Gujarati Winter Sweets (Pak): What They Are and When to Start Eating Them

When the weather turns cold, Gujarati kitchens change. Out come the heavy pans, the ghee, the nuts and the spices, and the winter pak season begins. If you are wondering what winter pak is, which sweets belong to it and when to start eating them, this guide explains it simply.

What is pak?

In Gujarati, pak is a sweet made by cooking ingredients with ghee and sugar or jaggery until the mixture sets, then cutting it into squares. Winter pak is the group of sweets traditionally made and eaten through the colder months, when richer food is welcome.

The winter sweets Gujarati families make

• Methi Pak: fenugreek squares with a bitter-sweet taste, often called Methi Squares. Gluten free.
• Magaj: a gram flour sweet cooked in ghee and topped with almonds and pistachios, also called Basan Barfi. Gluten free.
• Adadiya Pak: made with urad dal flour, pistachios and spices, finished with sliced almonds.
• Gundar Pak: made with edible gum (gundar or gond), coconut and dates.
• Panjiri: a crumbly mix of ghee, almonds, cashews and lotus seeds.

When does the season start?

There is no fixed date. Many families start when the mornings turn properly cold, often around or soon after Diwali, and keep going until the weather warms again. If you make or order a batch now, you can enjoy a little at a time over several weeks.

How people traditionally eat it

Winter pak is rich, so a small piece is plenty. A common way is one square with a glass of warm milk, or with a cup of chai, in the morning or in the evening. It is eaten slowly, a little each day, rather than all at once.

Why homemade matters

Good pak depends on pure ghee, fresh nuts and careful cooking, so it tastes best when it has been made recently. Ours is made fresh to order and is best eaten within 4 weeks, stored in an airtight container.

Common questions

Can I try more than one?

Yes. Many customers order a 500g box of two or three different sweets so the family can compare. See our guide to which winter pak to try first.

How much notice do you need?

Everything is made fresh, so please allow about 10 days. You choose the delivery date at checkout.