Kalakand sale at a sweet shop near Jhanda chowk of Telaiya town in Koderma has reduced to half from the usual 20 quintals, much to the worry of the owners.

The sellers at the popular shop along the NH-33 say this is the first such situation they are facing since the business started in 1960, as people are not travelling on the Ranchi-Patna highway due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Apart from mica exports and song requests to Vividh Bharati, the Jhumri Telaiya town is famous for its kalakand, a sweet made with milk, saffron and cream.

Vikas Seth, owner of Kanhaiya Sweets said they were supplying kalakand to Gulf countries as well.

“Business has suffered a 60% drop after the lockdown was imposed,” he said.

Ankit Chaudhary of Vandana Sweets said kalakand has given a new identity to the small town and recognition both within the country and abroad.

“Attempts were made to make the same kalakand in other districts of Jharkhand and a few
neighbouring states, but the taste of Telaiya was found missing,” he said, adding that workers who had taken the sweet to other cities failed to make it the same way there.

Kalakand in the process of being made in Telaiya Vishvendu Jaipuriar

“It’s because of Telaiya’s weather and water, which brings this unique taste,” he said.

Sources said in undivided Bihar, people going to Patna for work at the secretariat would bring this sweet back for their clerks. Even today, people crossing this place never forget to take some mouth-watering kalakand home for their relatives.

Sellers said that at present they were making three types of kalakand, including one for ranging from Rs 360 to Rs 400 per kg.

The fall in the daily sale of kalakand has affected milk sellers too, as huge quantities of milk are required for making the sweet and many local sellers supply milk to these hotels. With kalakand sale reduced now, demand for milk has also dropped, making sellers suffer losses.