Mishry Rating
Summary
Yu Foodlabs Ready to Eat Halwa is definitely a convenient product and we appreciate the clean ingredient list. However, the taste and texture is average.
With the onset of winter, we feel that a katori-full of warm halwa is the ultimate comfort food. But at times, when cravings peak and sources to make some at home are low – what can you do? Are RTE halwas the anwer?
Yu Foodlabs is well known for its range of instant meals including noodles, pasta bowls and oats bowls. We tested two variants from their halwa range – Moong Dal Halwa and Gajar Halwa. How did these fare in our taste test? Are they able to replicate the flavors of a homestyle halwa?
Find out details in our Yu Foodlabs Ready To Eat Halwa Review.
Our Review Factors
What are we looking for in Yu Foodlabs Halwa? We expect a halwa that is easy to prep, has balanced sweetness and the correct texture as per the variant.
For our review of Yu Foodlabs Ready To Eat Halwa, we have set out the following parameters:
1. Taste
Our core focus here is how fresh does the halwa taste? How close does it come to a homestyle counterpart? Is the sweetness balanced? Are the nuts fresh tasting? We also check here for the aftertaste and the flavor of ghee.
2. Texture
How is the overall consistency of this halwa? Thick or flowy or does it form lumps? Does the moong dal halwa have the granular texture it is known for? Is the gajar soft and mashable or is it still very firm?
3. Convenience
The main advantage of any ready to eat food item is the convenience attached to it. How convenient and easy is it to prepare this halwa? Does it get ready in the said time frame? Does the proportion of water mentioned require any adjustments?
4. Other Parameters
Main Ingredients
What are the main ingredients used here? We also scan the ingredient list to check for the use of any added flavors, additives or preservatives?
Price
How are these ready to eat halwas prices? Economical or over priced?
Packaging
How secure is the packaging of this ready to eat halwa?
Shelf Life
For how long is this ready to eat halwa ideal for consumption?
We Couldn’t Find Any Winners: Instant Moong Dal Halwa Brands in India
Yu Foodlabs Ready To Eat Halwa – Detailed Review
This section highlights the details on each variant including the pros, cons, cooking process, taste and texture.
1. Moong Dal Halwa
Price + Packaging
Yu Foodlabs Moong Dal Halwa comes in a yellow paper/cardboard bowl and has a secured lid. Inside the bowl, there are three pouches. Two pouches hold the halwa premix while the other pouch holds the toppings (dry fruits). There is also a wooden spoon inside the pack.
In addition, it has a clear marking at the bottom that indicates the amount of water to be added. The price of a 90 gm pack is Rs. 130. It offers a shelf life of one year.
Main Ingredients
The main ingredients of the Halwa premix includes – Moong dal, desi ghee, saffron, sugar, and green cardamom.
The topping includes the following : Almonds, cashew, raisins, pistachios and magaz.
We appreciate that the ingredient list does not have any additives and preservatives.
Method Of Preparation
The preparation method is as follows:
Step 1 : Remove the contents from the bowl. Add boiling water upto the line marked inside the bowl.
Step 2: Empty both pouches of halwa into the bowl containing boiling water.
Step 3: Mix contents well for 10 seconds. Cover with lid for 3 minutes.
Step 4: Open the lid and add the topping.
Step 5: Stir well for 30 seconds. Enjoy.
Our Observations
Preparation Method
We followed the exact same instructions for making this halwa. As mentioned, the halwa gets prepared within the mentioned time frame. However, despite that the consistency was slightly thin and runny and the halwa felt a little wet.
Appearance
The halwa has a golden and light brown color appearance. It lacks the signature dark appearance of a moong dal halwa which is roasted for a substantial amount of time.
Aroma
The prominent aroma of cardamom was noticeable here.
Taste
Despite being a ready to eat halwa, this tasted quite fresh. The dry fruits taste fresh too. Overall the sweetness is apt and pretty balanced. The flavor of cardamom is prominent and there is no aftertaste of ghee.
All in all, this halwa tasted decent.
Texture
Coming to the texture, we did not appreciate it. We could spot a lot of sugar like crystals that add in some crunch as you indulge in a bite. It is not something we would expect from a traditional moong dal halwa prepared by the halwais or even at home. The slightly granular bite you expect from a moong dal halwa was missing.
- Super easy to prepare.
