Bhubaneswar: Twitter is flooded with posts on Chhena Poda Dibasa with Odisha celebrating the accidental dessert known for its typical lingering taste for the first time.
Accidental because Sudarshan Sahu, who owned a sweet shop at Dasapalla in Nayagarh, left sugar-infused chhena or cottage cheese with cardamon and cashew seasonings in a charcoal oven overnight and discovered an exquisitely delicious delicacy, which gave the state a distinct identity and flavour, the following morning. He slowly perfected Chhena Poda, which literally means burnt cheese, with a caramelised crust. By baking it wrapped in sal leaves, he gave the cardamom-scented cottage cheesecake a distinct aroma.
It brought him a lot of fame over the years, with the then Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru also appreciating the dish.
Odias picked April 11 to celebrate the dessert as a tribute to its creator on his birth anniversary.
Chhena Poda is easily the state’s best-known sweetmeat and the showstopper dessert among Odia sweet dishes with takers all over the world. It is also offered to Lord Jagannath at Srimandir in Puri. And there has been a demand for a GI tag for the sweet dish.
It was featured in the culture-centric television channel, EPIC, in its Raja, Rasoi Aur Anya Kahaniyaan series that chronicles the discovery of many dishes of India and their history, hosted by celebrity chef Ranveer Brar, in 2018.
The story behind Chenna Poda teaches us a lot!
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.#chenna #chennapoda #dessert #foodhistory #foodgyan #chennapodarecipe #recipeoftheday pic.twitter.com/N5F1inTBl4— Ranveer Brar (@ranveerbrar) April 3, 2022
Here is how the netizens describe Chhena Poda and celebrate its creator:
Celebrating #ChhenapodaDibasa today!
1. Article by writer #Biswabharati printed in Bijaya- Jan1996
2. Passport pic of Chhenapoda creator Sudarshan Sahu
3. Date of Birth of Sahu Babu- #11April 1931 #Nayagarh #OdishaPC: Sahu Family.
Thanks Biswabharati Apa for the pics🙏 pic.twitter.com/aR8AEXnhDi— Anita Sabat (@anitaexplorer) April 10, 2022
CHHENAPODA DIBASA.
AMA CHHENAPODA, AMA PAEN BADA
Best Wishes To All ChhenaPoda Lovers.
Today is the Birth Anniversary of the Inventor Of Chhenapoda, Late Sudarshan Sahu.
Humble Tributes 🙏#ChhenaPodaDibasa #ChhenaPoda #Odisha @KunaTripathy68 @TheAnsumanRath @directorsanjay pic.twitter.com/lg6qchEalF
— ଶାଶ୍ଵତ ଦେବଦତ୍ତ | 🆂🅳 | ❼ ⚪️ ⚡️ (@pureodiasaswata) April 11, 2022
Anytime today please have #Chhenapoda and post your picture with this #Odia sweet on #ChhenapodaDibasa 11th April 2022. This is the first time we will be celebrating this special day🙏
I have already posted mine , please do and please use the correct hashtag as agreed 🙏— Devasis Sarangi 🚴♂️ (@devasissarangi) April 11, 2022
This Desert may have accidentally discovered,but today it takes a skillful expertise to get the right equations for a perfect Chennapoda.Level of sweetness,moisture,right burning temp. etc.
But,I can bet you will get the best only from a traditional Odia Chulhi. #ChennapodaDibasa pic.twitter.com/x9GaiJAg0T— Sapnil Kumar Patel (@Sapnildmj) April 11, 2022
If I am giving just one thing to introduce #Odisha to someone, I will chose #Chhenapoda.
Have done it hundreds of times and never failed to make a great impression.
The best form of cottage cheese in the world. Period.
Happy #ChhenepodaDibasa to all pic.twitter.com/Euc9F99yUH
— Manoj Mishra ମନୋଜ ମିଶ୍ର (@manojmishrasays) April 11, 2022
Happy #ChhenapodaDibasa .
This was after breakfast. Nothing to start the day better than some #Chennapoda .
Do post your pic in comments section as well if you have had #Chhenapoda lately . pic.twitter.com/6aFtmjybE9
— Devasis Sarangi 🚴♂️ (@devasissarangi) April 11, 2022
Enjoy Odisha’s popular dessert CHHENAPODA in dubai..Home baked #chhenapodadibasa pic.twitter.com/7FDCpRpDop
— Ipsita Priyadarshini Samal (@IpSiTa_RoSy19) April 11, 2022
There are so many beautiful things in Odisha. #chhenapoda one of those. #Chhenapodadibasa pic.twitter.com/ORQqwB0Axc
— 💙ରାକେଶ କଳିଙ୍ଗ ପୁତ୍ର💙 (@Rakeshkumarray8) April 11, 2022
