12 10 MINCE PIES These tiny British hand pies may sound meaty, but the “mince” refers to a fruit-andnut mixture cooked with spices and citrus. In India, they’ve become a December staple in bakeries influenced by old colonial traditions. Their buttery shells cradle a jammy filling reminiscent of our own fruit preserves and murrabas, making them surprisingly familiar. Many Indian bakers brighten them with local ingredients like homemade apple preserves or citrus zests. Served warm with icing sugar, mince pies are little pockets of festive nostalgia. Where to buy: Sassy Teaspoon (Mumbai), Wenger’s (New Delhi) MARZIPAN Goan, Anglo Indian and East Indian households have long shaped Christmas nostalgia with marzipan — dyed, moulded, and sculpted into glossy fruits and other shapes. Though marzipan began in Europe, its cashew-rich Indian versions stand proudly apart from the almond marzipan of the West. Tiny mangoes, bananas, oranges, and berries emerge from family moulds, brushed with colour and gleaming like edible jewels. These figurines are often exchanged as festive tokens, embodying both craftsmanship and sweet childhood memories. Where to buy: Misree (New Delhi), Hearsch Bakery (Mumbai), Maska Bakery (Mumbai) GUAVA CHEESE (PERADA) One of Goa’s most beloved sweets, guava cheese, or perada, is a glorious ruby slab of concentrated guava pulp, sugar, and lime. Though not traditionally tied to Western Christmas, it has become a staple of Goan December gifting. Its chewy, jewel-like texture and tropical perfume offer a distinctly Indian counterpoint to the spices and dried fruits dominating the season. Served in neat diamonds, it brings sunshine to the winter table and reminds us how Indian Christmas has evolved into its own delicious identity. Where to buy: Ann Dias (Mumbai), Lazarus Coelho (Goa), Pedro Pao (Goa) (with inputs by Shreya Mukherjee) FRESH.DAILYPIONEER.COM • DECEMBER 2025 15
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