Mithai is the Urdu word for sweets that are often made from flour, milk, sugar, nuts and even in some cases, vegetables and lentils that are then flavoured with rose water, saffron and cardamom.
Also known as Mishti in Bengali, mithai is popular throughout South Asia. Mithai can be eaten as a dessert, or served with afternoon tea and is traditionally handed out at weddings and to celebrate happy occasions such as births and at house-warming parties. Mithai is an important part of South Asian food culture and can be enjoyed throughout the Indian subcontinent with different regional variations.