Types of Imli Candy: Desi Imli vs Imli Laddu vs Manchali vs Imli Stick

Indomade Desi Candy Blog

Ask five people about their favourite imli candy and you will get five different answers. Some swear by soft, sticky imli straight from the jar; others remember the little sugar-dusted laddus, or the imli lollipop sold outside the school gate. All of them start with the same thing – tamarind – but taste and feel quite different. Here is a simple guide to the main types of imli candy and how to choose one.

What is imli candy?

Imli is the Hindi word for tamarind, the sour brown fruit pod used across Indian cooking. Imli candy takes tamarind pulp and balances its sourness with sugar or jaggery, and often a little salt and masala. The result is the famous khatta meetha (sour-sweet) taste, sometimes with a chatpata (spicy-tangy) kick.

1. Desi Imli – soft, real-imli taste

This is imli in its simplest form: soft tamarind with a rounded sweetness. It tastes closest to eating the fruit itself – a bold tangy hit first, then a gentle sweetness and a chatpata finish. Our Desi Imli comes in a 125g jar and is made with no refined sugar and no artificial colour.

Best for: true imli lovers who want the real, sour taste.

2. Imli Laddu – sugar-dusted imli balls

Imli laddu (also spelt imli ladoo) rolls tamarind and chatpata masala into small soft balls and dusts them with sugar. You get sweetness first, then a burst of tangy imli, then a masaledar kick. Indomade Imli Laddu is made in-house in small batches and comes in a 220g jar.

Best for: people who like their imli a little sweeter and spicier, and for sharing after meals.

3. Manchali Imli – individually wrapped candies

Wrapped imli candies are the easiest to carry – they stay fresh in a pocket, handbag or lunch box. Manchali Imli starts sweet and fruity, then turns tangy with a light hint of spice. It comes in a 150g jar.

Best for: office desks, travel and anyone who wants imli on the go.

4. Imli Stick – the imli lollipop

The imli stick is the one many of us bought from glass jars outside school: tangy imli on a stick, sweet, sour and spicy in every lick. Indomade Imli Stick is handmade in small batches, individually wrapped, and comes as a pack of 40.

Best for: kids' tiffins, return-gift bags and pure nostalgia.

Quick comparison

Type	Texture	Taste	Pack
Desi Imli	Soft	Most tangy, real tamarind	125g jar
Imli Laddu	Soft balls, sugar-dusted	Sweet, then tangy and masaledar	220g jar
Manchali Imli	Wrapped candy	Sweet-tangy with light spice	150g jar
Imli Stick	Lollipop	Sweet, sour and spicy	40 sticks

Can't decide? Try them all

The Imli Lovers Pack (₹599) has all four – Desi Imli, Imli Laddu, Manchali Imli and Imli Stick – so you can find your favourite. Imli also pairs well with other classics: try the Desi Imli & Masala Aam Papad Combo or the Churan Sticks & Desi Imli Combo. See every option in our Imli Treats collection.

How to store imli candy

Keep the jar tightly closed in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight. In humid weather, soft imli and laddus can get sticky, so close the lid straight after use.