Khushiyan Sweets
A traditional Punjabi sweet shop in Strood selling colourful mithai and freshly made samosas by weight.
On Gun Lane in Strood, Khushiyan Sweets is a traditional Punjabi sweet shop where trays of colourful mithai (the collective name for Indian sweets) sit behind the counter alongside freshly made savoury snacks. Small neighbourhood shops like this are an important part of Punjabi food culture, offering sweets that are bought by weight for celebrations, gifts or simply to take home with tea.
Inside, the display is filled with different varieties of barfi, the dense, fudge-like sweet made from milk or gram flour and flavoured with ingredients such as coconut, pistachio or cardamom. Cut into neat squares or diamonds, barfi is one of the most recognisable forms of mithai. Other traditional sweets include syrup-soaked jalebi, soft milk sweets and seasonal specialities, depending on what is being prepared that day.
Alongside the sweets, Khushiyan also prepares savoury snacks such as samosas. Offering a balance of sweet and savoury typical of Punjabi sweet shops. For visitors unfamiliar with the names, the staff are known for patiently explaining the different options and helping customers choose.
As many mithai are made with nuts or nut pastes, those with allergies should ask about ingredients before selecting.
