Citizendia

Halva / Halava

Balkan style tahini-based halva with pistachios
Albanian (Shqip)halvё(halva)
Arabic (عربي)(ḥalāwa) حلاوة
Armenian (Հայերեն)հալվա (halva)
Azeri (Azəri)halva
Bengali (বাংলা)হালুয়া (halua)
Bosnian (Bosanski)halva(halva)
Bulgarian and Russian
(Български & Русский)		халва (khalva)
Burmese language
(မ္ရန္‌မာစာ)		ဟလဝာ (hàlawà)
Czech language
(Česky)		chalva
Cypriot Greek
(Κυπριακά)		χαλουβάς
Estonian (Eesti)halvaa
Finnish (Suomi)halva
Greek (Ελληνικά)χαλβάς (chalvás)
Hebrew (עברית‎)(halvah) חלבה
Hindi (हिंदी)हल्वा (halvā)
Kurdish (كوردی)helaw
Lithuanian (Lietuvių)chalva
Macedonian and Serbian
(македонски & српски)		алва (alva)
Malayalam (മലയാളം)അലുവ(aluva)
Maltese (Malti)ħelwa tat-Tork
Persian (فارسى)(halva)
Tamil (தமிழ்)அல்வா(alva)
Urdu (اردو)حلوا (halvā)
Polish (Polski)chałwa
Romanian (Română)halva
Slovenian (Slovenščina)(helava)
Turkish (Türkçe)halva
Ukrainian (Українська)халва (halva)

The word halva (alternatively halwa, halvah, halava, helva, halawa, ħelwa etc. Tahini, or sesame paste, is a paste of ground Sesame seeds used in cooking The pistachio ( Pistacia vera L Anacardiaceae or sometimes Pistaciaceae) is a small Tree native to mountainous regions of Albanian (sq ''Gjuha shqipe'' ˈɟuha ˈʃcipɛ is an Indo-European language spoken by nearly 6 million peoplewhile others claim that it derives from Daco - Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language The Armenian language (hy հայերեն լեզու hajɛɹɛn lɛzu —, conventional short form) is an Indo-European language spoken by the Armenian Bosnian language (Bosnian bosanski jezik) sometimes referred as Bosniak language or Bosniac language is a South Slavic language native Bulgarian (български език IPA: ɛzˈik is an Indo-European language, a member of the Slavic linguistic group Russian ( transliteration:,) is the most geographically widespread language of Eurasia, the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages The Burmese language (မြန်မာဘာသာ myà̃mà bàθà MLCTS: myanma bhasa) is the official Language of Burma. Czech (ˈʧɛk čeština ˈʧɛʃcɪna in Czech is a West Slavic language with about 12 million native speakers it is the majority language in the The Cypriot Dialect of Greek ( Cypriot Greek ( Κυπριακή διάλεκτος) or Kypriaka ( Greek: Κυπριακά Estonian (; ˈeːsti ˈkeːl is the official language of Estonia, spoken by about 1 Finnish ( or suomen kieli) is the language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland (92% As of 2006) and by ethnic Finns outside Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly Hindi ( Devanāgarī: hi [[wiktहिन्दी हिन्दी]] or hi [[wiktहिंदी हिंदी]] IAST:, IPA:) is The Kurdish language (Kurdish Kurdî or کوردی is a term used for the language spoken by Kurds. Lithuanian ( lietuvių kalba) is the official state language of Lithuania and is recognised as one of the official languages of the European Union. Macedonian () is the official Language of the Republic of Macedonia and is a part of the Eastern group of South Slavic languages. Serbian (sr-Cyrl српски језик sr-Latn ''srpski jezik'' is a South Slavic language, Not to be confused with the Malay language. Malayalam (മലയാളം malayāḷaṁ) is a Dravidian language used Maltese (Maltese Malti is the National language of Malta, and a co-official language of the country alongside English, Tamil (ta தமிழ்; t̪əmɨɻ is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. Urdu ( ur '''{{Nastaliq اردو}}''' trans Urdū, historically spelled Ordu) is a Central Indo-Aryan language Urdu is a standardised Polish ( język polski, polszczyzna) is the Official language of Poland. Romanian or Daco-Romanian ( dated: Rumanian or Roumanian; self designation limba română, ˈlimba roˈmɨnə is a Romance Slovene or Slovenian ( slovenski jezik or slovenščina, not to be confused with Slovenčina) is a South Slavic language Turkish ( tr Türkçe IPA) is a language spoken by over 63 million people worldwide making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Ukrainian (in Ukrainian украї́нська мо́ва ukrayins'ka mova,) is a language of the East Slavic subgroup of the Slavic languages. ), originally derived from the Arabic root حلوى ḥalwā (sweet), is used to describe many distinct types of sweet confection, across the Middle East, Central Asia, South Asia, and the Balkans. Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language Confectionery is a set of Food items that are rich in Sugar; modern usage may include substances rich in artificial sweeteners as well The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. Halva based on semolina is popular in India, Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Semolina is the purified middlings of hard wheat used in making Pasta; also the coarse middlings used for breakfast cereals puddings and Polenta. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and Afghanistan /æfˈgænɪstæn/ officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت, Another common type, based on tahini (sesame paste), is more popular in the eastern Mediterranean and Balkan regions, in countries such as Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria (тах'ан халв'а), Ukraine, Greece, Cyprus, Iraq, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, the Republic of Macedonia, Albania, Northern Cyprus, Syria, Central Asia, Caucasus region and Turkey. Tahini, or sesame paste, is a paste of ground Sesame seeds used in cooking Romania ( dated: Rumania, Roumania Serbia (Србија Srbija) officially the Republic of Serbia (Република Србија Republika Srbija) is a Landlocked Country The state of Bulgaria (България transliterated bg-Latn ''Balgaria'' The country preserves the traditions (in ethnic name language and alphabet of the First Bulgarian Ukraine (Україна Ukrayina, /ukrɑˈjinɑ/ is a country in Eastern Europe. Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία Cyprus (Κύπρος transliterated: Kýpros,; Kıbrıs officially the Republic of Cyprus (Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία Kypriakī́ Dīmokratía For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. Palestine is a name which has been widely used since Roman times to refer to the region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Israel topics. Lebanon (ˈlɛbənɒn Arabic: ar لبنان Lubnān) officially the Republic of Lebanon or Lebanese Republic (ar الجمهورية اللبنانية The Republic of Macedonia (Република This article is about the country in southern Europe For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Albania topics. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus ( TRNC) (Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti KKTC) commonly called Northern Cyprus (Kuzey Kıbrıs though its Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية Central Asia is a region of Asia from the Caspian Sea in the west to central China in the east and from southern Russia in the north to northern Pakistan in the south The Caucasus ( also referred to as North Caucasus) is a geopolitical region located between Europe Asia & Middle East Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches Halva may also be made from a variety of other ingredients, including sunflower seeds, various nuts, beans, lentils, and vegetables—such as carrots, pumpkins, yams, and squashes. [1]

