New Delhi, Jan. 11 -- Walking through the streets of Jaipur, especially in winter, has its own charm. While the city's architecture is a delight, the pleasant weather whets the appetite. On a recent trip, I decided to dig deeper into Jaipur's mithai scene, thanks to a food walk facilitated by travel curator Breakaway in collaboration with The Kindness Meal, an initiative to preserve indigenous food cultures. The nearly three-hour-long trail, beginning near Hawa Mahal and weaving through the bylanes of Johri Bazaar and Chaura Rasta, opened up a world of lesser-known local sweets and the stories behind them.

Many of the traditional desserts, I learnt, were either born in the royal kitchens of erstwhile rulers or created as warming treats t...