Demand reduces for ellu bella and sakkare acchu as consumers become health conscious

People shopping for Makar Sankranti essentials at Gandhi Bazaar on Sunday.
| Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR

A few years ago, making ellu bella (a mixture of sesame seeds, jaggery, and groundnuts) was an integral part of Makar Sankranti festivities in many households. But, with the increasing cost of materials and the lack of time to prepare the mixture, many buy the mixture outside along with sakkare acchu (sugar candy). This year around, regular sellers have noticed a dip in their sales.

While many sellers also preferred to make ellu bella and sakkare acchus at their homes and sell them, off late even they are buying from wholesale markets owing to decreased demand and increased prices of materials.

Mohammed Basha of M.M. Condiments and Dry Fruits, at a market near HAL, said that he now chooses to buy ellu bella and sakkare acchu from K.R. Market and has stopped manufacturing it. “The cost of making these items has become too high. Labour charges and ingredient prices have skyrocketed. Dried coconut used to cost ₹180 per kg, but now it’s ₹300. White sesame is around ₹300 to ₹400 per kg, and jaggery which used to cost around ₹40 to ₹50 per kg has touched almost ₹100 per kg,” he explained.

He also mentioned that while he previously used to sell 500 kg of sakkare acchu alone, now he stocks just 100 kg of ellu bella and 100 kg of sakkere acchu. “I still get around 500 customers everyday but many have cut down on their consumption of these items owing to health concerns,” Mr. Bhasha said.

People shopping for Makar Sankranti essentials at Gandhi Bazaar on Sunday.
| Photo Credit:
K. MURALI KUMAR

While ellu bella sells at around ₹150 to ₹160 per kg in various markets, the price of sakkare acchu ranges between ₹150 and ₹200 per kg depending on the designs.

Manu of Sri Laxmi Srinivasa Homemade Condiments in Malleswaram continues to make both ellu bella and sakkare acchu at home. “I use sugar and milk to prepare sakkare acchu, shaping them into horses, elephants, and rings in colours like yellow, pink, orange, and white. This year, I’ve reduced production to 200 kg of sakkare acchu and 300 kgs of ellu bella because more people are buying online,” he said. His stock of 200 to 300 kg sells out within seven days, attracting 200 customers daily.

Suresh from Sree Prabhakara stores, also in Malleswaram, said that customers now prefer colourless versions of sugar candies and jaggery for health reasons.

People thronging K.R. Market on the eve of Makar Sankranti in Bengaluru on Sunday.
| Photo Credit:
K. MURALI KUMAR

Most customers have a preferred store to buy their yearly ellu bella and sakkare acchu. Asha Prakash, a resident of Banashankari, said: “I used to make sakkare acchu at home, but it has become too tedious. While prices in the market have increased, I still buy them because these sweets are an essential part of the ritual.”