Learn in 5 minutesnew delhiJuly 16, 2026 08:00 PM (IST)
Richard Rashi, president of the Slovak Nationwide Council, just lately shared his tasting video with X. Tekuaa standard candy from Bihar that was gifted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi throughout his go to to Slovakia earlier this yr.
Rashi referred to as the gesture “one of many considerate and private touches of diplomacy” and mentioned the whole-grain delicacy “bears some resemblance to the standard Slovak cookies that moms and grandmothers used to make.”
“Conventional sweets like these cookies assist strengthen relationships, create a extra pleasant environment and infrequently facilitate discussions,” he mentioned, including that such cultural exchanges permit leaders to attach past formal diplomatic conferences.
Disclaimer: This text relies on data from the general public area and/or from specialists we spoke to.
Thekua, made with complete wheat flour, jaggery/sugar, ghee and fennel seeds, is deeply rooted within the culinary traditions of Bihar and Jharkhand and is very related to Chhath Puja. However past its cultural symbolism, this humble deal with additionally stands out for its skill to remain contemporary for weeks with out refrigeration.
Diplomacy can be about small gestures that deliver folks nearer collectively. Throughout @narendramodi’s go to to Slovakia, I obtained a standard thekua from Bihar and gifted him a Slovak spa wafer with Hindi inscriptions. Moments like this strengthen the ties between our two nations. 🇸🇰🤝🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/dgBlOlNYMO
— Richard Rasi (@Richard_Rasi) July 14, 2026
So, is thekua more healthy than most festive sweets, and why does it have such a very good shelf life?
In response to Dt, Amreen Sheikh, Chief Nutritionist, Kim’s Hospital, Thane, its components make it comparatively superior. When you eat sparsely, select.
“Tekua It’s a easy, conventional candy made with complete wheat flour, jaggery or sugar, ghee, and spices similar to fennel and cardamom. In comparison with syrup-soaked sweets like gulab jamuns and rasgullas, it has a lot much less moisture as it isn’t soaked in sugar syrup,” says Sheikh.
She says that when cooked with jaggery and complete wheat flour, Tekua Gives average dietary advantages.
“Complete wheat incorporates fiber, whereas jaggery incorporates small quantities of iron and minerals, making it a barely more healthy choice than sweets made with refined flour or refined sugar.”
However she cautions in opposition to pondering of it as a well being meals. “As a result of the usage of ghee and sweeteners, it stays a high-energy festive meals. Tekua Greatest loved infrequently slightly than as a every day snack. Drink a small quantity with tea or milk and it suits comfortably right into a balanced weight loss program. ”
how Tekua Will it final a number of weeks with out refrigeration?
one in all Tequa’s Its most engaging characteristic is its naturally lengthy shelf life. Not like milk-based sweets, which spoil shortly, they’ll keep contemporary for a number of weeks if saved correctly.
In response to Sheikh, “Tekua Because it incorporates nearly no water, it maintains its freshness. The dough is made with flour, ghee, jaggery or sugar and fried till crispy. This removes a lot of the moisture and produces a dry product that’s much less inclined to micro organism, yeast, and mildew development. ”
She added that the components themselves assist protect the sweets. “Whereas ghee varieties a protecting fats layer, jaggery and sugar bind a few of the remaining water, decreasing what meals scientists name ‘water exercise,’ or the quantity of water accessible for microorganisms to outlive.”
Storage additionally performs an necessary function. “one time Tekua Let it cool fully after which retailer it in an hermetic container to keep up its crispy texture and freshness. A mix of low moisture, correct frying, and cautious storage means it may be saved for weeks with out refrigeration. ”
Tekua (Photograph: Wonderful)
can Tekua Are you able to develop into more healthy?
Sheikh believes that small adjustments can enhance the dietary profile with out compromising the standard id. “When you use refined flour, changing a few of it with complete wheat flour or millet flour will improve the fiber content material. Utilizing jaggery rather than refined sugar will add a richer taste together with a small quantity of minerals.”
She additionally recommends incorporating nutritious components. “Finely chopped nuts and seeds similar to sesame and flaxseeds present a dietary fortification. with out considerably altering the style. ”
For individuals who need to cut back energy, you may also devise cooking strategies. “You may cut back the quantity of ghee and sweetener barely with out affecting the feel an excessive amount of. For individuals who need much less oil, you may also bake or air fry it, however the taste and crispiness will probably be completely different than the standard model.”
Disclaimer: This text relies on data from the general public area and/or from specialists we spoke to.
