Diwali, especially in the Northern belt, is synonymous with Kaju Katli (काजू कतली). This evergreen diamond-shaped barfi is a hot selling item in almost every shop selling mithais. Made using cashews (Kaju) and sugar, kaju katli or kaju barfi is coated with varq (edible silver leaf).
As we all gear up for the festive season, nothing excited us more than the kaju katli we were about to gorge on. We picked Kaju Katlis from two popular chains in India that are famous for their namkeens and sweets, amongst other things – Haldiram’s and Bikanervala. After a very delicious tasting session, we chose Bikanervala Kaju Katli as our Top Pick. Here’s why!
Table of Contents
Watch Video: Bikanervala Kaju Katli vs Haldiram’s Kaju Katli
Bikanervala Kaju Katli vs Haldiram’s Kaju Katli: Quick Comparison
Parameters |
Haldiram’s Kaaju Katli |
Bikanervala Kaaju Katli |
|
Price |
Rs 470/- | Rs 483/- |
| Net weight | 500 grams | 500 grams |
| Appearance |
|
|
| Texture | Dry | Soft |
| Sweetness | Oversweet | Balanced |
Mishry Top Pick – Bikanervala Kaju Katli
The Bikanervala Kaju Katli is tastier, has a better texture and the sweetness levels were balanced as well.
MRP – Rs 483/-*
Net weight – 500 grams
*Price at the time of review
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Why Bikanervala Kaju Katli is our Top Pick?
Kaju Katlis, in general, are supposed to be small, fairly thin, and shaped like a diamond. The cashew flavor should not be lost due to a sugar overload. The ideal texture of a Kaju katli should be soft and the coarseness of Kaju should not be felt.
The Bikanervala Kaju Katli was chosen as our Top Pick because it was much tastier, had balanced sweetness, and had a softer texture.
These comparatively small sized, kaju katlis had balanced levels of sweetness because of which the cashew flavor remained intact.
We could not feel the graininess/coarseness of the powdered cashews which enhanced the overall experience by a considerable margin.
The uniform varq on these kaju katlis indicated a soft, favorable texture of the mithai.
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Why Did Haldiram’s Kaju Katli Not Win?
Priced at Rs 470/- (with taxes) for a 500 gram (1/2 kg) box, the Haldiram’s mithai did not fare too well in our review. The Haldiram’s Kaju Katli lagged due to two simple reasons. The sweetness levels were overbearing and due to that, the cashew flavor diminished. Not only that, the texture of the kaju katli was extremely dry, and due to that, the feel and look of the sweet suffered. The varq appeared cracked and not smooth, unlike our Top Pick.
Haldirams’ vs Bikanervala Kaju Katli: An In-depth Comparison
Our Review Process – Contenders, Parameters and How We Reviewed?
1. The Contenders
We chose two chain mithai-giants in India that are spread across India and have shown its presence internationally as well. Both our contenders fit the bill perfectly –
- Haldiram’s
- Bikanervala
2. Parameters
As a list of ingredients was not mentioned on any of the boxes, it could not be considered as a parameter. So we did not know how much percentage of cashews were used, how much and what type of sugar was added, or if these had any other ingredients. We also did not consider the packaging as it keeps changing according to the festive season.
For our tastiest kaju katli review, we decided on two broad parameters.
2.1 Texture
We wanted to check if the kaju katli is dry or soft. Was the texture grainy or smooth? How was the look of the varq? Did the varq crack due to the dryness?
2.2 Taste
Indian sweets are supposed to be a sugar feast! But, the sugar can get a bit overwhelming sometimes and ruin the overall flavor of the key ingredient. In this case, it was the cashews. We wanted to gauge, how balanced or overpowering was the sweetness, and did it kill the cashew flavor in the mithai?
Want to know what sweets or dessert can make your diwali enjoyment blended with sweetness? Read on about list of sweets and desserts you can make this Diwali.
3. How We Reviewed
This was an extremely delicious tasting session and we couldn’t help but reminisce our own Diwali times as a child, where we didn’t count calories or sugar intake and just gobbled kilos of mithai without thinking twice.
We conducted a blind tasting session where none of the reviewers knew which brand’s kaju katli were they tasting. After multiple side-by-side tasting sessions, we came to our conclusion.
Final Words
Results Of The Face-Off – Haldiram’s Vs Bikanervala
After gauging all the parameters and looking for minute differentiators, Bikanervala Kaju Katli emerged as our Top Pick. Let us know which taste best to you in our comment section below.
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