Kayani Ki Kahani-Shrewsbury Biscuits

Pune has always been the retreat of Bombaywalas. For the weekend, for the races, to party and to 'chill'. And anyone who goes away, must come back, most importantly, bearing gifts in hand.

Almost all visitors who come to Pune from Bombay have to take back gifts of one of it's specialities....and what could be more special than Shrewsbury biscuits from Kayani Bakery.

Shrewsbury Biscuits

Packed in familiar ,square, patterned, carboard boxes they are sold out in a few minutes everyday.People fight over them, there are near stampedes in the anxiety to get hold of at least one of those precious boxes.If you pass by at that critical time when the batch comes out of the oven you will wonder what event has occured to create such excitement.

Kayani Bakery was started by Hormuz and Khodayar Irani in 1955.They had emigrated from Iran before 1947, along with a group of people, many of whom settled in Pune and began the business of bakeries.

Kayani still makes a sourdough bread, with a starter made from hops. The yeast, even now, is produced in large wooden vats, and the bread is baked in a huge, wood fired, brick oven. The firewood is from the babul tree, a quick growing, almost weed like tree, and its unique characteristic is that it is smokeless during burning, This makes it a natural choice, for cooking on open stoves, by both city and country dwellers many of whom have no access togas or electricity.

The famous shrewsbury biscuits are also baked in this oven, morning and evening , one loading being 40 large baking trays. Parvez Irani tells me they make around 200 kilos of these biscuits a day and they are almost always sold out!

Well, quite understandably, they wouldn't share the recipe with me but here is a good recipe for Shewsbury biscuits  that will make between 40-4 dozen .

Ingredients:

• 250 gms butter
• 300 gms caster sugar
• 3-4 egg yolks
• 450 gms flour
• Grated rind of two lemons (not used in the Kayani type)

Strain the flour through a fine mesh twice.

Cream the butter and sugar with a whisk until the yellow of the butter becomes off white and the mixture is fluffy.

Beat the egg yolks till runny, add to the butter mixture and mix well.

Add the flour and grated lemon rind and stir in with a spoon till it makes a firm but not stiff dough.

Flour a surface and knead the dough gently for a minute or so.  Roll out to 1/4" thick . Using a cookie cutter (I use a glass of the right size if I dont have one) cut out circles of 2 diameter.

Place on a greased and floured baking sheet. Bake at Mark 4 or 350 degrees F for about 15 minutes till very lightly browned.

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Kayani's biscuits are a pale yellow and are very buttery and very sweet. I like to use a bit more of the  grated rind of lemon to reduce the sweetness.

Comments

[30in2005]

Shrewsbury - yummmmy! I have been to Pune only once, to attend the wedding of a dear friend. Went to Kayani's on a recommendation thinking we would take back Shrewsbury for the family. They were so tasty that not a single crumb made it back to Delhi intact! Aaah my foodie memories!

[Lindy]

I am definitely going to try making these- they sound just my sort of thing, plain, but rich. Do you know where the name "Shrewsbury" comes from?

[deccanheffalump]

Hi 30 and Lindy,
Thanks for the comments. I did think of checking that out -Shrewsbury, so Maharashtrian wouldnt you say???
Any clues anyone?

[shammi]

Hi, I've been to Pune 2-3 times, and every time I'd come back loaded with bhakerwadi :) And not apropos of anything much, I now live in Shrewsbury, where I dont believe I've seen the famous biscuit ;)

[deccanheffalump]

mmm bhakerwadi.So true Shammi .That is going to come up on this blog some time soon.I buy a lot of different varieties too!
You'd think it would be the perfect thing to sell Shrewsbury biscuits in Shrewsbury.Like the Earl of Sandwich selling sandwiches....

[shaista]

there's a place called shrewsbury on the england-wales border. i tried to find 'shrewsbury biscuits' there. no one knew what i was talking about. it is an original kayani creation.

[deccanheffalump]

Hi Shaista,
Thanks for that bit of info.I always thought it had come from Shrewsbury via some route or other.

[Kay]

Hmmm... I still think it came from Shrewsbury, Maybe the brits brought it.

check http://www.visitshrewsbury.com/ and look for biscuits on the right side.

They say that the biscuits were first made there.

And well, I lived in Pune on and off, but never tried these world famous biscuits :(

[Kay]

and hey, thanks for linking me from your blog! I just linked you in mine.

[deccanheffalump]

Thanks for the tip, Kay and hey thanks for the link too!

[MATHEW]

DEAR KAYANI BAKERY,
I AM A FORMER RESIDENT OF PUNE. I USE TO BUY FOOD STUFF FROM YOUR BAKERY. NOW I AM STAYING IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY. WHENEVER ANY OF MY FRIENDS VISIT PUNE, I TELL THEM TO PAY A VISIT TO YOUR BAKERY. THEY ALL APPRECIATE THE QUALITY OF YOUR ITEMS. IT PROVES THAT INDIAN FOOD ITEMS ARE NOT INFERIOR TO ANY SO CALLED FOREIGN STUFF, (IF THE BUSINESS IS DONE HONESTLY). KEEP IT UP, BEST WISHES, MATHEW

[Anjum]

I have moved to dry delhi from the majestic lively bombay and I really miss Shrewsbury like a second lifeline. Is it possible that they can have it parcelled ? I know its a slim chance that they do but Im optimistic

[deccanheffalump]

Anjum, I really doubt it as they are sold out in no time at all everyday.But I shall pass on this request!

[moseen]

i would appreciate if someone would let me know if I can find Kayani's cakes and biscuits in Bandra, Mumbhai....thanks

an email to me would be appreciated

snior from usa

[Adrian Plimmer]

Shrewsbury biscuits come from the town of Shrewsbury in the county of Shropshire in England. They were produced from a receipe by the Plimmer Family in Shrewsbury. (Not direct relations to me). They are available from specialist shops in the town.

[shapour]

Dear Sirs
I don't come to India but Mr. khodayar ,Hormozdiar and Rostam is my uncle and Iraj ,farokh and jamshid,... is my cousins ,Can you send your new photo to me.I am badredin son.
Best Regards
shapour

[traveller]

can anyone tell me if kayani is open on sunday's~??????