CUMILLA, Dec 13: The reputation of Rasmalai, a special sweetmeat of the district, is spreading beyond the country's domain. The United States is one these countries.
This sweetmeat has been maintaining a tradition of the district.
Due to its popularity, a rush of buying Rasmalai is found at various sweetmeat shops in the district every day.
Of the shops, 'Matri Bhander' in Manoharpur area of the city is the most famous one in making Rasmalai.
Guests are usually welcomed here by serving this sweetmeat. Besides, the Rasamalai of Bhagabati Pera Bhandar, Shitol Bhandar, Porabari, Jenis, Jalojogn and Cumilla Misti Bhandar has a demand.
According to local sources, Rasmalai was first made here in 1900. In 1930, late Freedom Fighter Shankar Sen Gupta developed first Matri Bhander Rasmalai, and later it became very famous. Currently his son Anirban Sen Gupta runs the business. A former student of Dhaka University, he has been engaged in the family business without searching any job.
He said the demand for Rasamalai is high every day, but when there is a lack of milk, the sweet is made less.
"We always try to maintain quality. We have no branch. We have nothing to do against those who are selling Rasmalai using our name," he said.
Ratan Chandra Ghosh, a 48-year-old confectioner of Bhagabati Pera Bhandar in Manoharpur area of the city, gave a recipe on how to make Rasmalai.
He said, at first milk is collected from dairymen. It is then boiled at a certain temperature. After boiling for at least two hours, the milk becomes thicker. Then small granular sweets are made from the milk and turned into Rasmalai. The higher the milk concentration is, the more delicious the rasamalai will be.
As Rasmalai's reputation has spread across the world, former US Ambassador to Bangladesh Geeta Pasi came here to take this sweetmeat from Matri Bhander, he added.
Currently, one kilogram Rasamalai is selling at Tk 260.
