14 extraordinary mithais to order this Raksha Bandhan

Festive season is almost here, and our long-awaited brother-sister reunion kicks things off. The real question is whether we love Raksha Bandhan for the yearly dose of affection from our siblings or for the presents and sweets that get swapped?

While life is all about the give and take, a little thoughtfulness doesn’t hurt. Maybe that divider of your parents’ affection has finally gift-wrapped for you those Moon shoes you’ve been hinting at with the subtlety of a gorilla at a Delhi wedding. Maybe, in return, they’re accepting something more than a box of Cadbury’s Celebrations that had become somewhat of a Raksha Bandhan ritual thanks to the golden era of Indian advertising. (An oldie but a goodie, but come on!) There’s nothing wrong either with the kaju katli and besan ke laddoo from the corner shop. But how about showing some flair?

Think badam wontons, mojito laddoos, a shortbread cube with kaju katli and raspberry, and all manner of Frankentreats that, we promise, are surprising in the best way. After all, boring mithai is not going to cut it for your not-so-boring sibling. We’re not gatekeeping our picks. Here’s our edit of 14 mithais that will impress this Raksha Bandhan:

Hatti and Giraffe, pan-India shipping

Bright blue and orange tin boxes—not what you’d expect from a mithai brand—are Mumbai-based Hatti & Giraffe’s signature. Our favourite for gifting are the Balushahi Bites, which resemble mini donuts topped with a sparkling dust of pista and a strand of saffron.

Bombay Sweet Shop, Mumbai store and pan-India shipping

The OG mithai innovator is a go-to pick for a reason. Bombay Sweet Shop is giving bite-sized kaju katli a chocolate makeover, wherein a rich dark chocolate layer battles with a layer of peda that is topped by a crackling sweet-and-salty peanut brittle. Plus, if you’ve forgotten to order a rakhi, they’ve got a gorgeous handmade bamboo rakhi for the older siblings and a cute dino option for the young ’uns.

Pistabarfi, Mumbai store and pan-India shipping

Pistabarfi’s newest line, Bistaparfi, is (as the name suggests) an inverse of their usual sweets. This one is all about Indianising Western desserts. Think Pistabarfi Bonbon, where pista barfi meets a chocolate shell, and a Shortbread Cube with kaju katli and raspberry. PS: For your Gen Z brother, they have the brightest handmade cockroach-shaped rakhis—dw, they’re cute, irrespective of what you feel about the actual insect.

Genda Phool, Mumbai store and pan-India shipping

This Mumbai-based brand is switching up classic sweets like chikki and giving it a pistachio-cranberry upgrade or, if you’re feeling fancy, a pecan variation. Their sugar-free mithai line includes Apple Spice, a bite-sized apple pie of sorts, made with jaggery and topped with walnuts, and the Tropical Delight, a Pina Colada-style laddoo filled with coconut sugar and fresh pineapple.

Ikai, Mumbai

Folks based in Mumbai, if you're looking for a fun activity this Raksha Bandhan, this sweet shop has a make-your-own-motichoor-laddoo bar. Compete with your sibling for the craziest combos—pick from coffee, charcoal or OG flavours, fill it with some chocolate fudge, and top it with a crunchy pistachio crumble. Not in the mood for cheffing it up? Just treat yourself to their classic mithai and namkeen offerings.

Madras Mithai Company, Chennai

Chef Kushboo Kochar of this Chennai-based brand specialises in mithai-dessert hybrids, and our pick of the season is their white chocolate kaju katli. A square-shaped katli with red swirls and caramelised white chocolate is a fun take on the classic.

The Laddoo Wala, pan-India shipping with extra options for Delhi-NCR

This mithai brand’s name says it all. This family-owned sweet shop’s assorted laddoo box of 11 has it all, from chandni to besan mewa with gold warq laddoos. For the kaju-katli-obsessed brother (every family has one), order their assorted box.

Varak, Kolkata store, pan-India shipping

Craving a mithai-like cake pop? Varak’s almond halwa pop is a rich and smooth almond halwa shaped onto a stick, and their kunafa boondi ghewar combines the crispy, honeycomb-like texture of ghewar with creamy and nutty kunafa.

Meethi Elaichi, pan-India shipping

With sugar-free, gluten-free, and vegan offerings, Meethi Elaichi is perfect for the sibling who is always at the gym, prepping for Hyrox. Their Mithai Macaron Box reimagines mithai in the shape, texture, and butteriness of the pastry. These macarons are also topped with edible pastel-hued flower motifs to match their standout flavours like raspberry and passion fruit.

Shakkr, Delhi

This Delhi-based made-to-order mithai brand is rewriting the rules when it comes to classic flavours. Our fave for this festive season is their badam wonton (no, it’s not savoury), which is a stuffed pistachio and traditional marzipan little treat folded into the shape of a wonton.

Nihira, pan-India shipping

This one’s for the sibling that always orders the wackiest thing on a menu (Tom Yum cocktails, anyone?). Nihira makes lavender, mojito, red wine, whiskey, and even champagne laddoos so you can toast your special day with your loved ones.

Arq mithai, Delhi, shipping pan-India

Picture a diamond-shaped tray filled with two types of mithai—a besan chocolate and an almond dough—topped with a rakhi, a special offering for the season. Arq also does an assortment of mithai, but of all the flavours they have up their sleeves their caramel peda with dulce de leche seals the deal for us.

Gurchini, Delhi, shipping pan-India

Gurchini doesn’t use refined chini in their mithais; instead, they use stevia along with manuka honey and other natural sweeteners. Their assorted ghewar, handmade with desi ghee and topped with freshly made rabdi and dry fruits, is definitely their star mithai (it doesn’t hurt that it comes packaged in a cute rani pink hue). Their hazelnut barfi, which is a part of their Luxury Maharani Box (your highness, your beloved sister), strikes a balance between sweet chocolate and toasty hazelnuts.

Aajuni, Delhi, shipping pan-India

We’re eyeing Aajuni’s Heritage Reimagined collection this season. Mad over matcha? They do a Matcha Eclat, which is a marzipan- and pistachio-layered peda-like sweet treat dusted with matcha powder and finished with sparkly gold dust. Their Badam Biscoff Bite is a velvety layered confection garnished with pistachio plus they have ghewars in various flavours including tiramisu, raspberry and vanilla.