Khoa Based Sweets
Khoa Based Sweets
Khoa Based Sweets
Structure
3.0 Objectives
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Burfi
3.3 Peda
3.4 Gulabjamun
3.5 Kalajamun and Pantua
3.6 Kalakand
3.7 Milk cake
3.8 Kunda
3.9 Let Us Sum Up
3.10 Key Words
3.11 Some Useful Books
3.12 Answers to Check Your Progress Exercises
3.0 OBJECTIVES
After reading this unit we should be able to:
• distinguish between various sweets made from khoa.
• state the composition and standards of khoa based sweets.
• manufacture burfi, peda, gulabjamun, milk cake, kalakand and kunda.
• familiarize with the developments taken place for large scale production of
some of these sweets.
3.1 INTRODUCTION
Milk sweets are an integral part of the socio cultural life in the Indian sub-continent.
These are consumed on special religious occasions, social events and at the end of
our daily meals. Milk sweets offered to guests reflect an expression of the warmth
of hospitality. In early Buddhist and Jain works, there is a mention that the sweets
were prepared from thickened milk named as Sihakesara and Morandeka. Buddha
allowed his followers to take some sweets for journeys on routes where it was
difficult to get foodstuffs. In the Maurya period the sweets were prepared from
concentrated milk with the addition of honey, jaggery or sugar. In the post-Gupta
period (AD 750 to 1200), milk was used in various forms, such as concentrated,
semi solid and in powder forms for either direct consumption or for sweet making.
It is evident from above historical evidences that the art of preparing sweets from
surplus milk was developed centuries ago. In the present era in addition to religious
and social needs, the milk sweets are prepared for value addition and earn profit to
34 the traders. That is why, now their manufacture is not confined to only small
confectioners (halwais), but many organized dairies and large players in the milk Khoa Based Sweets
business have entered in this lucrative venture. Amongst the various milk sweets,
khoa based sweets, namely burfi, peda, gulabjamun, milk cake, kalakand and kunda
occupy more commercial significance than other sweets.
3.2 BURFI
Burfi is a popular milk based confection in which the base material is essentially
khoa. Sugar is added in different proportions and other ingredients incorporated
according to the demand of consumers. Several varieties of burfi are sold in the
market depending on the additives present, viz., plain mawa, pista, nut, chocolate,
coconut and rava burfi. A lot of variation can be observed in physical attributes of
market samples. Good quality burfi, however, is characterized by moderately sweet
taste, soft and slightly greasy body and smooth texture with very fine grains. Colour,
(except chocolate burfi) should be white or slightly yellowish. The shape of burfi is
either square or rectangular.
i. Standards of Burfi
There is no PFA standard for burfi. BIS has recommended standards for two varieties
of burfi, namely mawa burfi and other types (table 3.1).
Table 3.1. BIS requirements for burfi
Requirements
Characteristics
Mawa burfi Other Type
Moisture, per cent by wt., Max. 15.0 15.0
Milk fat, per cent by wt., Min. 12.5 10.0
Lactose, per cent by wt., Min. 15.0 12.0
Sucrose, per cent by wt., Max. 48.0 40.0
Acidity, per cent (as LA), Max. 0.35 0.45
Standard plate count/g, Max. 30000 30000
Yeast and moulds count/g, Max. 10 10
Kneading (50oC)
Additives (optional)
Cooling
Forming
Packaging
Fig. 3.1 Flow chart for preparation of burfi
Dhap khoa made from fresh buffalo milk is desirable for making burfi. Khoa is
taken preferably in double-jacketed stainless steel hemi-spherical kettle and heated
upto 60oC by steam. In the traditional method shallow karahi made up of mild steel
is used and heating source is kerosene oil or LPG burner. Khoa is thoroughly worked
at about 60oC by a wooden ladle (long handle with flattened end). Sugar, preferably
ground, @ 30% of khoa, is added. Aggressive beating of khoa and sugar is done at
about 50oC to achieve a completely homogenous and smooth mass. At this stage
heating is discontinued and additives may be added depending on the type of burfi.
Burfi base is poured into previously greased (with desi ghee) shallow trays. The
36 trays are left at room temperature for cooling and setting of burfi. Dressing of burfi
with nuts, silver foil, etc is done at this stage. Finally pieces of required shape and Khoa Based Sweets
sizes are cut and packaged in suitable boxes.
3.3 PEDA
There are several varieties of peda and their methods of manufacture also vary from
region to region depending on the consumers’requirements. Consequently, the quality
of peda varies extremely. The range of variation in sensory quality of peda is given
as follows:
The wide variations in the composition of market samples of peda is attributed to all
those factors discussed earlier for burfi, such as the type and composition of khoa,
level of sugar added, extent of desiccation, type of peda and additives added.
