Or one thing which you could never think of; yet its so much part of you. Those which you never forget to have with your tea, coffee or milk.....Pune's  Shrewsbury biscuits, what else!!

 Shrewsbury biscuitsits are the most  famous delicacies of this city. Packed in familiar, square, patterned, cardboard boxes they are sold out in a few minutes everyday. People fight over them, there are near stampedes in the anxiety to get hold of at least one of those precious boxes. If you pass by at that critical time when the batch comes out of the oven you will wonder what event has occurred to create such excitement. Residents of Pune love to indulge in this amazing speciality. Almost all visitors who come to Pune from Bombay have to take back gifts of one of its specialities....and what could be more special than  Shrewsbury biscuits. Many people from this city only; don't know why so many people from other parts of this country come to Pune. Majority of people coming here are basically here for these biscuits. Many people order these biscuits from distant places. No wonder, no city is so famous not only in the country but abroad as well for its biscuits. But very strangely and ironically, these biscuits are not originated here....but in abroad?

Shrewsbury is a town with a long history and is famous for a particular type of biscuit. Shrewsbury biscuits were first documented in the 1500s. The ingredients used at this time are unknown, but the cakes were renowned for their texture, being crisp and brittle. One of the better-known recipes was by Palin in 1819. The original was very hard indeed so the modern recipe is a softer version to suit our current tastes. Palin of Shrewsbury was renowned for his particular mix of  Shrewsbury biscuits. The Britisher's brought these biscuits to India during there reign; and made people here to learn them bake.

Shrewsbury biscuits were integral part of their breakfast or snacks, so they wanted people here to learn their making and make fresh biscuits for them regularly. It's also very interesting that people who started making  Shrewsbury biscuits in India were basically Zoroastrians or Iranians. They opened up their bakeries here, and started baking these biscuits even more perfectly than back in England.

Royal Bakery was the first in India to make  Shrewsbury biscuits. It initially was in Lonawala during British Era, but later on came to Pune city, where it became even more popular. Its popularity among locals was not much initially, as we Indians are never biscuit eaters traditionally; but later on in Pune city these biscuits gained popularity among locals as well.

Today,  Pune city has numerous other bakeries baking these biscuits in different ways. It's a real delight for the people of Pune. Locals consume then as the integral part of their diet.

It's very fascinating to know that these Biscuits have no complicated preparations or ingredients in it. They don't put any special or secret ingredient to these biscuits.

They are made up of ordinary butter, sugar and flour and that's it!! The famous  Shrewsbury biscuits are also baked in this oven, morning and evening, one loading being 40 large baking trays. Parvez Iranian, owner Kayani Bakery; tells me they make around 200 kilos of these

 Shrewsbury biscuits are eaten and liked by people from all ages and cultures in Pune. They have become the brand identity of pune, no doubt. It has brought the name of Pune very prominent on the face of the world. It is also very interesting that these biscuits are bought majorly for gifting others. It's become a tradition to gift  Shrewsbury biscuits  Shrewsbury biscuits to friends, Family or relatives.

Traditionally these biscuits were known as ‘Soul biscuits'. And in those days a very famous saying was prominent among people which go like this:

"A soul-biscuit, a soul-biscuit, please,
good missus, a soul-cake.
One for Peter, two for Paul,
three for Him who saved us all."

I think this saying still stand true for all of us who delight in these Soul Biscuits even today.