Winter Sweets: Jaggery, Sesame and Dry Fruits for the Cold Months

As the mornings turn cold and Dhanurmasam begins, Andhra kitchens change what they make. Jaggery, sesame, peanuts and dry fruits come out, and the tin on the shelf fills with sweets that are rich, warming and keep well.

Why these ingredients in winter

Jaggery, sesame and nuts have long been eaten through the cold months in Telugu homes. Sesame and jaggery are both part of Sankranti, the big winter festival, and dry fruit sweets are a natural fit for gifting at the end of the year. They also keep well at room temperature in the cool, dry weather.

Winter sweets worth keeping

Sunnundalu: roasted urad dal ground with jaggery and ghee, rolled into balls. Rich, nutty and filling.

Nuvvula undalu: sesame and jaggery balls, the classic winter sweet.

Dry fruit laddu: nuts and dried fruit bound together, good for a small, rich bite.

Ariselu and gavvalu: the jaggery sweets of Sankranti, made in large batches at this time of year.

Storing them

Jaggery sweets keep well in winter, but jaggery pulls moisture from the air. Keep them in an airtight tin and close it properly each time. Dry fruit and ghee sweets stay good for about 15 days in a cool, dry place.

Gifting in December

Winter is also the gifting season: Christmas, New Year and Sankranti all fall within a few weeks. A box of dry fruit and jaggery sweets travels well and suits almost everyone.