Mouth-watering Kakinada Kaja beckons foodies

Kakinada: The famous Kaja of Kakinada has gained international reputation for its special taste and has become a brand name itself with its founder's name as Kotaiah Kaja.

In Andhra Pradesh, Bandar Laddu, Tapeshwaram Kaza and Kotaiah Kaja are the triple sweets which have earned global recognition. Kotaiah Kaza is Andhra's Manna and occupies a prominent place in the menu of important functions. Friends and relatives deem it a privilege to send packets of Kotaiah Kaja to their kith and kin in distant places.

If anybody goes to Kakinada, the invariable request is to bring at least one packet of Kotaiah Kaja. The moment one announces that he has brought a packet of Kotaiah Kaja everyone comes to him with bright face and beaming smile to receive his quota of Kotaiah Kaza.

The Kotaiah Kaja shop is such a landmark in the town, even for location of certain shops the mention of it is easily understood by an auto-rickshaw driver. The Kotaiah Kaja and Kakinada are inseparable and intertwined and look like twins.

The pioneer of the Kaja, Chittipeddi Kotaiah hailed from China Parimi village near Tenali of Guntur district. In 1891, he came to Kakinada and started Kotaiah Sweets. Now the fifth generation is continuing the legacy. Kotaiah Sweets specialty is Kaja which has become worldwide famous in the later years. People always remember Kotaiah Kaja when they think about Kakinada or East Godavari district.

Kotaiah Kaja Proprietor Chittipeddi Ram Kumar, speaking to 'The Hans India' here on Friday, said that Kotaiah Kaja is also called as Kakinada Kaja. "With the rich experience of our five generations, we offer the cleanest and the best quality products produced by using the most modern technology to suit the contemporary taste," he said.

He said that there were three outlets in Kakinada and one outlet in Rajamahendravaram run by the family. He said that they use high quality raw ingredients to prepare these sweets.

"Our team of skilled professionals is engaged in extensive research to prepare these colorful and eye-catching sweets with delicious taste for the sweet-tooth connoisseurs," he says with a twinkle in his eyes.

He said that they are three types of Kaja available in the market—Sugarless, Ghee Kaja and Mini Kaja. These are transported to various States across the country. The juicy Kotaiah Kaja with nearly 130 years of history has won a rare distinction when the Department of Posts released a special cover recognising its specialty.