Grameen Kulfi’s Twist on Tradition: Shahi Gulkand & Calcutta Paan Flavors Reviewed

Desi kulfi on your mind? This delectable milk-based dessert is traditionally enjoyed on a stick or matki. But if you cannot find the same rustic charm in the modern-day kulfis, Grameen Kulfi is a brand that you might want to explore.

We tried the Shahi Gulkand and Calcutta Paan flavors by Grameen Kulfi.

Curious if these flavors hit the mark? Let’s delve into the taste, texture, and overall experience in our review below.

Here’s a quick glance featuring the two flavors of Grameen Kulfi we tested: 

What are we looking for? We are expecting a creamy and milky kulfi with well-balanced sweetness and a flavor that syncs with the flavors as stated on the pack. 

To review Grameen Kulfi, we set the following parameters: 

1. Taste 

In this segment, we gauged the taste of the individual stick, the sweetness level, the flavors of the ingredient as mentioned on the label, and the rich milkiness.

2. Texture

The texture of a traditional kulfi is dense and creamy. An icy or grainy texture is considered undesirable. Are there any solid particles of rose/paan leaf observed on the kulfi? If yes, how do they add to the overall bite?

3. Packaging 

We answered the following questions: 

• How unique is the packaging of these kulfis from other brands? 
• Is the box packaging sturdy and leak-proof? 
• How was the final product delivered? Was it melted or retained its shape? This is crucial because most people will order ice creams and kulfis in the scorching heat. So how the product is delivered to the consumer adds to the overall experience. 

4. Other Elements 

Here we noted information on the appearance, price, ingredients and shelf life. 

There is no doubt that rural India is a trove of diverse cultures, dialects, festivals, art forms, and cuisines. The brand honors this heritage and believes in keeping these traditions alive by using traditional recipes, and interesting and informative graphics on the packaging. 

Grameen’s packaging says more than just the product details. It beautifully depicts the essence of rural traditions through its unique packaging showcasing visuals of villages and local dances.

We ordered these kulfi sticks via BlinkIt. Fortunately, we had a delightful delivery experience where the kulfis arrived frozen, unlike our experience with another portal.

What does this segment cover? Here we share our exclusive insights of our detailed experience with each flavor – pros, cons, product details and final verdict.

Product Details 

A single stick of Grameen Kulfi – Shahi Gulkand (70 ml) retails at a cost of Rs. 70. The kulfi comes in a light pink color box pack. On the inside, the Kulfi is wrapped in a butter paper. This has 6 months of shelf life. 

The key ingredients are : Milk, Sugar, Gulkand. Plus, it contains permitted synthetic food color (E122) and Added artificial flavor (rose). Per stick, Gulkand Kulfi contains around 140 kcal of energy.

Our Detailed Experience 

The Shahi Gulkand Kulfi from Grameen has a dusty pink color. It is not a bright pink color but looks quite pleasing. There are flakes of gulab spread across the kulfi that adds a delightful surprise.  

The texture is what we expected from a traditional kulfi. It is very creamy and milky. It is not icy but rather has a rich creaminess and pleasant mouthfeel. Flavor-wise, there was no hint of artificial or industrial taste that we observed. 

Plus, the gulab flakes. WOW! This element adds a nice dimension to the Kulfi and a burst of floral freshness. 

Related Read: Find out the best Rabri Kulfi brands in India here

Product Details 

Similar to the above flavor, the Calcutta Paan Kulfi stick by Grameen retails at a price of Rs. 70 for 70 ml stick. This has a shelf life of 6 months. This has a green color box packaging. The Kulfi is wrapped in a butter paper inside. 

Milk, Sugar, Tutti frutti, Processed betel leaves, Gulkand, Koronda fruit and fennel seeds are the main ingredients used for crafting this Kulfi. Additionally, it also contains permitted synthetic food color (E102, E133), and added artificial flavor (paan). Per stick, this Kulfi offers 162 kcal of energy.

Our Detailed Experience 

The kulfi has a light but deep pistachio green color. It is covered with fennel seeds and crushed paan leaves. What makes this kulfi special is the contrast of textures.

The fennel seeds and paan leaves add a different texture to the creamy kulfi. The flavor instantly reminds you of a freshly prepared meetha pan.

Overall, the creamy milkiness combined with the earthy fennel seeds and subtle crunch of the paan leaves create a delightful experience.

A special mention for the pricing. Unlike other Kulfis offered by artisanal brands (ranging between Rs. 100 to Rs. 150), the pricing of these stick Kulfis by Grameen is decent.

Here are some interesting FAQs on Grameen Kulfi:

To conclude, we had a delightful experience with Grameen Kulfis. We certainly couldn’t pick a favorite! The additional elements – gulab flakes (in Shahi Gulkand Kulfi) and fennel seeds & paan leaves (in Calcutta Paan) bring in a nice twist to these kulfis and enhance the experience further. 

Have you tried this yet?

Our reviews are unbiased and all samples used during the reviews were paid for by us. Read our entire ethics statement here.