Tuticorin Macaroons

Tuticorin Macaroons (Pic by June Carvalho)

Cashewnut macaroons, I had always thought, were a speciality of Mangalore bakeries, till a friend of mine brought me a box of these cone-shaped macaroons, that are a hot selling sweet confection from the port town of Tuticorin or Thoothukudi as the locals call it.

These macaroons were sourced from Ganesh Bakery, famed for these light-as-air confections that that melt in the mouth. You really can't stop at one, never mind the sugar overload.

Macaroons are made out of a mixture of stiffly beaten egg whites, sugar and powdered cashewnuts which is piped through a paper cone on to baking trays and baked in a slow oven.

Ganesh Bakery packs these macaroons in a plastic bag which is sealed, placed in a cardboard box, which is then invariably gift-wrapped. That's their signature packaging style. Exposure to air results in moisture being absorbed and the macaroons turning soft in no time, hence it's important to store them in air-tight containers.

I welcome more of these sweet surprises. Anyone heading to Tuticorin?