Tracing the roots of ‘paal bun’, a delicacy at Gopalpatti near Dindigul
The Hindu
Vistors to Gopalpatti now join the queue for soft paal buns, a local tea shop delicacy
“Master, oru tea!”: This command forms the background score at RMS Sweets Marimuthu Tea Stall, located at Gopalpatti. The small-town, 47 kilometres from Madurai, is popular for tamarind, fragrant senthooram mangoes, and a unique, fluffy sweet treat — paal buns.
We elbow our way into the crowded shop one evening — past a gaggle of schoolboys ordering vadas, farmers biting into murukku and khaki-clad bus drivers sipping tea — and arrive at the glass counter, where the buns await.
The shop, which has been around for almost three decades, has been making paal buns for 24 years now. It is among the town’s most popular haunts for the delicacy. “Maida, curd, cooking soda, and sugar,” lists M Shubash, the owner, explaining how the snack is made. “We knead the dough at around 10 am and let it ferment for half-an-hour. Then, we roll small sections, fry them in hot oil, and drop them into sugar syrup.”
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Last year, six women entrepreneurs who are behind handcrafted brands in the city came together to create the Busy Fingers group. Having met through common friends, and their shared love for all things handmade, they went on to host their first pop-up, and are now gearing up for its second edition this weekend.
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Even as prominent ecotourism destinations in Kozhikode offer visitors a feast for the eyes during the monsoon season, the district is yet to witness promotional activities by the Tourism department or the District Tourism Promotion Council. On the other hand, private tourism entrepreneurs are benefiting from the season by offering visitors reduced tariffs for accommodation and recreational activities.