Contents

Types

Most types of halva are relatively dense confections that are sweetened with sugar or honey. Sugar is a class of edible Crystalline substances mainly Sucrose, Lactose, and Fructose. Honey is a sweet and Viscous fluid produced by Honey bees (and some other species and derived from the nectar of Flowers According to the However, their textures are quite different. For example, semolina halva is gelatinous and translucent, while sesame halva is drier and more crumbly.

Semolina

This halva, produced and served in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran and surrounding countries (different versions of it are also found in Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Macedonia and Turkey), is usually made with wheat semolina, sugar or honey, and butter or vegetable oil. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and Afghanistan /æfˈgænɪstæn/ officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت, ( Bengali: বাংলাদেশ inc-Latn Bangladesh) officially For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. This article is about the country in southern Europe For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Albania topics. Armenia (Հայաստան transliterated: Hayastan,) officially the Republic of Armenia (Հայաստանի Հանրապետություն Hayastani The state of Bulgaria (България transliterated bg-Latn ''Balgaria'' The country preserves the traditions (in ethnic name language and alphabet of the First Bulgarian Cyprus (Κύπρος transliterated: Kýpros,; Kıbrıs officially the Republic of Cyprus (Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία Kypriakī́ Dīmokratía Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία The Republic of Macedonia (Република Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches Semolina is the purified middlings of hard wheat used in making Pasta; also the coarse middlings used for breakfast cereals puddings and Polenta. Butter is a Dairy product made by churning fresh or fermented Cream or Milk. Raisins, dates, or other dried fruits are often included. Raisins are dried Grapes They are produced in many regions of the world such as the United States, Australia, Chile, The Date Palm ( Phoenix dactylifera) is a palm in the genus Phoenix, extensively cultivated for its edible Fruit. Dried fruit is fruit that has been dried, either naturally or through use of a machine such as a Food dehydrator. Nuts such as almonds are also commonly added to semolina halva. The Almond ( Prunus dulcis, syn Prunus amygdalus Batsch Amygdalus communis L The halva is very sweet with a gelatinous texture similar to polenta; the added butter gives it a rich mouthfeel. Polenta is a dish made from boiled Cornmeal. Although the word is borrowed into English from Italian, the dish (under various names is popular in Mouthfeel is a product’s physical and Chemical interaction in the mouth The classic proportions of semolina halva are 1:2:3:4, i. e. 1 part fat (a vegetable oil or butter), 2 parts semolina, 3 parts sweetening agent (e. g. sugar or honey) and 4 parts water. The semolina is cooked in the fat while a syrup is being made of the sweetener and water. Then the two are mixed carefully, extras added and the halva is left to settle.

Though semolina halva is considered to be essentially a "Northern" confection in India, it is also quite popular in South India. Geography Northern India lies mainly on continental India and a very small part of it lies on the Indian peninsula South India is the area encompassing India 's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union A prominent South Indian version of halva (or "alvaa", as it is called in Tamil) is from Tirunelveli (pronounced Thiru-nel-vaeli), a city in the state of Tamil Nadu. South India is the area encompassing India 's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union Tamil (ta தமிழ்; t̪əmɨɻ is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. Tirunelveli (திருநெல்வேலி is a city in Tamil Nadu and was formed into a Municipal corporation in 1999 by merging three municipalities viz Tamil Nadu ( Tamil:, Country of the Tamils, t̪ɐmɨɻ n̪aːɽɯ is one of the 28 states of India. A closely related semolina preparation widely enjoyed throughout South India is called Kesari or Kesari-bath.

