The Legendary Tirunelveli Halwa

Tirunelveli is always a sweet memory to many visitors, all thanks to its very own speciality - The Tirunelveli/ Iruttu Kadai Halwa. The warm, melt-in-mouth delicacy served on plantain leaves is an exclusive Nellai indulgence that leaves you craving for more.

Popular Tirunelveli Halwa in Tirunelveli

Carrot Halwa

A traditional Indian pudding made of grated fresh carrots, milk, ghee and sugar. This appetizing sweet delight is served at almost all feasts in Tirunelveli.

Muscoth Halwa

This halwa captures the rich flavours of coconut milk and is hence called coconut milk halwa too. Not even a drop of oil or ghee is used to make this delicacy.

Fruits Halwa

A wide variety of fresh fruits are used to make this sweet delight. The recipe can be altered with less sugar and ghee to make it more healthy for kids.

Thadiyangai Halwa

Made of ash gourd and generous helpings of dry fruits and ghee, this white pumpkin halwa/ vellai poosanikai halwa/ash gourd halwa is a soft, melt in mouth delight.

Dates Halwa

The juiciest dates, ghee and wheat flour/ refined flour/almond can be used to make this sweet, delicious and healthy treat in less than 10 minutes.

Rose Halwa

Gulkand ka halwa or rose halwa is a delicious sweet dessert made by cooking rose petals and beetroot in sugar syrup and garnished with crispy roasted nuts.

Karupatti Halwa

A modified version of the authentic Tirunelveli halwa made using karuppati instead of sugar due to its rich calcium content and blood purifying properties.

Godhumai Halwa

Samba wheat is soaked to extract the wheat milk, which is then concocted with oodles of ghee and sugar to make this soft and delicious samba wheat/ godhumai halwa.

The Age-Old Tale of Tirunelveli Halwa

The Rajaputraa masses originating from Rajasthan brought halwa for the first time in Tirunelveli. They were working under the Jamindhars in Chokampatti, a tiny village at Tirunelveli. In the year 1882, the first-ever halwa shop was opened at Tirunelveli. It was soft, melt-in-mouth, aureate brown in colour and had a divine and appetizing aroma. The taste was so addictive that the residents of Tirunelveli could not miss relishing this sweet even for one day.

Interesting Facts

The most famous Tirunelveli halwa is undoubtedly the Iruttukadai Halwa. The shop is located on the left side of the Nellaiappar temple.
In the olden days, candles were used to light the interiors of the shop. Hence, the shop got the name "Iruttu Kadai" meaning "dark shop".
Even today, the shop is dimly lit on purpose to maintain its legendary name and meaning.
The shop operates only for a few hours in the evening and sells only a limited quantity of halwa, which is always sold out on that day itself.
Even today, they never use any machine to squeeze the wheat milk. Also, ghee is always sourced directly from farmers.
The extra layer of ghee is never removed from the top of the halwa. It remains there and acts as a preservative to increase the shelf life of the halwa.
The Iruttukadai Halwa shop doesn't have any other branches in Tirunelveli or Tamil Nadu.

Ingredients / Health Facts

The Tirunelveli halwa is made up of the following ingredients:

Wheat

A rich source of Folate, manganese, thiamin, and vitamin B6. It is proven to be good for both muscles and nerves.

Ghee

Pure ghee is rich in fat-soluble vitamins E, D, and A. It aids in food digestion.

Cashews

A rich source of iron, vitamin K, and magnesium. It helps improve heart function and overall body function.

Tamiraparani river water

Nourished with herbs from the western ghats, it contains unique medicinal properties of the Siddha medicines.

Tirunelveli Halwa Updates

Anyone who visits Tirunelveli will definitely go back home only with a few boxes containing the most delicious Tirunelveli halwa. Its taste and quality are so good that you cannot find it elsewhere in any part of the world. Its age-old authentic recipe of secret ingredients and the traditional way it is cooked is the reason for its unique, distinctive taste. Wish to know more about halwa and halwa recipes? We provide it all!

Tirunelveli Halwa Varieties

Carrot Halwa

A traditional Indian pudding made of grated fresh carrots, milk, ghee and sugar. This appetizing sweet delight is served at almost all feasts in Tirunelveli.

Muscoth Halwa

This halwa captures the rich flavours of coconut milk and is hence called coconut milk halwa too. Not even a drop of oil or ghee is used to make this delicacy.

Fruits Halwa

A wide variety of fresh fruits are used to make this sweet delight. The recipe can be altered with less sugar and ghee to make it more healthy for kids.

Thadiyangai Halwa

Made of ash gourd and generous helpings of dry fruits and ghee, this white pumpkin halwa/ vellai poosanikai halwa/ash gourd halwa is a soft, melt in mouth delight.

Top-Rated Tirunelveli Hotels

Iconic Iruttu Kadai Halwa shop of Tirunelveli

Tirunelveli Halwa - The Tastiest Tamil Sweet

A scoop of this warm, freshly made, rich, tasty and melt-mouth halwa will make you realize why the Tirunelveli halwa is known as the lord of all Tamil sweets. The exquisite taste and soft texture will drown you in sweet ecstasy. And, we warn you in advance that this halwa is going to melt your heart and taste buds.

TIRUNELVELI WEATHER

Collectorate Board: 0462-2501035
Police Control Room: 100
Traffic Police: 103
Medical Help Line : 104
Fire and Rescue : 101
Ambulance Help Line : 108
Ambulance (National Highways) : 1073
Child Help line : 1098
Sexual Harashment : 1091
Railway Help Line : 1512

Location Map

Important Links

Helpline Numbers

Collectorate Board: 0462-2501035
Police Control Room: 100
Traffic Police: 103
Medical Help Line : 104
Fire and Rescue : 101
Ambulance Help Line : 108
Ambulance (National Highways) : 1073
Child Help line : 1098
Sexual Harashment : 1091
Railway Help Line : 1512

Taste the Traditional Tirunelveli Halwa

Though almost every single shop in Tirunelveli claims that their halwa is the authentic one, only one shop, the Iruttu Kadai, offers the actual, authentic halwa. Be sure to relish this toothsome treat whenever you visit Tirunelveli. You'll surely come back for more as no one can stop with one bite!

The Legendary Tirunelveli Halwa

Popular Tirunelveli Halwa in Tirunelveli

The Age-Old Tale of Tirunelveli Halwa

Tirunelveli Halwa Updates

Tirunelveli Halwa Varieties

Top-Rated Tirunelveli Hotels

santhi-sweets-tirunelveli

lakshmi_vilas

Iconic Iruttu Kadai Halwa shop of Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu

chandra sweets

Tirunelveli Halwa - The Tastiest Tamil Sweet