Mangaluru: After several ice creams were launched by Mangaluru’s own ice cream producing company, Ideal Ice Creams, another new product from them revives the old memories of old folks in the city. “Bella Candy” from Ideal Ice Creams is making the rounds on social media sites as every Mangalorean is going gaga over it.
Bella Candy (jaggery ice candy on a stick) was being served cold to Mangaloreans back in the early 70s to 90s. During those days, one can recollect children running out of their homes on a Sunday when they hear the bell of Bella Candy vendors doing rounds in their turf on 28-inch frame Hero Jet cycles. Mukund Kamath, the proprietor of Ideal Ice Creams realised the importance of this cycle in bringing out old memories and added it prominently on the candy wrapper.
It has been two days since Ideal released this candy in the market and it has surely got every Mangalorean craving for it. “It all began two years ago when my father told me to explore Bella Candy. For the past six months, we have been making our close group of friends and family taste this product and we received good feedback”, Mukund said.
Mukund Kamath and his father with Ideal’s Bella candy
“During the school days of the 80s, Bella Candy was selling like hot cakes among kids but in the course of time, the delicacy vanished from the market. The organised sector did not take interest in manufacturing it again. Now that Bella Candy is released again with a retro theme of packaging, we aim at appealing to the nostalgia of people”, Mukund mentioned while speaking about re-introducing Bella Candy in the market.
Speaking to News Karnataka about attracting people of all age groups with this product, Mukund Kamath said, “The product is specially introduced for the middle and old age groups but since candy is a child’s savoury, we are not depriving the present day children of the pleasure of eating Bella Candy. Followers of Ideal Ice Creams page on Facebook have expressed their happiness and excitement regarding Bella Candy and I am so glad to see it.”
Speaking about Bella Candy pouch manufactured by Star Flex Laminators, owner of the Laminators Bharathi Shetty said, “We have been making candy pouched for Ideal Ice Cream for a long time. We have printed this particular product with matte finish to complement its retro theme.” The pouch however was designed by the team at Mangalore’s own designers, Rangoli Digitals.
Ganesh Nayak, an ice cream aficionado said that the demand for Bella Candy is skyrocketing as it was out of stock in few dealership outlets. “There was always a question about hygiene of Bella Candy during the olden days, but now we can definitely trust Ideal’s products when it comes to such matters. My little daughter has tried the product and she liked it just as much as I did”, he said out of enthusiasm.
Ganesh Nayak and his daughter tasting the bella candy
In the recent past, Mukund introduced the people of Mangaluru to “Jackfruit Payasa” flavour of ice cream which received great response since it not only tasted good, but also invoked memories of the yesteryears among Mangaloreans. Bella Candy is purely made of jaggery without the use of sugar, artificial flavours or colours. Mukund has packed a little punch in this product as there is a commendable undertaste of honey and coconut.
