How to identify fake khoya this Diwali: Simple ways to avoid adulteration in sweets
This Diwali, ensure your festive sweets are pure and safe by learning how to identify fake khoya. Adulterated khoya often contains starch, detergent, or synthetic ingredients that can harm your health. Discover simple at-home tests and expert tips to spot impurities and keep your celebrations deliciously authentic.
New Delhi: As Diwali approaches, homes across India start smelling of the fresh aroma of sweet and ghee-laden desserts, from the rich barfis to creamy ras malais. Each home prepares fresh batches of festive mithais to celebrate the grand gesture of offering them to the gods and goddesses and later distributing them among the guests or family members.
At the heart of most Indian mithais lies Khoya, an essential ingredient that is used to prepare mithais. However, amid the rising demand of Khoya and festive rush, adulterated food choices become a trend and are followed regularly by many sellers in the market and even selling sweets that are prepared with adulterated or fake khoya and paneer.
It becomes a task to ensure the purity of khoya, not only for spiritual purposes but also to avoid health risks. With the rise in demand, you cannot stop buying mithais or preparing them at home using khoya; instead, you can follow a few steps or tests that can help you identify the fake khoya and use it wisely in your sweets or avoid taking the batch that is adulterated.
How to identify fake khoya
1. Iodine test for starch
Take a small piece of khoya and add a few drops of iodine solution. If the color turns blue or black, it indicates the presence of starch - a clear sign of adulteration. Pure khoya will show no color change.
2. The water dissolution test
Drop a small piece of khoya in a glass of warm water. Pure khoya will not dissolve completely and will leave behind a milky residue. Fake khoya often dissolves easily, showing the presence of synthetic ingredients or starch.
3. Taste and Texture check
Pure khoya tastes naturally sweet and creamy, with a soft, slightly grainy texture. Adulterated versions often taste chalky, overly sweet, or bland, and feel rubbery or dry to touch.
4. Smell Test
Real khoya gives off a fresh, milky aroma. If it smells sour, artificial, or soapy, it may contain chemicals or be past its shelf life.
These are some of the most esay yet effective eways by whcih you can check the adulteration of khoya this festive season. Avoid the use of fake khoya and celebrate festive joys with your loved ones without the risk of health or causing any irritation or allergies this Diwali 2025. Enjoy with homemade fresh batch of sweets for even sweeter celebrations.