Jaipur Confectioners Alter Sweet Names; Chefs and Historians Highlight Culinary Roots of 'Pak'
Recent reports indicate that some confectioneries in Jaipur, Rajasthan, have altered the names of traditional Indian sweets such as "Mysore Pak" and "Gond Pak" to "Mysore Shree" and "Gond Shree" respectively. This move, apparently made in response to recent India-Pakistan tensions by dropping the term "Pak," has prompted culinary experts and historians to clarify the actual etymological and culinary significance of the suffix "Pak" in these contexts.
Jaipur Sweet Shops Alter Traditional Names
It is understood that at least three well-known sweet shops in Jaipur have implemented this name change across their range of traditional sweets, replacing "Pak" with "Shree." This action appears to stem from a misinterpretation of the term "Pak" as a reference to Pakistan, especially in light of geopolitical tension.
Culinary Experts explains the Meaning of 'Pak'
However, leading culinary professionals and food historians emphasise that the term "Pak" (or "Paaka") in the names of these Indian sweets has deep roots in Sanskrit and is entirely unrelated to the nation of Pakistan. Chef Ranveer Brar explains that "Pak" originates from the Sanskrit word "paaka" (derived from "paacha"), which essentially means the process of cooking or ripening. This term is prevalent in ancient Indian culinary texts. Similarly, historian and chef Osama Jalali notes that "pāk" in sweets like Mysore Pak is from the Kannada word "pāka," meaning a "sweet condiment," sharing its linguistic origin with the Hindi word "pag" (sugar syrup) and the Sanskrit "pakvá" (cooked, ripe, baked). Chef Shipra Khanna concurs, stating that in classical Indian confectionery, "Pak" signifies the perfection achieved in cooking sugar syrup to a specific consistency, crucial in traditional mithai-making. For instance, Mysore Pak derives its fudge-like texture from mixing chickpea flour, ghee, and sugar until this "pak" stage is reached. While the sentiment behind renaming the sweets might be driven by nationalistic feelings, culinary experts collectively point out that such changes are based on a misunderstanding. The term "Pak" in these traditional Indian sweet names refers to a specific culinary process or sweet concoction rooted in ancient Indian languages and traditions, holding no geopolitical connotation.
Picture courtesy: Slurrp
