The dessert that everyone seems to like a piece of is cake. Cakes have a vivid and intriguing history that matches the many variations of this tasty dessert. There is an endless history of cakes in India.
The cake originated in India in a tiny village in South India. The first baker to open a bakery in India was Mampally Babu of Thalassery. The earliest bakery in India was the Royal Biscuit Factory. In Kolkata, there was a second cake shop, but it solely served British customers.
Indians were unfamiliar with western-style cakes and biscuits. So what caused cakes to enter India’s storied cultural history? How did the Indians come to love cake?
Who was the first to bake cakes?
The Swedish word “kaka” is where the term “cake” originates. The earliest people to demonstrate baking expertise were the Egyptians. Bread and honey were initially mixed in cakes. Cakes were originally just flat, circular loaves of bread that had been cooked. During the baking process, the Egyptians would flip their cakes over once. Greek cheesecake, an early version, is well-known. Fruit cakes made with raisins, almonds, and other ingredients were created by the Romans.
Several bakers and historians agree that the Romans used yeast as a leavening in cakes. The Italians later invented whipping eggs and adding them to the batter somewhere in the 16th century. These two techniques led to lighter cakes. Nevertheless, these techniques required a lot of time. Baking soda and powder were first used in cakes at that time. Hence, cake, as we know it now, began to evolve in the 1800s.
The oven was the most crucial baking instrument. Even though bread has become a basic item in Western nations, many families still lack it. The poor ate rye and black bread, while the privileged relished excellent flour cakes and bread. The price was high due to the high cost of the ingredients.
How did the cake get to India?
For a long time, India was a colony of Europe. Maybe it was because of the Europeans who traveled to and stayed in India that the first cakes entered the country. British, French, Dutch, and Portuguese immigrants brought baked goods to India. The baked products from the West may have also been enjoyed by Indian travelers.
Cakes were not for ordinary people, as in the West. We can only imagine how popular cakes were among the common Indian workers who served the Brits. The Brits may have offered their servants the leftovers from their high tea custom. The kitchen staff, including the chefs and other workers, likely had a good understanding of how cakes were made.
Even those who knew how to bake cakes could not afford to prepare them at home since an oven was a costly item. A large oven that was erected in the backyard served as the primitive oven in days gone by. For warmth, wood was necessary. Even after industrialization, particularly in India, the oven was not a common home item.
Notwithstanding the demand of the British and other European immigrants for baked goods, India had few bakeries. The first bakery in India was located in Calcutta, but it only served British customers.
Baking in India- Classic Indian cakes:
India’s baking scene did not emerge overnight. It happened gradually. It needed the typical Indian jugaad, where individuals experimented with several oven-free baking techniques. Many Indians were against the concept of cakes containing eggs due to their strict vegetarian diets, which excluded eggs. Nonetheless, an Indian has never been prevented from enjoying a treat because of a dietary restriction.
For Indians, baking a cake was a difficult task. The availability of ingredients was the most important consideration. Flour and yeast were two issues the Indian bakers had to deal with. They were unable to get high-quality flour for baking. The tropical environment of India made yeast baking a challenge as well. Indian bakers immediately found a solution for the yeast issue by using indigenous beers and egg whites.
History of Indian cakes:
Cakes, once a teatime treat, have evolved into a ubiquitous part of social gatherings. The cakes also had certain modifications made to them, which helped them become more popular. The frosting came first. A frosting composed of sugar and butter became a standard for festivities in place of plain vanilla cakes.
Most bakeries now provide eggless cakes, contemporary French pastries, and flourless chocolate cakes for those with gluten issues. You may get a good indication of how far Indian cake has progressed by taking a look at the extensive selection of cakes. We have a wide variety of tastes, including fruit-based flavors like pineapple, blueberry, and strawberry as well as mocha, butterscotch, red velvet, and chocolate truffle. In India, there is a cake shop near for every person. Where he can get his favorite cake easily.
