We tested the best jalebis in India, and found a clear winner

Whoever invented the jalebi, we want to kiss your hands. Not to be creepy, but out of devotion. For endowing us with the sticky sweet goodness. The maze runner of desserts has a special place in all Indians’ hearts as a favourite sweet dish. Whether you’re quickly gobbling them down on the side of the road on a rainy evening or wrapped up in winter wear while the syrup drips down your arm and into your sweater sleeve.

Everyone has their way of eating it. Cold as ice; piping hot and dripping in sheera; with rabri on the side, or even topping it with ice cream. There’s no wrong way. Okay, maybe the last one.

The question then is who does it best. Does chhena jalebi prove a worthy contender to the traditional jalebi? Will Mawa jalebi be the underdog to take the crown or are we all mere plebs living in the shadow of a face-sized ‘Jaleba’?

We brought in some experts to help figure it out. Chef Shipra Khanna and stand-up comedian Supriya Joshi bite into the best there is on offer. Khanna brings her expertise, as the winner of MasterChef India (season 2) and author of books like Sinfully Yours and The Spice Route, and Joshi, known by her online moniker Supaarwoman, gets her quintessential humour and relatable real-life experiences to the table for the ultimate food fight.