This is a list of Indian sweets and desserts, also called mithai, a significant element in Indian cuisine. It spans the regions of Pakistan and Bangladesh as well, since both countries were parts of India before 1947. Many Indian desserts are fried foods made with sugar, milk or condensed milk. Ingredients and preferred types of dessert vary by region. In the eastern part of India, for example, most are based on milk products. Many are flavoured with almonds and pistachios, spiced with cardamon, nutmeg, cloves and black pepper, and decorated with nuts, or with gold or silver leaf.