Jammuites relishes homemade frozen dessert
Jammu, Aug 3
For eight years, Purshotam Kumar, from Ramnagar Tehsil of Udhampur district, is into the business of selling homemade frozen dessert locally known as “malai baraf” — a favourite of one and all.
Nearly half a decade back, Purshotam shifted to Jammu with his small business and started selling outside the Guest House at Canal Road.
The place is now identified by the young and old who wish to relish the homemade frozen dessert served in paper-made biodegradable bowls.
“I feel good when passersby, even those in luxurious cars, halt and ask for a bowl of malai baraf and shower praises on me,” Purshotam told UNI.
The vendor charges Rs 10 and Rs 20 per bowl.
“People nowadays have so many options in desserts especially ice creams but I am thankful to God that I still sell 5 to 6 kg of malai baraf every day,” he said.
“I don’t add any preservatives to the desert, which is made of khoya (Mawa), milk and cardamom. It takes two to three days to prepare 6 kg of dessert,” he said.
“I have some regular customers who bring their kids to enjoy the ‘desi ice cream’ and recollect memories of their childhood.”
Besides Purshotam, another man, Jagdish Chander from Billawar tehsil of Kathua, is also famous in Jammu for selling malai baraf in Green Belt area of Gandhi Nagar.
“The locals must develop the taste buds of their kids for desi food, cuisines and desserts because it is not only healthy but also keeps our decades old traditions alive,” Purshotam said. (UNI)
A school boy purchasing homemade (Malai Baraf) frozen dessert from a roadside vendor in Jammu. (UNI)
