Say two words, ‘Multan’ and ‘winter’ in front of a foodie, and the next thing you hear will definitely be ‘Sohan Halwah’.

Sohan Halwah is to winter what mangoes are to summer, except it is not limited just to the winters. This famous mithai which has come to be the defining symbol of Multan is distributed all over the city (and even country) any time of the year.

The love with which it is prepared, packed, and presented to customers embodies the traditional hospitality of the people of Multan. When winters are just round the corner, customers prepare entire lists of people the halwah is to be sent to.

According to poet and historian Shakir Hussain Shakir, the tradition of sending Sohan Halwah to family members in other parts of the country and the world started when their daughters married into other cities.

Shakir says that Sohan Halwah used to be prepared inside homes. The item was commercialised only recently. Even today, Multan's residents continue to prepare it in homes and present it to guests at supper.