Christmas was an exciting time in our Goan family. When Nannie Grace was alive, making and distributing Kuswar, - our traditional Goan Christmas sweets - was a cherished ritual she shared with Grandad Narciso. After she passed away, Dad wanted his grandchildren to remember this much-loved Goan tradition, so he took it upon himself to make the Kuswar.
Come December, our Delhi Rd kitchen came alive with bags of flour, mounds of sugar, grated coconut, and fine semolina. With endless patience, Dad lovingly crafted each sweet; delicate coconut neureos, deftly curled kulkuls, golden sugar-dusted angel wings, melt-in-your-mouth homemade toffee, and rich, diamond-shaped gram doce.
Once finished, these sweet treasures were carefully packed into large, empty ghee tubs, ready to be distributed to family, neighbours and close friends.