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| Abdullian gains prominence for making delicious milk cakes | | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Nov 1
Hitherto the tiny border village of Abdullian, kissing the border with Pakistan, has remained known for production of superior Basmati. However, the production of "delicious" milk cake making units, on a modest scale, continues to be its star attraction. Five villagers have set up small units, wearing typical rustic look, for manufacturing milk cakes which, according to people in the winter capital of the state, taste far better than manufactured by major confectioners and bakers in the urban areas.
Balwinder Singh, alongwith his son, has a small shop with empty unlabelled packets resting on a couple of gravy tanned tables. He has an earthen made oven in a corner outside the shop where he does the required baking. "Since villagers are poor they occasionally purchase not more than 250 gms of milk cake and that too whenever their houses are visited by guests,” he says. Balwinder is happy because whenever the BSF soldiers celebrate some event or festival on the border."I get an order for 10 to 20 kgs of milk cake from the BSF on such occasions and at times when some officers visit the border posts or any soldier is transferred."Our rate is Rs.80 per kg against Rs.100 to Rs.120 a kg in the markets in Jammu,"they say. Balwinder and four other cake making units have developed the expertise of motivating visitors in buying a couple of cake packets. Whenever some visitor approaches any of these units for seeking some
information, he or she is given a small piece of milk cake.Its very look,flavour and taste are sufficient to make the visitors buy a packet or two.
The milk cake wallas usually bank on orders from families in Jammu and adjoining areas during wedding ceremonies.” At times we receive orders for 50 to 100 packets which sustain us,"they say.Balwinder does not remember when milk caking manufacturing in a small village like Abdullian was started."I remember I learnt the technique from my father who had been groomed in the art of milk cake making by my grandfather,"Balwinder singh points out.
At times noted bakers and confectioners in Jammu and other towns procure packets of milk cake from Abdullian in order to honour big orders during the festival season,especially Diwali.These bakers change the cover of the packet and fill the stuff in the packets bearing the label of their shops. These small milk cake manufacturing units do not share any information about the technique they adopt in the making of the cakes."It is a trade secret. Once we reveal it, big bakers may use it to seal our small
venture,"Balwinder says with a smile on his lips. |
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