachi summer.
- Plain — reduced milk, cardamom, not much else. The one to judge a kitchen by.
- Pistachio
- Pineapple
Sold by the dozen and best collected close to when you will serve it.
Rus malai and rus gullah
Rus malai — chhena discs in thickened, cardamom-scented milk. Orange rus gullah — lighter, in syrup rather than milk, and the orange gives it an edge that cuts the sweetness.
Both are chhena-based, which means same-day. They do not travel and they do not keep. Buy them for the evening you intend to eat them, and if you are sending something to another city, send halwa instead.
Halwa by the kilo
Gajar halwa is winter food and we make no apology for that. Carrots, milk, ghee and time, and it is at its best from about November through February when the carrots are right. Served warm.
Loki halwa runs alongside it — gourd rather than carrot, paler, milder, and the one people are usually surprised by.
Both are sold by the kilo and both reheat well, which the chhena desserts do not.
Mousse cups
Chocolate, strawberry and berry tango, in individual cups. Not traditional, and we do not pretend otherwise — they exist because they are what a good many children choose, and because a dessert table generally needs something that is not cardamom-scented.
What is actually available
We make well over a hundred desserts across the year. What is listed here is the regular counter — the things you can reasonably expect to find most days. Seasonal items come and go, and gajar halwa in particular is worth asking about rather than assuming.
For current prices and what is on the counter today, call any Karachi branch on 0333 2 648424 or either Lahore branch on 0329 1648 424. Prices move with ingredient costs and we would rather tell you the real one than publish a number that is out of date.
Feeding a gathering? Platters and baskets are the better starting point — and note that rus malai and rabri are served in bowls rather than put out on a platter, for the reasons above.