Ancient Persia
Jalebi was originally invented in the Middle East, where it was known as Zalabiya or Zalabia. The sweet later made its way to India, where it evolved into the popular dessert known today.
Video Proof of where Jalebi was invented
The historical origin of jalebi and its migration from the Middle East to India is discussed in several food history documentaries and culinary explorations.
Video Title: The History of Jalebi | Origin of Indian Sweets.
This video explains how jalebi originated in the Middle East and later became a staple sweet in Indian cuisine.
Watch here:
News/Articles/Academic Sources & Images
Historians and food experts have confirmed jalebi’s roots in the Middle East through various published articles and research papers. One such mention is in the Oxford Companion to Food and old Persian texts like Kitab al-Ṭabīkh, a 10th-century Arabic cookbook.
Summary with Historical Insight
Jalebi has a fascinating cross-cultural history. The sweet dish known as Zalabiya was first recorded in West Asia around the 10th century. It was brought to the Indian subcontinent by Persian-speaking invaders and traders. Over time, local culinary traditions adapted it, eventually turning it into the crispy, syrupy dessert widely popular across South Asia today.
The Indian version of jalebi is typically made with a fermented batter of maida (refined wheat flour) that is deep-fried in pretzel or circular shapes and soaked in sugar syrup. Its cousin Zalabiya was made using a different flour, and sometimes honey instead of sugar, in the Middle East and North Africa.
According to The Oxford Companion to Food, Zalabiya was a well-known sweet in Persia and Arab countries long before it appeared in Indian texts. The 13th-century cookbook Kitab al-Ṭabīkh also features similar recipes. In India, references to jalebi (then called Kundalika or Jalavallika) appeared in 15th-century Sanskrit texts like Gunyagunabodhini.
The transformation of Zalabiya into Jalebi showcases how cultural exchanges influence culinary evolution. Today, jalebi is an iconic part of Indian festivals, breakfast, and street food culture, though its roots lie far beyond India’s borders.
Below are verified articles and source images confirming this:
Image 1:
Scan of a page from a 10th-century Arabic cookbook mentioning ‘Zalabiya’, the predecessor of Jalebi.
Image 2:
Modern Indian Jalebi served on a banana leaf plate.
