Sel Roti (सेल रोटी)
- Origin: Nationwide, especially popular in hill communities.
- Description: Ring-shaped, crispy outside and soft inside sweet bread made from rice flour, milk, and sugar. Often deep-fried in ghee.
- Where to Find: Tihar festival, roadside tea shops in Kathmandu, Pokhara, and hill towns. Famous in Bhaktapur’s local bazaars.
- Vegetarian: ✅
Yomari (योमरी)
- Origin: Newar community, Kathmandu Valley.
- Description: Steamed, fish-shaped rice flour dumpling filled with jaggery and sesame seed paste.
- Where to Find: Yomari Punhi festival (Dec/Jan), Newar eateries in Patan, Bhaktapur, and Kathmandu. Some specialty cafés sell it year-round.
- Vegetarian: ✅
Lakhamari (लखमारी)
- Origin: Newar weddings and festivals.
- Description: Large, crunchy, coiled bread made from flour, sugar, and ghee. Symbol of celebration.
- Where to Find: Sweet shops in Asan, Indra Chowk, and Bhaktapur; often sold in wedding gift hampers.
- Vegetarian: ✅
Gudpak (गुडपाक)
- Origin: Hill communities, now nationwide.
- Description: Dense milk fudge with khuwa, ghee, nuts, and jaggery or sugar. Traditionally considered nutritious for postpartum mothers.
- Where to Find: Asan (Gudpak Bhandar is iconic), major sweet shops in Kathmandu.
- Vegetarian: ✅
Pustakari (पुस्तकारी)
- Origin: Nationwide, especially central hills.
- Description: Chewy, pressed sweet made from jaggery, grated coconut, and ghee.
- Where to Find: Maghe Sankranti markets, roadside stalls in Chitwan, Makwanpur, and Dolakha.
- Vegetarian: ✅
Fini Roti (फिनी रोटी)
- Origin: Terai and hill festivals.
- Description: Paper-thin, flaky, layered sweet bread made with ghee, fried, and sprinkled with sugar.
- Where to Find: Tihar markets, Terai sweet shops, and some Kathmandu bakeries in festive seasons.
- Vegetarian: ✅
Puwa (पुवा)
- Origin: Hill regions.
- Description: Sweet deep-fried batter of rice flour mixed with sugar or jaggery, often used as a ritual food offering.
- Where to Find: Mha Puja, Maghe Sankranti, and home kitchens during pujas.
- Vegetarian: ✅
Thakuwa (ठकुवा)
- Origin: Tharu & Maithili communities (Terai).
- Description: Thick, chewy sweet made from wheat flour, jaggery, and ghee, deep-fried till golden.
- Where to Find: Chhath festival markets in Terai towns like Janakpur, Birgunj, and Nepalgunj.
- Vegetarian: ✅
Anarsa (अनर्सा)
- Origin: Maithili & Tharu regions.
- Description: Rice flour sweet coated with sesame seeds and deep-fried, with a chewy center.
- Where to Find: Chhath festival stalls, Terai sweet shops, Janakpur railway bazaar.
- Vegetarian: ✅
Sisnu Ko Ladoo (सिस्नुको लड्डु)
- Origin: Mountain & hill regions.
- Description: Laddoo made from roasted nettle seeds, ghee, and jaggery — eaten for warmth in winter.
- Where to Find: Rural hill households in Rasuwa, Dolakha, Solukhumbu; sometimes in Himalayan organic product shops.
- Vegetarian: ✅
Khuwa Barfi (खुवाको बरफी)
- Origin: Nationwide adaptation with Nepali dairy style.
- Description: Dense, grainy milk fudge with cardamom and sugar, softer than Indian barfi.
- Where to Find: Tihar markets, dairy shops in Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Butwal.
- Vegetarian: ✅
Dhai (दही)
- Origin: Bhaktapur (King’s curd).
- Description: Thick, creamy yogurt traditionally set in clay pots. Sweetened for dessert.
- Where to Find: Bhaktapur’s Pottery Square, Indra Chowk’s Juju Dhau shops.
- Vegetarian: ✅
Haluwa – Millet/Buckwheat/Water Chestnut
- Origin: Hill and Himalayan communities.
- Description: Porridge-like haluwa made from millet (kodo), buckwheat (faper), or water chestnut (singada), sweetened with ghee and sugar/jaggery.
- Where to Find: Winter festivals in hill districts; homestays in high-altitude villages.
- Vegetarian: ✅
Bhatmas Ra Til Ko Ladoo (भटमास र तिलको लड्डु)
- Origin: Central hills.
- Description: Roasted soybeans and sesame seeds bound with jaggery into small laddoos.
- Where to Find: Maghe Sankranti stalls, local markets in Lamjung, Gorkha, and Dhading.
- Vegetarian: ✅
Bara – Sweet Version (बरा)
- Origin: Newar & hill communities.
- Description: Adaptation of savory lentil pancake, made sweet with jaggery in the batter.
- Where to Find: Bhaktapur Durbar Square
- Vegetarian: ✅
Chaku (चाकु)
- Origin: Kathmandu Valley, Maghe Sankranti.
- Description: Solid, chewy block of hardened molasses, sometimes stuffed with sesame seeds or nuts.
- Where to Find: Maghe Sankranti markets (Patan, Bhaktapur), winter roadside stalls.
- Vegetarian: ✅
Silam Ko Ladoo (सिलामको लड्डु)
- Origin: Tamang & Gurung communities.
- Description: Laddoo made from perilla seeds, ghee, and jaggery.
- Where to Find: Rural Tamang/Gurung villages, organic fairs in Kathmandu.
- Vegetarian: ✅
Bhatmas Gud (भटमास गुड)
- Origin: Hill regions.
- Description: Sweet roasted soybean snack coated in jaggery syrup.
- Where to Find: Winter markets, rural roadside stalls in mid-hills.
- Vegetarian: ✅
Dhido Ko Halwa (ढिडो हलुवा)
- Origin: Rural mountain areas.
- Description: Sweetened version of buckwheat dhido, cooked with ghee, milk, and sugar/jaggery.
- Where to Find: High-hill and mountain homestays, special winter events.
- Vegetarian: ✅
