Leibak Hawai Heingan - Manipuri Groundnut Sweet

Name: Leibak Hawai Heingan - Manipuri Groundnut Sweet
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Manipuri
Ingredients: 1 cup - Groundnuts (Leibak Hawai); 1 ½ cup - Jaggery; 1/4 cup - Water

Discover Leibak Hawai Heingan, a traditional Manipuri sweet made with roasted groundnuts and caramelized sugar. A crunchy, nostalgic treat enjoyed during festivals and family gatherings.

Image: lukthel

Dessert

Keto-Friendly

Jaggery

Meetei

Snack

Manipuri

One Pan

Leibak Hawai Heingan - Manipuri Groundnut Sweet

Saturday, June 6, 2026 2:39:34 PM GMT By : Lukthel /

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Discover Leibak Hawai Heingan, a traditional Manipuri sweet made with roasted groundnuts and caramelized sugar. A crunchy, nostalgic treat enjoyed during festivals and family gatherings.

3 Ingredients
30 Mins
6 People

Leibak Hawai Heingan is a sweet and crunchy Manipuri delicacy made by embedding roasted groundnuts in caramelized sugar slabs.
Traditionally shaped into rounds or rectangles, it is cherished during festivals and rituals. Beyond its cultural role, it holds nostalgic value—many recall childhood memories of savoring its nutty flavor while leaving the sugary slab behind. This treat embodies the simplicity and warmth of Manipuri culinary heritage.
Leibak Hawai Heingan is a crunchy Manipuri groundnut sweet that pairs beautifully with unsweetened black tea, balancing the nutty richness with the tea’s bold flavor. To keep its texture intact, store the sweet in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
Beyond taste, this traditional treat offers health benefits: groundnuts are rich in protein and healthy fats, while jaggery provides iron and minerals that support energy and digestion. Together, they make Leibak Hawai Heingan not just a nostalgic festival delight but also a wholesome snack option.
Leibak Hawai Heingan, in the market, is often found paired with Thoiding Kangshubi, another cherished Manipuri delicacy that blends the nutty richness of black sesame seeds with the deep sweetness of molasses. These traditional treats are commonly found at the Ima markets and sold by elderly village women (bobok, or grandmothers) in rural areas — usually under the shade of a large banyan tree. That’s where nostalgia lives, evoking childhood memories of simple joys and homemade sweets.
Before packaged snacks and bakery items became popular, parents and elders would bring home Thoiding Kangshubi, Leibak Hawai Heingan, or Kabok for their children. Today, these sweets have evolved into prestigious snacks, proudly served to chief guests, guests of honour, and foreign delegates at cultural programs and community functions.
You’ll never regret tasting this Heingan — a delightful harmony of flavors and a shining example of the creativity and resourcefulness of Manipuri cuisine.
Have you ever tried any other traditional sweets or snacks from Manipur? If so, I’d love to hear about your favorites!

Leibak Hawai Heingan - Manipuri Groundnut Sweet

Preparation Time
10 minutes

Cook Time
20 minutes

Total Time
30 minutes

Servings
6 servings

Ingredients
3 ingredients

Directions
6 steps

Ingredients

Primary

	1 cup - Groundnuts (Leibak Hawai)
	1 ½ cup - Jaggery
	1/4 cup - Water

Directions

1 Roast the Groundnuts
Dry roast groundnuts until golden and aromatic. Remove skins if desired.
2 Caramelize Sugar
Heat sugar in a pan with a small amount of water until it melts and turns golden brown thick syrup. Take out the froth from the upper layer.
3 Check Consistency
Boil until the syrup reaches the soft-ball stage (a drop of hot boiled jaggery in cold water forms a soft ball).
4 Add groundnuts
Quickly stir in roasted groundnuts, mixing well so they are evenly coated. Cool down for 10 minutes; stir occasionally.
5 Shape the sweet
Pour the mixture onto a greased tray. Flatten with a spatula and cut into round or rectangular shapes while warm.
6 Cool and serve
Allow to cool completely. Break into pieces and serve crunchy Leibak Hawai Heingan.