THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT COOK-IES. They make you immediately nos-talgic and bring back memories of the good old days. It must be the aroma of the crisp buttery somethings that evokes pleas-ant associations. Time was when cookies were reserved for special occasions like Christmas holidays or birthdays. Today, cookies are a part of our daily staple, thanks to the presence of innumerable brands competing for a share in the cookie market. So, gone are those days of the baker with an apron tied around his waist, fretting over flour and butter. As competition hots up, the demand for cookies has almost doubled in the last five years. Says Ravish Arora, director, Invenue Hospitality, which owns the chain Baker’s Basket in Pune: “To-day, people are going in for fancy and healthy cookies, made of wholewheat, bran and oats. In fact, cookies have become a part of our lifestyle.”

The market is flooded with a variety of cookies. Chocolate-chip, ginger, cherry-chocolate and Australian cookies are some of the most popular varieties. The Biscotti, crisp Italian cookies, traditionally flavoured with anise, are also quite the rage. The American Ex-press Bakery lo-cated in Bandra, Mumbai, dips these cookies in wine to lend them an exotic touch.

“The generally hard tex-ture of the Biscotti makes it ideal for dipping in wine or coffee,” says Ross Tarvalho of the American Express Bak-ery. Such is the popularity of this 80-year-old bakery that renowned clubs and hospitals like Prince Ali Khan Hospital order their cookies from here.

The rise of cookies has seen a decline in the popularity of wrapped biscuits. Jalalud-din Dawoodani of Cakes & Cookies, Bandra says: “The concept of freshly baked things has caught people’s imagination. So, even though these items are slightly costly, they don’t mind paying as quality is assured.”

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