- The aroma of cardamom is enticing.
- Overall fresh taste with fresh tasting nuts.
- Loved the balanced sweetness.
- The ingredients list is clean.
- The texture of the halwa could have been better.
- The consistency of the halwa is thin and slightly wet.
If you are looking for a quick way to indulge in a bowl of moong dal halwa you can grab a pack of this ready to halwa from Yu Foodlabs.
Yu - Instant Halwa - Ready To Eat - Moong Dal Halwa - Instant Dessert Mix - No Preservatives - 100% Natural & Veg - Indian Sweet in 3 mins - 180g (Pack of 2)
(as of December 22, 2024 21:20 GMT +05:30 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)2. Gajar Halwa
Price + Packaging
This ready to eat Gajar halwa comes in a red color paper/cardboard bowl. The lid is tightly secured. The three pouches inside the bowl hold the halwa premix and the toppings (dry fruits) separately. It also includes a wooden spoon.
It showcases a water mark at the bottom that indicates the amount of water to be added. The net quantity of 75 gm pack costs Rs. 125. It has a shelf life of one year.
Main Ingredients
The main ingredients of the halwa premix are – carrots, desi ghee, milk, sugar, and green cardamom.
The list of toppings includes : almonds, cashew, raisins, pistachios and magaz.
Method Of Preparation
The preparation method is as follows:
Step 1 : Remove the contents from the bowl. Add boiling water upto the line marked inside the bowl.
Step 2: Empty both pouches of halwa into the bowl containing boiling water.
Step 3: Mix contents well for 10 seconds. Cover with lid for 3 minutes.
Step 4: Open the lid and add the topping.
Step 5: Stir well for 30 seconds. Enjoy.
Our Observations
Coming to the convenience and preparation method, it is exactly the same as the moong dal variant.
Appearance
In terms of appearance, the strands of gajar are slightly thick and are slightly firm. We feel these could have been grated a bit thinly and would have attained a better bite.
Taste
Taste-wise, this halwa was average. There is a dominant flavor of cardamom present here. It does not taste as fresh as the one made at home. It is sweetened delicately. We did not observe any odd flavor of ghee or milk solids. Moreover, the carrots lack the natural sweetness.
Overall this is an average tasting halwa.
Texture
In terms of the texture, this halwa has a good bite. The strands of carrot are a thicker grate than it is usually. We expected the strands to be slightly thin.
- Full marks for the convenience factor.
- Appreciate the clean list of ingredients.
- Sweetness is apt.
- It has a good bite.
- There was no odd flavor of ghee or milk solids present here.
- The carrots lack the natural sweetness.
- Misses out on a classic homestyle flavor.
- The strands of carrot are thicker than expected.
For someone who lives alone or travels abroad this might be a good pick to try out. But considering the taste and texture, we would not recommend it as something that you consume on a regular basis.
Yu Foodlabs Halwa - Ready To Eat - Gajar Halwa - Instant Dessert Mix - No Preservatives - Pack of 4-100% Natural & Veg - Indian Sweet in 3 mins - 580g
(as of December 22, 2024 21:20 GMT +05:30 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some interesting FAQs on Yu Foodlabs Ready To Eat Halwa
1. Is this ready to eat halwa good for health?
The list of ingredients is very clean and there are no additives in this. Keeping that in mind, this is a good option to have occasionally, when the cravings need to be kept at bay.
2. Is this halwa preservative free?
Yes, both these variants of ready to eat halwa are preservative free.
3. Does this halwa contain additional flavor enhancers?
Yu Foodlabs Ready To Eat Halwa has no additional flavor enhancers.
4. What is the shelf life of this ready to eat halwa?
Both these ready to eat halwas have a shelf life of one year.
5. Are these ready to eat halwas too sweet?
Both the variants of this ready to eat halwas showcase a balanced sweetness.
Final Words
What we really liked was the clean list of ingredients. These halwas contain no additives, added flavors, colors or preservatives. The packaging of both the variants is extremely travel-friendly.
Taste and texture wise these halwas are average. Though these are high on convenience, considering the taste we do not recommend them for regular consumption. Maybe when you’re travelling abroad or live by yourself, this could help satisfy the halwa cravings.
Have you ever tried a ready to eat halwa? How was your experience?
Our reviews are unbiased and all samples used during the reviews were paid for by us. Read our entire ethics statement here.