Joseph Johnson/Stuff
Bal’s new store in Christchurch is his third, and he has plans for two more in the North Island. “We have a combination of Kiwi and Indian customers. We offer real, authentic Indian food with the taste of Punjab, but our products are tailored to suit New Zealand too.” Many of the sweets sold at Novelty Sweets are traditional Indian desserts made from a milk base that is then burned, processed and formed into shapes. Flour and sugar is used for texture and sweetness. Examples include laddu – a sphere-shaped sweet – and kaju barfi – a triangular shaped dessert made with cashew nuts and sugar. Both are quite rich in taste.