Christmas: India's first christmas cake!?


It was november 1883. A businessman named Murdoch Brown visited the 'Royal Biscuit Factory' shop in Kerala. Can you make him a cake for Christmas? The trader asked Mambally bapu, the owner of the biscuit factory.



In the Malabar region which was under the british rule at that time, there was a huge business of cultivating cinnamon plantations. He showed a sample cake that he had brought from britain and explained the process of making it to Bapu.



Bapu knows how to bake bread and biscuits. Bapu learned baking in a biscuit factory in Burma. But, he never made the cake. But, he decided to try making a cake with Brown's measurements. 


Bapu cake was experimented with some changes.

Brown suggested using brandy found in the French colony of Mahe in making the cake. But, bapu made a cake by mixing sara made from local cashews and apples. This made a special plum cake with all local ingredients and ingredients. After tasting the cake, Brown was very happy. More than a dozen more cakes were ordered to be made.



"That's how the first christmas cake was made in India," says Prakash Mambally. Prakash Mambally is the grandson of Bapu's nephew. There are no official documents to confirm this story of the first christmas cake. But this bakery started by Mambally bapu in Thalassery area of Kannur district of kerala has now become a part of christmas traditions. 


Bapu's descendants have been proud of this legacy for four generations.

Bapu popularized british flavors among Indians. Even during the First World War, he exported cakes and sweets for the soldiers,” says Prakash Mambally.



After that the Mambally family started bakery branches with different names in different areas. They have become a favorite destination for cake lovers. Prakash is currently running the original bakery started by bapu in Thalassery.


Prakash's grandfather Gopal Mambally inherited this bakery from his mother's lineage. At that time there was this tradition in Kerala. Gopal has 11 children. They all went into the family business. Prakash Mambally said that the small shop started by bapu in Thalassery has been shifted to another place to make it accessible to all people.


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India's first Christmas cake

Sindujaa D N

25/12/2022 02:32 PM