Satkhira: Sandesh, a renowned sweet from the Satkhira district, is achieving global recognition as it now crosses the country's borders and reaches foreign lands.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Sandesh is one of the seven items traditionally considered famous in Satkhira, along with Jujube, Olive, Mango, Buttermilk, Mat, and grafting as a popular delicacy.
The district's famous Nolen Gur's Kheer Sandesh, Peda Sandesh, and Sarpuria have been distinguished among the nation's best sweets since the time of Pakistan. The exceptional quality and flavor of these sweets come from their primary ingredient, 'Nolen Gur (jaggery).' This jaggery, made from date juice, is essential for creating this sweet, which is traditionally prepared during the winter season.
Satkhira holds a significant advantage in sweet production as it is the second-largest district in Bangladesh for producing pure cow milk. This availability of affordable, high-quality milk has allowed the region to sustain factories specializing in sweet making for a long time. The creation of Satkhira's sweets relies on a combination of pure cow milk cheese, the skillful execution of expert artisans, and traditional recipes passed down through generations.
Besides Sandesh, local artisans produce various other types of sweets, including Dudh Malai, Sada Sandesh (White Sandesh), Roshomalai, Chhanar Jilapi, Jamrul, Golap Jam, Mouchak, Balish Chomchom, Danadar, Roshogolla, and Doi (yogurt). The preparation process for Nolen Gur Sandesh is meticulous. Artisan Abu Taleb explained that their work begins early in the morning by collecting pure cow milk at the factory, which is then boiled down to produce chhana.
Another artisan, Rofiqul Islam, provided specific production measurements: 20 kg of milk is used to create 7 kg of chhana. This 7 kg of chhana is poured into an Iron Wok on the stove, where 1 kg of Nolen Gur and 1 kg of sugar are added. The mixture is then heated for approximately 30 minutes. After being removed from the heat, the Sandesh is transferred to a large pot on a table to cool, yielding approximately 8 kg of Sandesh or Peda from the initial 20 kg of milk.
Several historic sweet shops, including Fakir Mishtanna Bhandar, Sagar Sweets, Bhagyakul Mishtanna Bhandar, and Keshto Moyra, continue to uphold the district's tradition and reputation. The sweet's appeal is undeniable. Rezaul Islam, a customer, described Satkhira's Nolen Gur Sandesh and Peda as very tasty and popular, noting that his entire family enjoys it.
Another customer, Abdur Razzak, stated that whenever he visits Satkhira town, he makes sure to purchase the famous sweet from Fakir Mishtanna Bhandar before returning home. Ahidul Islam, the owner of Fakir Mishtanna Bhandar, confirmed the strong demand, noting that his shop sells between 70 to 80 kg of sweets daily, with Sandesh alone accounting for 30 to 40 kg of that volume. He highlighted that their sweet is now successfully reaching destinations outside the country.