so my naani was from agra, and so was my maami, but i had never been to it. mom visited a lot as a kid, but by the time i came around there were no roots left in agra (for me nanihaal was rajasthan). whenever maami visited, she would bring in goodies from there and go 'agre ki gajak khao, agre ka petha khao'. but we being snobs, loved our own gajak more (from my bua's city), no thank you. and i don't have much memory of petha, except that i didn't like it much then - in general i had a limited choice of desi sweets as a kid. 

recently got a chance to visit taj mahal, and like all phoren people, we hired a guide, who first showed us the taj of course, then took us shopping. One stop was - 'agre ka best petha yaha milta hai'. we were starving at the time, but the guide was taking his own sweet time to take us to lunch. so we went in thinking we will sample some and stave off starvation for a bit. so we walked in, and first sample we get is, paan ke petha. interesting, ok khilao. and xh and i were both like - omg, PACK! then he offers a chocolate petha. Chocolate petha? no thank you, me gonna be a puritan. But ok let's taste it. we both were again, OMG, PACK. then he offers a couple more fusions, didn't like, no ty. By this time, i am like what about the original petha. So he offers kesar petha. omg pack pack pack. XH at this point was like, 'auntyji, you bought clothes from delhi; you bough pineapple silk sari (whatever that means), and a blanket already. we are already short of space, where do you plan to pack this all in?' but who was listening. 'it's ok, we will check in our carry-ons and use our beach bag as a carry-on'. Then came gajak (they called it something else though), PACK! We tried asking if they can give us smaller dabbas of each, but that was their standard size, unless we were willing to buy a gigantic gift pack which had unnecessary flavors we didn't care for... but am glad we got what we got. 

been slowly eating it now, small pieces with tea, coffee, lunch, dinner. yummmmmmmmmmm…. dry from outside, but one bite exposes all the moistery softness inside... reminds me of juicily kissing an ex. 

am so gonna best friend an agra local now. i need my regular supplies of petha now. I have even memorized the shop location in my head-gps.

desi aunty wrote:so my naani was from agra, and so was my maami, but i had never been to it. mom visited a lot as a kid, but by the time i came around there were no roots left in agra (for me nanihaal was rajasthan). whenever maami visited, she would bring in goodies from there and go 'agre ki gajak khao, agre ka petha khao'. but we being snobs, loved our own gajak more (from my bua's city), no thank you. and i don't have much memory of petha, except that i didn't like it much then - in general i had a limited choice of desi sweets as a kid. 

recently got a chance to visit taj mahal, and like all phoren people, we hired a guide, who first showed us the taj of course, then took us shopping. One stop was - 'agre ka best petha yaha milta hai'. we were starving at the time, but the guide was taking his own sweet time to take us to lunch. so we went in thinking we will sample some and stave off starvation for a bit. so we walked in, and first sample we get is, paan ke petha. interesting, ok khilao. and xh and i were both like - omg, PACK! then he offers a chocolate petha. Chocolate petha? no thank you, me gonna be a puritan. But ok let's taste it. we both were again, OMG, PACK. then he offers a couple more fusions, didn't like, no ty. By this time, i am like what about the original petha. So he offers kesar petha. omg pack pack pack. XH at this point was like, 'auntyji, you bought clothes from delhi; you bough pineapple silk sari (whatever that means), and a blanket already. we are already short of space, where do you plan to pack this all in?' but who was listening. 'it's ok, we will check in our carry-ons and use our beach bag as a carry-on'. Then came gajak (they called it something else though), PACK! We tried asking if they can give us smaller dabbas of each, but that was their standard size, unless we were willing to buy a gigantic gift pack which had unnecessary flavors we didn't care for... but am glad we got what we got. 

been slowly eating it now, small pieces with tea, coffee, lunch, dinner. yummmmmmmmmmm…. dry from outside, but one bite exposes all the moistery softness inside... reminds me of juicily kissing an ex. 

am so gonna best friend an agra local now. i need my regular supplies of petha now. I have even memorized the shop location in my head-gps.

tell you what.. posting a few pictures would stoke the flame further..please do, if there's any left.

Yes, Petha-paak is such - dry on the outside, moist on the inside and tasty. Interesting that you visited the Tan with your. XH.

Seva Lamberdar wrote:Yes, Petha-paak is such - dry on the outside, moist on the inside and tasty.    Interesting that you visited the Tan with your. XH.

lol i know... i think we have been to more romantic places together as a divorced couple than we did as married couple. confused the heck out of the hired photographer at Taj where i would refuse to take couple pics, he still managed to get some, but it went overboard when he somehow convinced me to sit sideways on a bench with taj in the background. Then he clicked some with XH standing by me... then he wanted xh to place his arms around my shoulders, i was somewhat ok with that too (as in still thinking while he gave directions), but the moment he asked us to pose looking together upwards+sideways at the sun or something, is where i aborted the whole couple shoot idea lol... now that's a pose i wouldn't do even as married. After that, at every new spot i would tell beforehand - no couple pics here, ok? Poor guy still had to somehow come up with 50 for the album. 

We are good at traveling together. Issues happened only in Delhi in an autorickshaw when all of us tried to get in it together. Kids got in first, then i got in, and while i was still standing all bent up and asking them to sit one in the edge and one the back, XH got in and sat at the vacant spot. Seeing all of us in, the rickshaw wala sped up, not caring that i am still standing hanging my ass up in the air in his direction... eventually i sat on XH's leg for support while still asking people to move. First i was on his one knee, but realized my weight will break it, so sat fully on the lap. Kids kept trying not to laugh. XH acted like it's nbd. Very awkward and uncomfortable ~5 km ride from India gate to Connaught place (uncomfortable coz of the rough driving and me facing sideways, not able to hold onto too many things). 

GK, didn't pack the petha today... decided i need my TJ's dark chocolate today. Will do soon. Googling showed that they have a store in Delhi too. So will try that too.