Kakinada Khaja
Encyclopedia
Kakinada Khaja is a sweet delicacy of Andhra Pradesh
, India. Since Kakinada
, a coastal city in Andhra Pradesh, is popular for Khajas, hence the name.
Kaja originated in Samarkand
area of Uzbeikistan and the meaning of Kaja is originated from Arabic language meaning probably to "pure" or "sacred". Like Gulab Jamuns Khajas and Jhangris were introduced to Andhras by Muslim
Vikings. In northern Part of India
, Kajas comes in hundreds of varieties. Kakinada
Kaja is just a replica of Ranchi
kaja. Khajas were brought in to Andhra by Muslim
probably at the time of Nizams. India
n variety of kaja Khajas are sold in the city of Patna
, Gaya
and several other places across the state of Bihar
, yet Khajas of Silao Nalanda
and Rajgir
areas are distinct over khajas of all other places. Silao and Rajgir are the places where one can get puffy khaja, which melts in the mouth.
From Bihar, Khajas are believed to have travelled to some other parts of India, including Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh.
It is believed that, even 2000 years before, Khajas were prepared in the fertile land on the southern side of the Ganges Plains of Bihar. These areas which are home to khaja, once comprised the central part of Maurya and Gupta empire
.
s are then soaked in the sugar syrup until they absorb the sugar syrup. The speciality of Kakinada Khaja is that it is dry from outside and full of sugar syrup from inside and is juicy. It melts as soon as one puts it in one's mouth.
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
, India. Since Kakinada
Kakinada
Kakinada is a city and a municipal corporation in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is located east of the state capital, Hyderabad. It is also the headquarters of East Godavari district. It is nicknamed "Fertilizer City" , "Pensioner's Paradise" and "Second Madras"...
, a coastal city in Andhra Pradesh, is popular for Khajas, hence the name.
Kaja originated in Samarkand
Samarkand
Although a Persian-speaking region, it was not united politically with Iran most of the times between the disintegration of the Seleucid Empire and the Arab conquest . In the 6th century it was within the domain of the Turkic kingdom of the Göktürks.At the start of the 8th century Samarkand came...
area of Uzbeikistan and the meaning of Kaja is originated from Arabic language meaning probably to "pure" or "sacred". Like Gulab Jamuns Khajas and Jhangris were introduced to Andhras by Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
Vikings. In northern Part of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Kajas comes in hundreds of varieties. Kakinada
Kakinada
Kakinada is a city and a municipal corporation in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is located east of the state capital, Hyderabad. It is also the headquarters of East Godavari district. It is nicknamed "Fertilizer City" , "Pensioner's Paradise" and "Second Madras"...
Kaja is just a replica of Ranchi
Ranchi
-Climate:Ranchi has a humid subtropical climate. However, due to its position and the forests around the city, it is known for its pleasant climate. Its climate is the primary reason why Ranchi was once the summer capital of the undivided State of Bihar...
kaja. Khajas were brought in to Andhra by Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
probably at the time of Nizams. India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n variety of kaja Khajas are sold in the city of Patna
Patna
Paṭnā , is the capital of the Indian state of Bihar and the second largest city in Eastern India . Patna is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world...
, Gaya
Gaya, India
Gaya is the second largest city of Bihar, India, and it is also the headquarters of Gaya District.Gaya is 100 kilometers south of Patna, the capital city of Bihar. Situated on the banks of Falgu River , it is a place sanctified by both the Hindu and the Buddhist religions...
and several other places across the state of Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
, yet Khajas of Silao Nalanda
Silao Nalanda
Silao is a city and a notified area in Nalanda district in the Indian state of Bihar. It is known for the excellent Khaja made by its Halwais. It is also the head quarters of a Block, a small administrative unit, by the same name.-Geography:...
and Rajgir
Rajgir
Rajgir is a city and a notified area in Nalanda district in the Indian state of Bihar. The city of Rajgir was the first capital of the kingdom of Magadha, a state that would eventually evolve into the Mauryan Empire. Its date of origin is unknown, although ceramics dating to about 1000 BC have...
areas are distinct over khajas of all other places. Silao and Rajgir are the places where one can get puffy khaja, which melts in the mouth.
From Bihar, Khajas are believed to have travelled to some other parts of India, including Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh.
Ingredients
Refined wheat flour, sugar and edible oils are the chief ingredients of khaja.It is believed that, even 2000 years before, Khajas were prepared in the fertile land on the southern side of the Ganges Plains of Bihar. These areas which are home to khaja, once comprised the central part of Maurya and Gupta empire
Gupta Empire
The Gupta Empire was an ancient Indian empire which existed approximately from 320 to 550 CE and covered much of the Indian Subcontinent. Founded by Maharaja Sri-Gupta, the dynasty was the model of a classical civilization. The peace and prosperity created under leadership of Guptas enabled the...
.
Preparation
First,a paste is made out of wheat flour, mawa and oil. Then it is deep fried until crisp. Then a sugar syrup is made which is known as "Pak". The crisp croissantCroissant
A croissant is a buttery flaky pastry named for its distinctive crescent shape. It is also sometimes called a crescent, from the French word for "crescent". Croissants are made of a leavened variant of puff pastry...
s are then soaked in the sugar syrup until they absorb the sugar syrup. The speciality of Kakinada Khaja is that it is dry from outside and full of sugar syrup from inside and is juicy. It melts as soon as one puts it in one's mouth.