Dum ke Roat returns to Hyderabad bakeries for Muharram
HYDERABAD: Dum ke Roat, a beloved cookie, is back in Hyderabad bakeries during the Muharram month. This popular delicacy holds traditional significance and sees high demand throughout the city. Bakers are competing to offer the best taste and pricing, making the treat widely accessible.
This crispy cookie, the size of a tea saucer, is made with wheat flour, semolina, vegetable oil, sugar, honey, clarified butter, salt, cardamom, and dairy products. “It is purely vegetarian. We don’t use eggs,” says Syed Irfan of Subhan Bakery in Nampally. Bakers start preparing Dum ke Roat at the beginning of Muharram. Though not tied to Islamic history, this tradition dates back decades to the erstwhile Nizam State.
Origins and traditional practices
One story suggests this cookie was offered to mourners during the Muharram procession by the Nizam. Another tale involves the seventh Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, offering Roat to the Nala-e-Mubarak Alam near Charminar for his grandson’s safety. This practice continues today, with people breaking vows for their children’s safety by distributing Roat.
M A Majid of Pista House notes that people from all backgrounds visit their store to buy Dum ke Roat. “We use quality ingredients and experienced bakers,” he says. Pista House even ships the delicacy worldwide through a courier service.
Bakewell Cake House at Tolichowki offers a variety called ‘gur roat,’ which includes jaggery and saffron. Syed Maqbool of Bakewell Cake House explains that these additions create a unique flavor. The cookie is also available at Alpha Bakery in Secunderabad, Rose Bakery in Chaderghat, and Karachi Bakery.
The tradition of making Dum ke Roat at home and taking it to bakeries for baking persists among some Hyderabadis. However, hundreds of people now prefer buying it from famous eateries like Subhan Bakery, Karachi Bakery, Pista House, Rose Bakery, and Needs.
Syed Irfan of Subhan Bakery, who has advanced baking training from abroad, says their outlet started selling Dum ke Roat in 1971. He states, “We use pure ghee, and our Roat includes milk, khowa, almonds, cashews, saffron, and raisins.”
Pista House, known for its haleem, biryani, zafrani chai, and snacks, has recently added ‘Zaffrani Dum Ke Roat’ to its menu. The baking process requires precise control of time, temperature, and ingredients, ensuring the cookie’s brownish color and perfect texture.
