Sweet, sticky and downright delicious! Dodha barfi or doda is a dark brown Indian sweet made using sprouted wheat, milk and khoya. It is extremely popular in the Northern belt for its addictive sticky texture. Often loaded with nuts, we began our search to find the best dodha barfi brands in India.
We picked four popular brands of dodha barfi available in Delhi NCR from chain mithai shops. After blind-tasting them over two sessions, we chose the dodha barfi by Bikanervala Sweets as our Top Pick. We Also Recommend Haldiram Dodha Barfi for its near-perfect texture and taste.
Table of Contents
Dodha Barfi Brands in India – Everything You Need To Know
1. Packaging
The dodha barfi brands come packed in a sturdy box. The box pack changes its color, style, and sturdiness as per the net weight.
2. Main Ingredients
Dodha barfi is made using four primary ingredients – Khoya (khoa or milk solids), milk, sugar and germinated/sprouted wheat.
None of the boxes mention the ingredients used.
3. Available Sizes
Dodha barfi is available in customisable boxes. The most commonly ordered ones are –
- 200 grams
- 250 grams
- 500 grams
- 1 Kg
4. Price Range
Ideally the dodha barfi price can vary between Rs 40/- to Rs 60/- for 100 grams.
5. Shelf Life
As compared to milk or chenna based Indian sweets, the shelf life of dodha barfi is a bit longer. It can last upto 20 days when stored correctly.
Dodha Barfi Brands – Our Review Factors
To test the dodha barfis we conducted a blind taste test in our review lab. All four brands were placed on a single dish and were marked by numbers. Our reviewers did not know which brand’s dodha barfi are they tasting. From the first round of tasting, we shortlisted three barfi brands. They were re-tested after a few hours. We did this because eating too many mithais back-to-back can cause the palate to overcrowd.
After two tasting sessions, our team had selected a winner based on the following parameters –
1. Taste + Freshness
The prime parameter when we review fresh mithais is taste. Which is why we wanted to check all the brands to see which dodha barfi is the tastiest. How fresh does it taste? Are the nuts fresh-tasting or are they rancid? Does it have an aftertaste? Any oily notes? Does the barfi have balanced sweetness levels?
2. Color
Dodha barfi gets its signature dark brown color because of the roasting time. The more it is roasted and cooked, the darker the color and more earthy the flavor. We checked all the brands of barfi to see how dark or light is the color of the dodha barfi?
3. Texture
Dodha barfis have that signature sticky, almost granular texture which is a mix of milky globules and sprouted wheat.
Our Top Pick had to be of an almost jaw-sticky texture which has a milky greasiness. The amount of fat added (ghee) was also a determining factor.
4. Aroma
Mithais can end up smelling prominently of ghee which isn’t always pleasing or fresh. We checked all the four dodha barfis for their aroma. How fresh is it and is it milky or oily?
5. Price
Is the barfi priced competitively? If priced higher than the other contenders, why? Do the price and quality of mithai sync with each other?
Related reading – Best Kaju Katli in India!
1. Bikanervala Dodha Burfi – Mishry Top Pick
We loved the fresh, delicious flavor of coconut in the Bikanervala Dodha Barfi. The nuts are fresh tasting and do not seem stale or oily. From the balanced sweetness to the fresh milky richness of the barfi, we liked the Bikanervala Dodha Barfi the most.
Features
- Bikanervala Dodha barfi comes in a sturdy tray packaging.
- Price per 100 grams – Rs 54/-.
- This can be ordered via a food delivery application or picked up from their chain.
Likes
- The flavor of coconut is fresh and pleasing.
- The greasiness of ghee is just right.
- We liked that the nuts were fresh-tasting and added in abundance.
- Thumbs up for the rich milkiness of the dodha barfi.
Best Suited For
If you are looking for a dodha barfi to consume or gift to a loved one, the Bikanervala Dodha Barfi is your ideal pick. For those who like a pronounced coconut flavor, would love this dodha barfi.
2. Haldiram’s Dodha Burfi – Also Recommended
Features
- Haldiram’s Dodha barfi comes in a festive looking box.
- Price per 100 grams – Rs 52/-.
Likes
- The dodha barfi by Haldiram has a fudgy texture.
- We liked the fresh tasting nuts.
- The coconut flavor is very delicate.
Dislikes
- The sweetness was a bit on the higher side.
3. Gopala Dodha Burfi
A few things that went wrong with Gopala’s Dodha Barfi. This has a prominent coconut flavor which is rancid and very off-putting. The taste of ghee and nuts is also off, which ruins the overall flavor.
Features
- Gopala’s Dodha barfi came packed in a red box.
- Price per 100 grams – Rs 59/-.
Likes
- The sweetness is balanced.
- We liked that the nuts are generously sprinkled.
- The milky fudginess we were looking for was there.
Dislikes
- Unfortunately, the barfi is not fresh tasting.
- The coconut and nuts taste rancid.
- The overall flavor is very off-putting.
4. Om Sweets Dodha Burfi
The artificial taste of the barfi along with the lack of freshness was what let it down.
Features
- Om Sweets dodha barfi comes in a sturdy tray.
- Price per 100 grams – Rs 47/-. This is the cheapest amongst all the contenders.
Likes
- The sweetness is balanced.
Dislikes
- The nuts taste rancid.
- The flavor of the dodha is very off-putting.
- We didn’t like the texture of the dodha barfi.
Our Top Picks & Recommendations
A good dodha barfi has that characteristic, chewy stickiness that comes from cooking the milk over a long time. Another key factor is the use of nuts and an appropriate amount of ghee/fat that gives dhoda barfi its signature sheen and flavor.
The dodha barfi by Bikanervala was the tastiest one amongst all the contenders. The liberal use of nuts, balanced sugar levels and the rich, milky fudginess is what did it for us. Along with this the coconut flavor is delicious too.
The only reason Haldiram’s dodha barfi was a notch down is due to the slightly higher sweetness levels. Other than that, it did a fairly good job.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do these barfis contain preservatives?
As there is no mention of ingredients on the pack, we do not know about the use of preservatives in the barfis.
2. Do these barfis contain additional sweeteners?
The ingredient list is not mentioned on any fresh mithai boxes, so we do not know about the type of sweetener used.
3. How to store these barfis after unpacking?
It is best to store them in an airtight container at room temperature if the weather is a bit nippy. If it’s hot, store the barfi in a cold room or refrigerate if the temperature is soaring.
4. What is the calorie range of these barfis?
On an average, 100 grams of dodha barfi provides 400-500 calories. The calorie variation comes from the type of ingredients used.
Final Words
Did you know that dodha barfi was actually invented as a nutritious snack? As claimed by some Historians, Harbans Vig, a Punjabi wrestler from Khushab of Sargodha district, was looking for a nutrition-packed sweet. That is how the dodha barfi came into existence in 1912.
After two taste-test sessions, we declared the dodha barfi by Bikanervala as one of the best in Delhi NCR. This sweet, sticky, and rich mithai has balanced sweetness levels, fresh tasting nuts and a lovely pronounced coconut flavor. Haldiram’s dodha barfi also came close to our Top Pick.
Which sweet, sticky mithai do you like more – dodha barfi or milk cake? Let us know in the comment section below.
