Pune: This Rakshabandhan, home bakers in the city are witnessing a surge in orders as consumers increasingly opt for freshly made, customised sweets and desserts over products from commercial sweet shops.Recent FDA raids have intensified this sentiment, with authorities suspending licences of food establishments and seizing suspected adulterated products. “I really don’t know where to order from and which place to eat out at. I have lost faith in commercial outlets especially those under franchise models. For Rakshabandhan, I have ordered sweets from a home chef,” said Sangeeta Kaur, a resident of Wanowrie. Poonam Mhatre, a resident of Aundh, has also placed an order in advance for a few dry fruit mithai boxes with a home chef for Rakshabandhan. “I was going to place an order for these mithai boxes with a nearby halwai but after seeing videos of their kitchens, I prefer ordering from a familiar person. At least I’m sure about the hygiene conditions,” she said.Pastry chefs and home chefs said customers are opting for home-baked sweets and customised hampers, saying they feel more assured about freshness, ingredients and preparation when ordering from smaller, familiar sellers. “We have seen an increase in orders from last festive season. People are placing orders for guilt-free tubs, bento cakes,” said Suraksha Chainani, a pastry chef, who runs The girl who bakes.Bakers said customers are specifically asking about ingredients, shelf life, preservatives and whether the sweets are made fresh. “There is growing awareness and people want to know what is in their mithai or desert. We are seeing good demand for besan laddoos, brownies, dry-fruit mithai, fusion desserts, customised rakhi hampers and small 250–500g boxes,” said a home baker from Baner.Mohena Ahluwalia, who runs Once Upon a Cake at Undri, said people are not only interested in ordering healthy deserts, but are also interested in learning how to make them. “When we do baking workshops, we get hundreds of registrations because people want to learn and take things in their own hands. We have seen good demand for protein laddoos this Rakshabandhan. People don’t mind paying more for customised, good quality stuff,” she said.People are not placing order at just about any cloud kitchen or with any home baker. “I am choosing to order from bakers who I have previously ordered from or those recommended through my society or friends. Quality and hygiene are two important factors for me,” said Simran Doshi, a resident of Hadapsar.
