'RBI cakes' a hit every Christmas in Kolkata

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) does not make or sell cakes, but delicious "RBI cakes" are a hit in the city every Christmas. Street vendors in the city's Dalhousie area offer "RBI cakes" claiming these are baked in the apex bank's canteen.

Sold at around Rs 50, the fruit cake has become the most popular product being sold this season on the streets of central Kolkata, specially around RBI's office on Netaji Subhas Road.

A cooperative canteen, run by the RBI employees union, buys Xmas cakes from neighbouring Howrah in bulk to sell it amongst its employees. "With years the cake became so popular that street vendors also started buying it from the same bakery in Howrah and branded it as "RBI cake," an RBI canteen staff said.

Sushanta Nath, president of the Reserve Bank Employees Association, said the cakes are very popular due to its taste and price. "Outsiders cash in on the brand name of RBI and sell it saying it's 'RBI cake'. But we don't sell cakes," he said.

Street vendors say some of them manage to sneak into the RBI canteen and place bulk orders for these cakes. "We know some people inside the canteen who sell us these cakes in large quantities. 'RBI cakes' is like a brand for us," Raju, who sits near the GPO building, said.

Since the last 10 days, he claims to have sold hundreds of pieces of the variety.