Nahoum & Sons

Nahoum & Sons

Formation	1902 (1902)
Type	Bakery
Location	F-20, New Market, Kolkata, India
Coordinates	22.5602866°N 88.3530294°E / 22.5602866; 88.3530294

Nahoum & Sons Pvt. Limited (Bengali: নাহুম অ্যান্ড সন্স প্রাইভেট লিমিটেড) is an Indian bakery shop situated in West Bengal. It is one of the oldest surviving shops in Kolkata owned by the Jewish family.^[1] The products of Nahoum & Sons at Christmas are a part of the culture of Kolkata.^[2] Various famous personalities of India have eaten from this bakery.^[3]

History

Nahoum Israel Mordecai was a Baghdadi Jew who was the founder of the shop. It was founded 26 years after the establishment of New Market in the city.^[4] The Hog Market could be seen from the front of the shop. He changed the location of the shop 14 years after the establishment of the bakery.^[5] His son Elias took the responsibility of the shop from second generation. After his death in 1964 his son David Nahoum from third generation of the family took up the responsibility to manage the shop.^[6][7] His brothers Norman and Solomon had the responsibility of store at various times.^[8] After death of David in 2013, his brother Issac took the responsibility.^[9]

Ownership

• First generation: Nahoum Israel Mordecai^[4]
• Second generation: Elias Nahoum^[9]
• Third generation: Norman Elias Nahoum, Solomon Elias Nahoum,^[8] David Elias Nahoum (1964–2013), Issac Elias Nahoum (2013–present)^[9]

Products

Nahoum & Sons offers:^[10][11]

• Biscuit
• Egg chap
• Pantras
• Macron cake
• Brownie cake
• Fragrant marzipan-fudge cake
• Plain cake Madeira
• Honey Light plum cake
• Royal special fruit cake
• Plum Pudding cake
• Rich plum cake
• Black forest cake
• Pizza
• Minced pie tart
• Cheese Samosa
• Baklava
• Challah
• Rum balls
• Cheese puffs.

Legend

It is said that Geoffrey Fisher once visited the bakery in Kolkata, India. The archbishop of Canterbury ate the fruit cake of the shop and praised it.^[8] Although this story is considered as a legend.^[12]

References

1. Sunder, Kalpana (18 January 2020). "Of Mishti, Mughals and Noodles: A history of Kolkata's street food". Forbes India.
2. Gomes, Lygeia (24 December 2021). "Long queues back at Nahoum's for its Christmas cakes". The Telegraph.
3. "Nahoum's, Kolkata's last Jewish bakery, still rules foodies' hearts (Foodie Tail-Kolkata)". Business Standard India. 30 September 2015.
4. "The last Jewish bakery of Kolkata". Indian Times. 12 April 2021.
5. "Nahoum's loses its man behind the till". The Telegraph. 8 April 2013.
6. S Sharma, Mihir (3 April 2010). "O Calcutta!". The Indian Express.
7. "শয্যাশায়ী, কল্পনাতেই শহর দেখেন নাহুম". Ei Samay Sangbadpatra (in Bengali). 20 December 2012.
8. Lobo, Christabel (25 December 2020). "This 118-year-old Jewish bakery in India is a hit at Christmas time". The Times of Israel.
9. "Nahoum's owner dies, bakery lives on". The Times of India. 8 March 2013.
10. Basu, Rriju (30 December 2018). "নাহুমের সুগন্ধে বুঁদ বর্ষশেষ". Anandabazar Patrika (in Bengali).
11. Nandi, Kathakali (23 December 2017). "All that is left of the Jewish community in Kolkata: Two synagogues, a cemetery, two schools & a bakery". The Economic Times.
12. Dey, Sohini (6 April 2017). "A Jewish Bakery Has Been Making Kolkata's Favourite Cakes for Over 100 Years!". The Better India.