Chinir saaj

Chinir Saaj aka Saaj and Chinir chaach (Bengali: চিনির সাজ, সাজ বা ছাঁচ) is a dry sugary made from sugar which was once popular in northern regions of Bangladesh.

Chinir Saaj kept for sale in a village fair at Kushtia, Bangladesh

Description

Saaj is a dry and white confection, prepared in shaping molds. This sugary is made in shapes of various animals such as: elephant, horse, fish, bird etc. Usually, some other traditional sweetmeats like Batasa, Kadma are made and sold along with saaj in different rural events and festivals, village fairs or markets of Northern Bangladesh.

History

The word saaj is believed to be derived from the Bengali word chaanch (Bengali: ছাঁচ), meaning "mold" or "shape". In Saturia, Manikganj, confectioners have been producing saaj as an ancestral trade for one and a half hundred years. It is also reported that Mymensingh was once famous for making saaj.

Recipe

Only sugar is used in making saaj. Sugar syrup is first made by burning sugar water in a specially made pot. When the sugar syrup is made, it is poured into wooden frames. These molds or frames come in various attractive shapes. After waiting to cool down in a wooden frame, the saaj is brought out. It takes about 10 minutes to make saaj from the mold.

Availability and Production

Saaj is popular as a sweet in different regions of Bangladesh. Various districts including Mymensingh, Manikganj and some other northern districts have a tradition of its production. Chinir saaj was once very popular usually in Boishakhi fair (Fair on Bengali New Year) or any other village fair.

Making saaj is a family business to its confectioners. Many have been involved in the production of saaj, batasa, kodma etc. for generations.

Profit is low in making saaj. New generations of confectioners are less interested in preparing it. Again, the wide popularity of chocolates and other confections has narrowed the scope of its production.