Traditional sweetmeat Adi Chamcham of Chapainawabganj’s Shibganj upazila is the bearer of 150 years of tradition in the district.
Around 1858 Narendra Kumar Sarkar of Shibganj made Adi Chamcham in Shibganj Bazar. Shibganj was the capital of ancient Bengal and the Thana of Maldah district of undivided India.
Back then, there were many Moira (sweet makers) living in this region. The fame of his sweets spread to Sonamsjid, Kansat along with the previous subdivision town in Chapainawabganj.
After Narendra’s passing, his sons Tabal Sarkar and Indrabhushan Sarkar took over the business. Apart from Indrabhushan Sarkar, Tabal Sarkar’s son Arun Kumar Sarkar and another brother Vijay Kumar Sarkar’s son Ripon Kumar Sarkar are running the original Chamcham business.
After the partition of the country, many people moved to India’s Malda, but some families remained in Shibganj and held on to their generational profession.
The delicious mouth-watering sweets in various shapes are characterised by beautiful designs and soft parts with a pink tint inside the hard candy coating. Adi Chamcham is a burnt brick colour with an incomparable taste and smell.
This traditional Chamcham is available only in three shops in the upazila. However, currently, several shops in Chapainawabganj are buying and selling by order due to popularity.
The three original chamcham shops in Shibganj Bazar are Adi Chamcham, Original Adi Chamcham and New Adi Chamcham. It has developed into a famous sweet industry centred around these shops.
Adi Chamcham is unimaginable without pure curdled milk. Besides, not everyone can make Adi Chamcham without a proper recipe. The makers have to follow a special process and carefully prepare this sweet.
According to the makers, the special characteristics of the weather and water of the region are involved in making this sweetmeat.
About the preparation process, sweet makers said the original properties of chamcham should be retained with the heat of the stove fire. Special care should also be taken in the preparation of caramel. If the heat of the fire varies, the individuality of the original chamcham is lost in taste, smell and colour.
Bhadu Saha was the famous craftsman of the original chamcham of this region. His handmade sweets were incomparable. He could also make Adi Chamcham weighing about half a maund.
Adi chamcham weighing 75-150 grams is usually sold at Tk 300 per kg in the shops. However, they also supply chamcham weighing 5 to 10 kg at the price of Tk 600 per kg if specifically ordered.
People across the country order the Adi Chamchams, especially the large-sized ones on special occasions, such as weddings, birthdays anniversaries and celebratory programmes.
According to related sources, the three shops of Shibganj sell about four-five maunds of chamcham daily.
About 25-28 sweets of the smallest size make up 1 kg, whereas there are ones that take 15-18 to make one kg. The larger ones weigh about 250-500 grams.
Tabal Saha said, previously various sizes of chamchams were made, but now two sizes of chamchams are sold more. The more popular ones are six pieces that makeup one kg and the smallest-sized ones.
In response to a question, he said that at one time they used to supply 5 to 10 kg sized chamcham. Those are two-three times more expensive than the smaller ones. However, their demand has lessened due to the rise in commodity prices.
According to the shopkeepers, the sales have decreased recently. Despite that, they hope to hold on to their generational profession of making traditional sweetmeat.
Shibganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abul Hayat said the sweet makers have kept the original quality of chamcham from generation to generation. There is no other place other than Shibganj where the authentic sweet is made.
In response to a question, he said, “We are working on whether the sweet can be branded as a signature product so that the business around those sweets can flourish. We have talked to the original makers in this regard and contacted relevant departments.”
He added that if this is done, the popularity of the product will spread across the country and even abroad.
