How to make Bulto, a Sweet and Chewy Toffee from Old Times
Bulto is a sweet and chewy toffee that was very popular during the 1960s and 1970s. Although many people haven't heard of Bulto, the older generation will remember this sweet and the famous jingle from when it was on TV. This toffee is hard at first and it becomes chewier and stickier as you keep chewing it. In the old days, Bulto only cost 5 cents.
Bulto was stored in big jars in flea markets. It eventually faded into history as more colorful sweets entered the market however it is still popular in village areas.
This Bulto is made without adding any preservatives or artificial colors. We are using Black Tea and Plain Coffee to get the correct color. Most modern store bought Bulto often has artificial colors.
If you like sweets, you will want to try my other Sri Lankan sweets such as Pol Toffee or Musket.
Ingredients
- 1 Grated Coconut
- Coconut Water from 2 Coconuts
- 500g of Sugar
- 3 tbsp of prepared Black Tea
- 2 tbsp of prepared Plain Coffee
- Salt
- Juice from some chopped Ginger (you can also add chopped Ginger instead)
- 50g of All Purpose Flour
- Some Vanilla Extract
- Some Sesame Seeds
Instructions
- Add 1 Grated Coconut into a blender.
- Add the Coconut Water from 2 Coconuts.
- Blend this mixture and set it aside.
- Heat a saucepan over medium heat.
- Add 500g of Sugar.
- Melt the Sugar until it is a golden color (you don't need to melt it completely).
- Add 3 tbsp of prepared Black Tea.
- Add 2 tbsp of prepared Plain Coffee.
- Keep stirring frequently.
- Add some Salt.
- Add the blended Coconut Milk.
- Keep stirring frequently.
- Add the juice from some chopped Ginger (you can also just add chopped Ginger).
- Keep stirring frequently.
- After a couple of minutes, if you added chopped Ginger, remove them.
- Meanwhile, heat another pot and add 2 tbsp of Sugar.
- When the Sugar is starting to melt, add some Water.
- Stir until all of the Sugar has melted.
- Add 50g of All Purpose Flour.
- Mix the Flour mixture until you get a paste consistency. Be sure to stir the Bulto mixture frequently while making this Flour mixture.
- Add the Flour mixture into the Bulto mixture.
- Stir frequently until all of the Flour mixture is mixed in and there are no clumps remaining.
- Keep stirring frequently. It took us almost 1 hour to get the correct consistency.
- Now add some Sesame Seeds.
- Keep stirring frequently until you get a thick paste.
- To check if the Bulto mixture is the correct consistency, add some of it to the back of a spoon. If you can shape it into a ball, then it is ready.
- Rub some Coconut Oil on 2 baking trays.
- Pour the Bulto mixture into one baking tray.
- Add some All Purpose Flour to both baking trays.
- Now pull the Bulto mixture into the second baking tray like a rope.
- Roll and then pull some more Bulto mixture like a rope.
- Then use a scissor to cut the Bulto rope into smaller pieces according to the length you like.
- Use candy wrappers to store the Bulto in. You can also use parchment paper cut into small squares.
Photos
