Japanese FM wraps up India trip with gulab jamun treat: Tracing the legacy of this iconic sweet dish

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi wrapped up his India visit on a sweet note with a serving of gulab jamun and South Indian-style coffee after attending the Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting in New Delhi yesterday.

Sharing moments from his final stop before returning to Japan, Motegi posted on X about enjoying India’s beloved dessert alongside a traditional cup of coffee.

Speaking about India’s coffee culture, he noted that while tea remains widely associated with the country, coffee too holds an important place, especially in South India.

He also highlighted India’s position among the world’s top coffee-producing nations.

Along with coffee, Motegi enjoyed a beloved Indian dessert, gulab jamun that drew people’s attention online.

Soft, syrup-soaked and rich with flavour, the dessert brought a renewed attention towards Indian sweets and its culinary heritage.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Firstpost (@firstpost) Gulab jamun remains one of India’s most loved desserts Few Indian desserts enjoy the popularity and emotional connection that gulab jamun does.

Sneaking one from the kitchen before guests arrived, sharing a bowl with cousins during festivals or ending a celebratory meal with the warm dessert are experiences familiar to millions across South Asia.

Today, it is equally popular across the globe popularised by the diaspora and famous Indian Restaurants.

The sweet derives its name from its resemblance to the jamun fruit, also known as black plum.

Traditionally, gulab jamun is prepared using khoya or milk solids mixed with refined flour to form a soft dough.

These dough balls are deep-fried until golden brown and then soaked in sugar syrup infused with rose water, saffron and cardamom.

Its appeal lies in the contrast between the lightly crisp exterior and the soft interior that absorbs the fragrant syrup almost perfectly.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ranveer Brar (@ranveer.brar) The history of gulab jamun and its Persian connection While gulab jamun is today considered one of....