Bebinca: A search for Goa's 'queen of desserts' | The Great Indian Food Story | BBC News India

A bebinca is a multi-layered dessert found primarily in Goa, India's most popular beach destination. It's supposed to be one of the culinary stars of the Goan cuisine during Christmas, Easter and family weddings. But what's the story behind this sweet? The BBC's Nikita Mandhani travelled to Goa to find out more about the bebinca and to try this caramelised sweet for the first time.
Video by Bimal Thankachan and Nikita Mandhani
#bebinca #goafood #christmas #christmasdesserts
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[@BABA-GOMI]

The best Bebinca comes from South goa. In a quaint "gado" or street shop opposite the Margao Garden, in the vicinity of the Old bus Stand, behind the Margao Branch of the SBI, is Frankie's Gado in line with numerous other knick knack shops. Franky sells the 12 layered home made Bebinca, which one must parcel and take away. Keep it refrigerated and have it cold , i like it that way, or, from the fridge, heat it to 30s microwave and your good to go. It lasts for upto a month silver foiled in the side shelf of your fridge.

[@jehgelo]

It’s similar to Philippine’s rice cake called Bibingka

[@atticthehattrick]

People who have stayed for 20 years are not necessarily real Goans or their descendants. So very likely they haven't heard of it. In fact most people in Goa have no inkling of Goan customs or just half idea of what Goan food is assuming that it's just fish based. Take for example sorpotel or aadmass or solantule etc We Goans know these things because to our grandmothers during our childhood this was household stuff not the commercialized stuff you feed on now.

[@exoticgringo]

Ah you went to the best sources 😁 Chef Peter and Odette are legends!

[@fcsolis]

In the Philippines there is a coconut and sticky rice cake called bibingka. I don't think bebinca is Portuguese in origin. I think it originated in India and spread throughout the world by South Asian sea traders. Thank you.

[@TanuSanyal]

When I first time tried it, I fell in love with it immediately. ❤

[@BABA-GOMI]

THANK YOU BBC

[@boeingpameesha9550]

Thank you for sharing, good great news.

[@bbcnewsindia]

Thanks for watching and commenting. Please share this video with others and find some fresh bebinca like we did ;)

[@Vijayzasto]

English subtitles add

[@nevillelamech9917]

Actually, there is strong evidence suggesting that is originates from "kuih bingka". Kuih bingka is a sweet malay delicacy from Malacca. It's believed that the Portuguese traders from melaka brought it over there

[@atticthehattrick]

Pronounced as Bibic not Bebinka

[@storyspeakingtree]

A taxi driver who's living in Goa for 20 years doesn't know wht bibinca is, like a south Indian who says he doesn't know what masala dosa is! 😂 what an .......

[@atticthehattrick]

Obviously because the taxi driver is a South Indian or a Maharashtrian. Goans don't drive taxis, they generally have migrated or own their own cars.

[@BABA-GOMI]

@@atticthehattrick True Joel bab. Thank God you didn't say the G word. 😅😅😅😅

[@petulad3004]

Thts because in the last 20 years people from Karnataka, Andhra, Bihar and UP have migrated there as daily wagers or to work in the tourism biz. Driving taxis is part of the tourist biz. Goans have either migrated or given up driving taxis as a biz.

[@gilbertcaetano]

Bebinca was always made with ghee n not butter.

[@akashbapat-fr5it]

Well I must say by looking at her attire she won't look like Goan looking

[@canucksunlimited87]

2:55 just stuff it inside your mouth and a huge gulp. What all the drama about?

[@prabalpanda0786]

Then it wouldn't be enough Indian. 😂

[@brozz837]

That's what I said to my GF

[@Sophialatha]

How weired !! The Sri Lankans have a dessert called Bibikan...and its Portuguese influenced BUT its TOTALLY different .

[@RituSingh-ii2lq]

Sorry this didn't taste good at all😮

[@atticthehattrick]

Not meant for all taste buds. It's the queen of Goan sweets! Maybe you didn't source it from the right places. It tastes different from different sources.

[@reena4499]

Its alright love Goa has lots of other sweets to try. Im being a native do not like bebinca and its not for everyone's tatse buds.

[@reena4499]

Its alright love Goa has lots of other sweets to try. Im being a native do not like bebinca and its not for everyone's tatse buds.

[@abhishekpeddibhotla]

Nothing that came from or by Portuguese is Goan. Goan is in India.

[@mygoawithmathewalmeida3357]

We don't want non Goans to tell us our history

[@abhishekpeddibhotla]

And how do you know if I was not a one..??​@@mygoawithmathewalmeida3357

[@abhishekpeddibhotla]

@@mygoawithmathewalmeida3357 We don't want Goans to assume that everyone except Portuguese converts are non Goans.

[@mygoawithmathewalmeida3357]

@@abhishekpeddibhotla conversion does not make me non Goan...but makes the greedy insecure......I would never prefer a non Goan telling me a Goan what's my history is when I know it better....we fought for our identity without anyone helping us....don't try to legitimise your rights.....

[@atticthehattrick]

​@@abhishekpeddibhotla That implies you want to assume you are Goan too.... hah