The two things that embody Natore better than anything else, is the poem Banalata Sen by Jibanananda Das and the Kachagolla which has withstood the test of time owing to its utterly delicious taste.
The amusing fact about Kachagolla is that, unlike the Roshgolla, it’s not round in shape or has any shape for that matter. It’s chhena (cheese curds made from milk) soaked in sheera or sugar syrup which is then evaporated, a simple and yet brilliant process.
The story behind the discovery of this sweet dairy product goes back two and a half centuries, when Natore was once ruled by powerful Zamindars.
According to legend, Queen Bhabani also known as the 'Queen of Natore' during the British colonial era was ruling over half of the Bengal province. She had a fondness for sweets and so she had a sweet maker named Modhusudan Das from nearby Lalbazar region supply her with sweets.
One day, Modhusudan’s some 20 employees fell ill and about 80kg of chhena sitting in his shop, intended for the queen, was about to go bad.
In an attempt to save the chhena from going bad, he poured some sheera, and kept stirring it on heat. As the syrup soon evaporated, upon tasting it he was amazed to find his creation to be quite delicious.
Queen Bhabani thoroughly impressed by the taste, commended Modhusudan and asked him what it was called. Modhusudan then named it Kachagolla, as it was made from kacha chenna (unripened cheese curd).
Queen Bhabani then started greeting all her guests with Kachagolla and began sending it to royalties all over the Indian subcontinent and even in Britain.
Nowadays, Kachagolla is admired by all at home and abroad, and the popular recipe was adopted by many.