Standards: Presently no standard (PFA or BIS) exists for peda
ii. Method of Preparation of Peda
Different methods are used for the preparation of peda, depending on the type and
scale of production, for example a) traditional method at small and large scale and
b) industrial/mechanized method. The method for making brown (Lal) peda is different
from these methods. All these techniques are described as below:
a) Traditional method: This method is basically identical to that of burfi
preparation wherein a mixture of khoa and sugar is heated at low fire with 37
Heat Desiccated Products sufficient working and kneading till desired texture is attained. Peda is normally
made into round balls of about 20-25 g size by rolling between the palms. Fig.
3.2 given below shows the flow diagram of a standardized batch method for
making plain peda.
Dhap khoa
Kneading at 50oC
Moulding/shaping
Peda
Packaging
Fig. 3.2. Flow diagram of making plain peda by traditional method
Dough
Gulabjamun
Packaging
Storage
Fig. 3.4. Flow diagram for the commercial manufacturing of gulabjamun
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4) What is pantua. How it is similar and different from gulabjamun?
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3.6 KALAKAND
Kalakand is also an important traditional milk based sweet popular all over the
country. Though the chemical composition of kalakand is almost similar to burfi, the
organoleptic characteristics of the two differ to a great extent. Kalakand has more
distinct cooked flavour, brown colour, greasy or moist body and grainy texture as
compared with burfi. It is particularly characterized by its large sized grains. So far
no compositional standards for kalakand have been laid down under either in the
PFA act or the BIS.
i. Chemical Composition
The gross composition of kalakand does not differ significantly from that of burfi. All
those factors that are responsible for variations in the chemical composition of burfi
and peda, also affect the composition of kalakand.
ii. Method of Preparation
Buffalo milk is preferred for kalakand making. However, the quality need not be as
fresh as required for burfi and peda. Slightly substandard or returned milk having
titratable acidity up to 0.18% (no sour flavour) can be used for making kalakand.
Standardized buffalo milk (minimum 5 per cent fat and 9.0 per cent SNF) is taken in
a kettle and heating started. On first boiling, 0.01 per cent citric acid, dissolved in
small quantity of water, is added to the milk. If milk has developed acidity, there is
no need to add citric acid. Boiling is continued with vigorous stirring and scraping till
pat formation stage. At this stage, sugar @ 6-7 per cent is added to the contents of
kettle and the mass is spread over the surface of kettle. Heating is discontinued at
this stage and desired flavorings and chopped nuts may be added at this stage and
mixed properly. Kalakand so produced is removed to suitable trays or packaging
materials.
Kalakand is also prepared from Danedar khoa, as a starting material. Khoa is
taken in a kettle and heated to about 70oC and sugar @ 30% of khoa is added. The
mixture is blended properly. Additives, if desired are mixed at this stage. The whole
mass is transferred to trays for setting and finally cut to required size and shape.
Packaging
Fig 3.5. Flow diagram for preparation of milk cake
In the method shown above, buffalo milk having 6% fat and 9% SNF with an acidity
level of 0.18% is preferred. Sugar is added @ 12% of milk at two stages, i.e. half
the sugar on achieving about 2 fold concentration and the remaining half at pat stage
formation. The product in hot condition (about 80-85oC) is transferred into designed
aluminium trays with about 3-4 cms depth and kept at 60oC. This enables the product
to remain in hot condition for a longer time so that caramelized flavour and intense
brown colour is developed in the centre whereas light brown colour remains on out
44 side. The length of the exposure to this temperature (60oC) depends on the intensity
of colour required. Like kalakand, milk cake can also be prepared from Danedar Khoa Based Sweets
khoa, but the quality of product is not as good as that obtained directly from milk.
3.8 KUNDA
Kunda is a region specific heat desiccated semi-solid milk delicacy prepared in the
Belgaum district of Karnataka and its neighbouring area. The origin of the product is
traced to one Joshi family, which had migrated to Belgaum from Dehu area of
Rajasthan and the product is being prepared since the beginning of 20th century.
Now, Kunda is finding acceptance in places other than Karnataka. The colour of
Kunda varies from light brown to dark brown. It has creamy taste with a characteristic
nutty and caramelized cooked flavour. Kunda has a soft body and grainy texture
with district greasy surface. Some organized dairies in Karnataka have also started
commercial production of Kunda.
i. Composition of Kunda
The composition of market samples of Kunda collected from Belgaum, Gokak and
other areas of Karnataka ranges between, moisture, 17.4 – 30.0%; fat, 5.1 – 17.2%;
proteins, 5.9 – 11.3%; sucrose, 25.6 – 51.21 and lactose 5.7 – 15.9%.
ii. Method of Preparation of Kunda
Generally kunda is prepared using Dhap khoa (having about 40% moisture) as a
base material. Buffalo milk is preferred for making such khoa. If khoa contains less
than required moisture, raise the moisture level to about 40%. The flow diagram of
a most commonly used method is given in Fig 3.6 below:
Dhap khoa
Heating kettle
(shallow/double jacketed)
Adding sugar
(@20-25% of khoa)
Desiccation
45
(90-120 min)
Heat Desiccated Products
Brown/caramel product
(20% moisture)
Kunda
Fig. 3.6 Flow diagram of preparing kunda
The method has not been adequately standardized and largely based on the experience
of worker. Heating temperature and time are so maintained to obtain slightly
caramelized product with small uniform grains. A little amount of water is intermittently
added to prevent drying/burning of product during desiccation. In some parts of
Karnataka, Jaggery is added in place of sugar.
