INTERBEST | Traditional Indian Sweets (long shelf-life, specialized)

Traditional Indian sweets, or mithai, with long shelf lives are artisanal confections crafted from natural ingredients like gram flour (besan), nuts, ghee, and sugar syrup, designed to stay fresh without refrigeration or artificial preservatives. These "specialized" variants emphasize regional specialties—such as Rajasthan's dense fudge-like Bal Mithai or Uttarakhand's sugar-coated khoya fudge—using techniques like thorough roasting, low moisture, and high sugar content to inhibit microbial growth. They last 1–6 months in airtight containers, making them ideal for gifting during Diwali, weddings, or pan-India shipping. In 2025, the packaged sweets market is booming at 16% CAGR, with trends toward preservative-free, organic options like diabetic-friendly stevia-based mithai, reflecting a shift to sustainable, health-focused indulgence while honoring age-old recipes from states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.