Famous Andhra Sweets, Town by Town

Andhra Pradesh has an unusual habit of naming its sweets after towns. Ask anyone from the Godavari districts and they will tell you which town makes which sweet best. Here is a quick tour.

Tapeswaram: the layered kaja

Tapeswaram, near Mandapeta, is famous for a kaja with many thin layers that crackle and then release syrup. Our Tapeswaram kaja is made in that style: crisp outside, juicy inside, never chewy.

Kakinada: the tube-shaped kaja

Kakinada's kaja is a different sweet altogether. It is shaped like a hollow tube and holds sugar syrup inside, so it bursts when you bite it. We sell it as Gottam kaja. If you have only ever had one kind of kaja, try both side by side.

Machilipatnam: Bandar laddu

Machilipatnam, also called Bandar, gave the world the thokudu laddu. Gram flour is fried, pounded and bound with jaggery and ghee until it is soft enough to melt. Try our Thokudu laddu to taste the difference from a regular boondi laddu.

Atreyapuram: putharekulu

Atreyapuram, in Konaseema, is home to putharekulu, the paper-thin rice-starch sweet. Our Bhaktanjaneya Special Putharekulu is the one most people order as a gift.

Madugula: halwa

Madugula, in the north of the state, is known for a dark, glossy, ghee-rich halwa studded with nuts. Our Madugul halwa is a good introduction if you have never had it.

And the sweets every town shares

Some sweets belong to all of Andhra rather than one town. Ariselu appear at every Sankranti, Bobbatlu at every festival lunch, and kaja and Boondi laddu fill almost every wedding tray.

If you want to taste several of these without travelling, an assorted box from our shop is the closest thing to a sweet tour of the state.