By Rajlakshmi Dastidar
Updated:Nov 28, 2025
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Generations of fruitcakes have been anchored by Aligarh butter, the pale unsalted pillar of Kolkata’s Christmas recipes. It was originally shipped from Uttar Pradesh, but it is currently primarily shipped from Bihar, and its taste and customs linger. Families swarm Hogg Market for blocks or little rolls every December, sustaining the city’s cheerful baking rituals and romantic familiarity.
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With mounds of candied peels catching the light, cherries shining like little ornaments, raisins measured out for family recipes, and spice blends whose perfume instantly communicates that winter in Kolkata has finally come, the entire space is alive with festive excitement. A block of unsalted white butter, which residents talk about with unexpected passion, is something many first-time visitors are surprised to find hidden among these bright necessities. This is the renowned Aligarh butter, a subtle mainstay of the city’s Christmas baked goods. Want to know what Aligarh butter is, and its interesting links to the city of joy? Read on to know more.
Tracking Down Aligharh Butter In Modern Kolkata
No other city seems to be able to preserve its traditions as well as Kolkata does. While most home bakers moved on and store shelves were lined with branded white butters, a few obstinate parts of the city secretly continued the traditional practices.
The original-style Aligarh butter, which is sold in solid blocks or tiny 100 gram rolls, is still only available in two or three stores in Hogg Market. The seasonal fluctuations in prices, which range from INR 300 to INR 400 per kg, haven’t discouraged the loyal.
Every year, come December, families thread their way through the city’s chaos, driven by a ritual as much as a recipe to find that familiar block of butter that makes their Christmas cakes taste not just good, but like Kolkata itself—warm, comforting, rooted in heritage.
Dining and Cooking