The Sensational Tirupati Laddu

Finding its inception 300 years ago, the sensational Tirupati laddu is celebrated for its unique taste and texture. The first holy offering of the sweet was documented on August 2, 1715. It was prepared by the temple officials at Lord Venkateswara's hill shrine. The laddu that we see currently acquired its presence and shape under the Madras Government circa 1940 after undergoing almost 6 iterations. According to ancient inscriptions, the existence of the laddu was well documented in 1480, and was labelled as “manoharam”.

The magician behind the creation of the famous Tirupati laddus is Kalyanam Iyengar. He was the one to introduce the popular Mirasidari System to create the sweet. People responsible for preparing the laddus in the kitchen were called Gamekar Mirasidars, who also used to get a share from the batch till 2001!
 

The necessary Tirupati Laddu ingredients that are crucial in making the ambrosial sweet comprise flour, oil, sugar, ghee, dry fruits and cardamom. If stored properly, its shelf life can stretch up to 15 days. Before the discovery of LPG, these sweets were made using firewood. About 620 people are employed for the tumultuous process of cooking the laddus. To support the preparation, the temple’s kitchens went through heavy customisation, such as installing escalator belts and boondi boxes.
 

There are 3 different types of laddus that are cooked - Asthanam, Kalyanotsavam and Proktham laddus. Asthanam laddus are made with saffron flowers, cashews and almonds. These laddus are created only on special occasions. Kalyanotsavam, as the name suggests, are prepared and distributed to devotees of Kalyanotsavam. These laddus are comparatively bigger in size. Proktham laddus are the common laddus that are made and spread amongst pilgrims. These laddus are prepared in bulk.

Due to its ubiquitous presence, the laddus were patent protected. To prevent black marketing of the sweets, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams offered a Geographical indication tag for Tirupati laddus since 2008.

Laddus have become synonymous with Tirupati. From online orders to physically bringing them back home as souvenirs, Tirupati laddus are well-liked. If you visit the sacred city to experience the unmatched taste of the laddus, make sure to reserve a quiet and peaceful stay at Raj Park Hotel, Tirupati.