One shop in Penang has been churning out such sweets in every shape, texture and colour is Subbiah Sundari Sweets and Spices.
What started as a small stall selling these treats 23 years ago has now grown into a successful family-run business.
Displayed at the entrance of their outlet in Bandar Baru Farlim is an array of colourful and tempting traditional sweets, with the hot sellers being jalebi and palkova.
You can spot a jalebi from far off thanks to its bright orange hue. This spiral-shaped delicacy is made of flour batter which is first deep-fried, then doused in a sweet syrup.
Although they can give your blood sugars a good jolt skywards, it can be too hard to resist sometimes. So, why not just give in to your cravings once in a while?
Equally tempting is the Palkova, is a classic milk-based dessert that literally melts in your mouth.
Ravi Kaneshan, 30, says it was his grandfather who started the business before his parents took over. These days, Ravi and his brother help their parents keep the business going.
In 2008, the family diversified by opening a mini-market in Bandar Baru Ayer Itam where their range of Indian sweets and savouries is also available.
An old hand at the business now, Ravi tells FMT how he used to help out at his grandfather’s stall as a young boy before learning how to make the sweets himself.
“My parents used to make the sweets then and, as we grew older, my brother and I joined them in making the delicacies every day,” he says.
Working out of his home kitchen, Ravi says all their sweets are made fresh daily to ensure the best quality and taste.
He says he and his brother will take over the family business after their parents retire to keep their Indian sweets-making tradition alive.
Besides the sweets that they have become so famous for, Subbiah Sundari Sweets and Spices also offers a variety of murukku, a popular crunchy Indian snack that can be quite addictive.
Among the variety of murukku they sell are mullu murukku, kuchi murukku and achu murukku.
Ravi says that before the Covid-19 pandemic, they often catered for large events, especially Indian weddings, where sweet desserts are a must.
“Our signature pakoda (spicy deep-fried fritters) were even served at official government functions and were a big hit,” he says.
Unfortunately, their sales plummeted following the numerous lockdowns enforced at the height of the pandemic.
“It was a difficult time for us as our sweets and savouries business was our main source of income. But we were able to stay afloat as we could still operate our mini-market,” Ravi says.
Now that movement restrictions have eased, their business is slowly picking up. “We are still not doing as well as we did before the pandemic, but our business is improving.”
Besides serving their local clientele, they also deliver their sweets and savouries to customers living outside Penang.
When asked about his future plans, Ravi says he had no choice but to put all plans for business expansion on hold for now as he’s more concerned about getting the business “back on track before taking the next big step”.
So, the next time you’re rewarding yourself with a cheat day, or just itching for a nibble as you binge-watch your favourite movies on television, you know where to head for your Indian sweets fix.
Subbiah Sundari Sweets and Spices
2G Flat, Jalan Angsana
Bandar Baru Farlim
11500, Ayer Itam
Penang
Business hours
3pm–9pm: Daily
Subbiah Sundari Mini Market
4E-01-01
Jalan Semarak Api 1
Bandar Baru Ayer Itam
11500 Ayer Itam
Penang
Business hours
8am-10pm: Daily
Contact no: 012-4053217 (Ravi)