Check your Progress 3
1) What is difference between kalakand and milk cake? How typical grainy texture
is developed in these products?
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2) How much sugar and at what stage is added in milk cake?
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3) How colour of different shades is developed in milk cake? Which components
are responsible for colour development?
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4) a) What is kunda? b) In which regions it is popular? and c) What is the
moisture content in kunda?
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ii. Burfi contains high moisture and low protein and lactose as compared
with peda
iii. By observing the shape, burfi is rectangular or square and peda round in
shape.
4. i. Brown or Lal peda can be prepared by heating khoa and sugar at high
temperature to develop caramelization. Sometimes ghee is also added
alongiwth khoa and sugar to develop brown colour without surface burning.
For producing a completely white peda, sodium sulfite (Rangkat) is added
to khoa.
ii. The flow diagram of large scale method of peda making includes;
Milk → Continuous khoa making machine → Khoa → Heat to 60oC →
Addition of sugar @ 30% of khoa → Planetary Mixer → Mixture stored
at 5oC for 10h → Rheon forming and packaging machine → packaged
peda.
Check Your Progress - 2
1. i. Gulabjamun of good quality should possess following characteristics:
Colour – brown; Shape – spherical; Body & texture: soft & slightly
spongy body, uniform granular texture and fully juicy; Flavour: mildly
cooked & oily, free from doughy feel and optimum sweetness.
ii. Though the sugar in gulabjamun ranges between 38-52%, about 45% is
most desirable level.
2. i. Maida is added as a binding agent to khoa so that smooth balls that do
not collapse during deep fat flying are formed. Addition of baking powder
creates voids (gas holes) and makes the balls swell during cooking for
proper absorption of sugar syrup
ii. Normally vegetable fat (vanaspati) or ghee is used for frying gulabjamun
balls. The temperature varies between 125-130oC.
3. i. The main components of a mechanized assembly for gulabjamun
preparations are: planetary mixer; portioning machine; ball forming
machine; deep fat frying tank, sugar syrup tank, packaging and sealing
machine.
ii. Gulabjamun of cylindrical (some what elongated) shape are made by
mechanized system.
4. i. Pantua is a popular milk sweet of eastern India, particularly of Kolkata.
ii. It is similar to gulabjamun in respect of colour, shape and method or
preparation but different in terms of ingredients used and texture.
iii. Like gulabjamun, pantua is spherical in shape having brown colour. In
case of gulabjamun only khoa is used as milk ingredient whereas in pantua
both khoa and chhana are used. Because of chhana addition, the texture
of pantua is more spongy and chewy.
Check Your Progress - 3
1. i. Kalakand and milk cake differ from each other on the basis of organoleptic
quality. Milk cake has more intense brown colour, often in layers, more 49
Heat Desiccated Products caramelized flavour and bigger and harder grains with gumminess in
comparison with kalakand.
ii. The characteristic grainy texture in milk cake and kalakand is developed
by adding 0.01 – 0.02% citric acid to milk during khoa making stage
2. i. The addition of sugar to milk cake varies widely, but 12% is considered
to be optimum.
ii. This sugar is added at two stages. Half of it is added to boiling milk during
desiccation and half at the final stage of khoa.
iii. If Danedar khoa is the starting point all the required quantity of sugar is
added just at beginning of heating of khoa.
3. i. The brown colour with light and intense shades in milk cake are very
critical attributes for its acceptability. These shades can be developed in
khoa by:
– transferring milk cake from processing kettle in hot condition (about
80oC) to an aluminium tray,
– lowering the outside temperature to about 60oC and maintaining
higher internal temperature for about an hour, and finally
– cooling the entire mass to room temperature.
ii. The development of brown colour in milk products is due to maillard
reaction, which takes place at high temperature between amino acid group
of proteins and aldehydes group of milk sugar. The presence of sugar
(sucrose) in milk results into caramelization at high temperature heating
which causes intense brown colour and caramel flavour.
4. i. Kunda is a heat-desiccated semisolid milk delicacy. It has characteristic
brown colour, caramelized cooked flavour and grainy texture.
ii. Kunda is prepared in Belgaum district of Karnataka.
iii. It contains about 20% moisture
50