Paramount

  • Fresh juice was introduced to the diet of Bengali people due to British influence. Before that, people used to consume whole fruits and occasionally tender coconut water. Although the Moghuls were the pioneers of sherbet in 16th century, these were prepared from concentrated pulps of different plant parts. Fresh juices from the tropical fruits were an essential part of British breakfast. Aristocratic and later ordinary Bengalis began to be attracted towards juices. 
  • The first commercial juice bar, Kapila Ashram was established in 1907 by Hrishikesh Srimani, in an old building on Bidhan Sarani. Today this place is a mere kiosk due to the demolition of the old building. 
  • Paradise was set up in 1918 at Bankim Chatterjee Street near College Street. It was founded by the renowned fitness trainer Nihar Ranjan Majumdar. In 1936 it was renamed as Paramount. 
  • Acharya Prafulla Chandra gifted the recipe of the ‘daaber shorbot’, the best known delicacy here. The tender coconut is sourced from Basirhat, North 24 Parganas and the recipe remains an unchanged trade secret till this day.
  • Several intellectuals including poets, professors and students have been regular visitors. Notable revolutionaries as well as freedom fighters were frequent visitors.

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