If you haven’t gorged on the lip-smacking taste of Pendawala Duliram Ratanlal Sharma’s mathura penda; then you’re not a true Barodian.
More than 160 years old, the iconic Pendawala Duliram Ratanlal Sharma resides in the hearts of Vadodara’s citizens. Its hero product, the Mathura penda, has found no substitute in over a century and is fondly served to Lord Krishna on Janmashtami. The humble panda leaves behind the trademark of Pendawala Duliram Ratanlal Sharma’s history, unwavering commitment to quality, and preservation of culinary heritage. Our team at the Gujpreneur explored the iconic sweet shop to present to you a comprehensive article on the rise of the iconic product.
Deeply Rooted In Tradition
The foundation for Pendawala Duliram Ratanlal Sharma goes way back to 1862 when brothers Maharam and Duliram moved to the erstwhile Baroda, now Vadodara. Their start was deeply rooted and culturally weaven as Maharaja Khanderao II Gaekwad flourished his support towards the Sharma brothers. It is believed that the Maharaja, himself, proudly indulged in the taste of the mathura penda and would order it in large amounts for his ministry. Soon, the product became a way to celebrate during festivals and other regular occasions.
Becoming A Royal Product
In fact, their delightful taste not only moved the ministry but also the Maharaja’s elephant. A local lore says that during a dusshera celebration the elephant refused to move until he was fed with a penda from Duliram’s shop, showcasing the royal status that the iconic shop gained.
The brand further elevated its royal status in England when Maharaja Sayajirao III introduced the pendas to Queen Victoria. The queen mistook the product for chocolate and developed a fondness for it due to its rich flavour and texture. Soon, the delectable product started becoming a part of royal gatherings. Interestingly, the Sharma brothers were felicitated by the Maharaja on his return.
The Recipe
So from where do Pendawala Duliram Ratanlal Sharma get the recipe? Where did they acquire the taste from which is famous beyond Vadodara? The recipe of mava-roasted penda was passed on to the next generation by Mohanbhai and Bahadur. The culinary artists interact with each other orally to pass on the recipe, which has been changing lives, to each other. We tried to find out the secret recipe to the delightful taste and got to know about it in bits. Initially, the mava is roasted in a pan until it turns dark brown. It is then mixed in an automatic machine with sugar and cardamom before being dusted by castor sugar. It is then packed in a cardboard box, ready to be served hot.
Today, the royalty business is ruined by their fourth-generation member, Jatin Sharma, 47 and his brother Himanshu. They’re the direct descendents of Maharam Sharma. His niece, who is currently a student, plans to export the product and build an online presence.
Consumers’ Delight
If you’re visiting the shop early in the morning, be sure to entice yourself with some calories, as the fresh smell of the pendas will leave you delighted. “In Vadodara, you will not find pendas better than this. We come here to spend time. Our children also like the Duliram pendas. We recommend it to everyone,” a regular customer, since last 40 years, told Gujpreneur.
“We’ve seen a number of tourists also visiting the shop,” he added.
It should be noted that the original shop, which is a part of the Barodian heritage now, remains at the Jambubet area in Raopura. But Jatin and Himanshu have expanded their business to franchise chains in Akota and Manjalpur areas. The brothers also plan to expand the business beyond the city. However, despite the expansion, and introduction of premium cardboard boxes, the taste and authenticity of the business remains the same. Due to this, they’ve been able to retain their customers.
The Pendawala Duliram Ratanlal Sharma’s business also continues to use fresh mava sourced regularly from Ratlam. Moreover, the sweet shop has retained the original cardboard box to make sure that they retain the age-old sentiments from the 1860s.
Apart from the authentic penda, the shop offers a large variety to choose from their farsan and sweets such as malai penda, kesari penda, barfi, shrikhand.
