Babarsa: West Medinipur's Iconic Sweet with a Rich History and GI Tag Hopes

• Babarsa, a famous sweet from Khirpai, West Medinipur, is known for its crispy texture and unique taste, made from milk, flour, and sugar.
• The sweet is prepared by frying a flour mixture in ghee and then dipping it in sugar syrup; cashew nut powder is sometimes added for enhanced flavor.
• One historical account attributes the sweet's name to Edward Babers, an English officer who defended Khirpai from Bargi attacks in the mid-18th century.
• Another theory suggests the sweet was named after Mughal Emperor Babur, who praised it when presented by a sweetmaker.
• Babarsa is a traditional pride of Khirpai, with its reputation growing beyond the district, and is currently awaiting a GI tag.

Why It Matters: Khirpai's Babarsa, a sweet with historical origins, is gaining wider recognition and is set for a GI tag.