For the love of a velvety sweet treat

A layer of faluda, followed by a sizeable measure of rabri made of pure milk and mawa, enhanced with cashew nuts, almonds and pistachios, add some sweetness with sugar syrup and top it with crushed ice; and your glass is ready to be gulped down.

Old Delhi’s favourite dessert flavours come alive at this historical Rabri-faluda joint. Tempting the taste bud of young and old, locals and tourists, Giani’s at Fatehpuri is the oldest of all branches in Delhi. Initially setup near Sis Ganj Gurudwara in the heart of Chandni Chowk, the shop moved to its present location in 1951. The age-old business was setup by Giani Gurcharan Singh in Faisalabad, formerly known as Lyallpur, Pakistan.

Serving the Capital with items complementing every season, the shop has something for every palate. “Rabri-faluda remains a favourite throughout the year, along with different milk shakes. During winters we also serve special delicacies like Daal ka halwa, Gajar ka halwa etc.,” informs the manager, Kuldeep Singh.

You also have mango, banana, rose (made with Roohafza and rose essence) and pineapple milk shakes on the menu, prepared with fresh fruits, pure milk cream and sugar essence to give a rich buttery taste. Special care is taken for purity and hygiene as everything, from rabri to faluda, is self-made and supplied fresh.

“Not only Delhiites, tourists are also equally fond of this trademark food item of old Delhi. In fact, they specially come looking for Rabri-faluda whenever they visit this part of the Capital. Over the years, people have become so accustomed to our taste and quality that they spontaneously stop by to have a glassful,” says Gurdeep, another family member managing the shop.

Shakes are available in medium and large sizes, though either glass is huge enough to replace a meal, more so because of the thick creamy ingredients! Prices range between Rs 70 for a large glass and Rs 60 for medium. But for Rabri-faluda, only large size for Rs 60 is available to easily accommodate various ingredients.

Regular visitors to the shop have been coming here for ages and have tasted the changing flavours. “The taste has changed to a great extent and it is no longer the same. But even then I cannot resist the temptation whenever I come to this place,” says Hawasingh Tokas, a resident of R. K. Puram and a faluda lover who has been coming to the place since 1980.