Fatehpur peda stall at UPITS
He received an order to supply 200 kg of peda to an Italian company, Domenico Percoco. Assistant agricultural marketing officer (Prayagraj division) Dinesh Chandra said three traders of Malwan peda from Fatehpur participated in the UP International Trade Show under the ODOP scheme and generated sales of over Rs 6 lakh during the five-day event. The application for the GI tag was filed in June 2025. The mandatory waiting period has already elapsed, and a final hearing was held in June 2026, during which no objections were raised.
Stay updated with the latest Prayagraj news.
Sohanlal Gupta, proprietor of Malwan ka Sohan Peda, said the trade show delivered what generations of his family had only dreamt of. Historian and former Allahabad University faculty member Dr Heramb Chaturvedi said the origins of peda are widely associated with Mathura, where condensed milk solids, or mawa, have traditionally been offered to Lord Krishna. Mohanlal Gupta, who ran a tea stall in Malwan, began making peda from surplus milk left over after preparing tea, according to local accounts. Gupta said Malwan peda is known for its purity, distinctive earthy aroma and rich taste. At the same time, the sweet is also moving closer to securing a Geographical Indication (GI) tag,” he said. Officials said there is a strong possibility that Malwan peda will receive the GI tag this year. Shubham, a representative of Mahesh Peda, said Yogi Adityanath govt provided traders with free stalls at the trade show under the ODOC scheme.
Prayagraj : Products from small towns of Uttar Pradesh are increasingly finding a place in international markets, and Fatehpur’s famed Malwan peda has now joined the list. A local trader has secured an export order from Italy after showcasing the traditional sweet at the recently concluded UP International Trade Show under the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme. Domenico Percoco is a renowned Italian food joint, celebrated primarily for its traditional flavours and cuisine. It is also popular for serving Italian-style pizzas, sandwiches, fries and other snacks. The development marks a significant milestone for the sweet, which is among Uttar Pradesh’s many distinctive regional varieties of peda that enjoy popularity among food enthusiasts for their unique flavours and preparation methods. Before refrigeration became commonplace, surplus milk was slow-cooked for hours to produce khoya or mawa, preventing spoilage. Sugar and cardamom were then mixed into the thickened milk to create the flattened sweet known as peda. The story of Malwan peda dates back to the 1960s. Over time, the sweet gained popularity and evolved into three prominent brands: Mohan Peda, Sohan Peda and Mahesh (Ganesh) Peda. Unlike conventional pedas made from prepared mawa, sugar is added directly to raw milk sourced from local dairy farmers. The milk is simmered for hours until it develops its characteristic flavour, after which green cardamom is added. Sugar is used sparingly to preserve the sweet’s natural aroma. The pedas are also significantly larger than standard varieties. “However, the most significant achievement is that the path has now been cleared for export of Malwan peda to Italy. He added that a GI tag would simplify export-related procedures and help the traditional sweet reach global markets. Download the TOI App.