14/08/2026
Qulfi Wala (قلفی والا , ਕੁਲਫੀ ਵਾਲਾ)
Qulfi Wala is a street vendor who sells qulfi. As a child, the scream of “Khoey Aali” in Punjabi (کھوے آلی, ਖੋਏ ਆਲੀ) meant that we ask our grandmother or mother for 50 paisas or 1 rupee and run into the narrow streets outside to buy qulfi.
Qulfi is made with condensed milk, and that’s why the qulfi wala shouted out loud, “khoey aali” to remind us that qulfi made with condensed milk is outside for you to buy. Qulfi (also spelled Kulfi) is a traditional South Asian frozen dairy dessert, frequently described as “traditional ice cream.” It is created by slow-cooking whole milk for hours until the sugars caramelize and the liquid thickens, then flavoring it with rich ingredients like crushed pistachios, cardamom, saffron, rose water, or fruit purees like mango. The mixture is then poured into specialized conical metal molds called sanchas or earthen pots called matkas and frozen solid.
I remember stealing my grandmother’s money to buy qulfi and hiding with my sister in a small storeroom. She once caught me as well, laughed out loud, told my chacha, and they both smiled.
I also have a vivid memory of eating more than ten or fifteen kulfis in one go. Our father took us to a village with his friend. While we were parked alongside a small canal, a kulfi seller was passing by on his bicycle, traveling from the village to a nearby town to sell kulfis. My siblings and I enjoyed it so much that the seller ran out of kulfis and happily returned homea. I remember my father taking out his brown wallet and giving the seller some money. In that moment, I felt like my dad was rich, as he handed over a large amount of money. The seller was a humble man and didn’t specify an amount; he simply said, “Tuhadi marzi” (pay me whatever you wish).
In Punjabi culture, qulfi is deeply intertwined with community life and childhood joy. The qulfi wala is a highly anticipated and beloved neighborhood figure.
This cherished treat is a key part of Punjab’s culinary traditions, and even in my 40s, the sound still makes me want to indulge.
BTS coming soon. Did you eat qulfi as a child?