In India, carrots (for gajar halwa) or mung beans (for moong dal halwa) or bottle gourds (for doodi halwa) for example, may be used instead of semolina. The carrot ( Daucus carota subsp sativus, Etymology: Middle French carotte, from Late Latin carōta, from Greek karōton ||-||} Mung bean, also known as green bean, mung, moong, mash bean, munggo or monggo, green gram, golden The calabash or African bottle gourd (not to be confused with the Calabaza) is a Vine grown for its fruit which can either be harvested young and used Prepared with condensed milk and ghee, without semolina to bind it together, the end result has a moist yet flaky texture when freshly prepared and bears some resemblance to a British pudding. Ghee ( Hindi घी ghī, Urdu گھی ghī, Punjabi ਘਿਉ/گھیو ghiu, Kashmiri ग्याव/گیاو Pudding most often refers to a Dessert, but can also be a savory dish

Sesame

Sesame halva is popular in the Balkans, Middle East, and other areas surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. Sesame ( Sesamum indicum) is a Flowering plant in the genus Sesamum. The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. The primary ingredients in this confection are sesame seeds or paste (tahini), and sugar, glucose or honey. Sesame ( Sesamum indicum) is a Flowering plant in the genus Sesamum. Tahini, or sesame paste, is a paste of ground Sesame seeds used in cooking [2] Soap root[3] (called ‘erq al halaweh in Arabic; çöven kökü in Turkish[4]), egg white, or marshmallow root are added in some recipes, to create a distinctive texture. Gypsophila (Commonly known as Baby's-breath in the United States elsewhere Gypsophila) is a Genus of about 100 species of Flowering plants Althaea is a Genus of 6-12 species of perennial herbs including the marshmallow plant whence the confection got its name native Other ingredients and flavourings such as pistachio nuts, cocoa powder, orange juice, vanilla, or chocolate are often added to the basic tahini and sugar base. The pistachio ( Pistacia vera L Anacardiaceae or sometimes Pistaciaceae) is a small Tree native to mountainous regions of Cocoa is the dried and fully fermented fatty seed of the cacao tree from which Chocolate is made Orange juice is a Fruit juice obtained by squeezing pressing or otherwise crushing the interior of an orange. Vanilla is a Flavoring derived from Orchids of the genus Vanilla native to Mexico. Chocolate ( pronounced or /-ˈələt/ comprises a number of raw and processed foods that are produced from the seed of the tropical Cacao tree

Floss halva

Pişmaniye (Turkish) or floss halva is a traditional sweetmeat, prepared in Kocaeli, Turkey, made by flossing thin strands of halva into a light confection. Pişmaniye or pishmaniye is a Turkish dessert that is a kind of Candy floss made up of thousands of strands of flour and sugar and Turkish ( tr Türkçe IPA) is a language spoken by over 63 million people worldwide making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Kocaeli is a province of Turkey. Its capital is İzmit, which is sometimes referred to as Kocaeli itself Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches Made primarily of wheat flour and sugar, the strands are continuously wrapped into a ball shape and then compressed. The result is a halva with a light consistency, similar to cotton candy. Floss halva can be found in regular and pistachio flavors, and there are brands with halal or kosher certifications. Halal (حلال ḥalāl, halaal) is an Arabic term meaning permissible.

A similar pistachio-based version of Floss halva is popular in North India. It tends to be slightly denser and is often referred to as "Patisa" or Sohan papdi. Sohan papdi or Soan papdi or Sohan halva or Patisa is a popular Indian sweet.

Sunflower

Sunflower halva, popular in countries from Eastern Europe, such as Belarus, Romania, Republic of Moldova, Russia and Ukraine, is made of sunflower seeds instead of sesame. The sunflower ( Helianthus annuus) is an Annual plant in the family Asteraceae and native to the Americas, with a large flowering Eastern Europe is a general term that refers to the Geopolitical region encompassing the easternmost part of the European continent. Belarus ( Belarusian Беларусь / Biełaruś is a Landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered by Russia to the north and east Romania ( dated: Rumania, Roumania Moldova, officially the Republic of Moldova ( Republica Moldova) is a Landlocked country in Eastern Europe, located between Romania Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending Ukraine (Україна Ukrayina, /ukrɑˈjinɑ/ is a country in Eastern Europe. The sunflower ( Helianthus annuus) is an Annual plant in the family Asteraceae and native to the Americas, with a large flowering It has a rich , unmistakable flavor and "addictive" taste.

Etymology and cultural use

Halva is the most common modern English spelling and the transliteration from most Balkan languages. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Transliteration is the practice of Transcribing a Word or text written in one Writing system into another writing system or system of rules for such practice This is a list of languages spoken in the Balkans. With the exception of several Turkic languages Hungarian and Circassian all of them belong to the Indo-European family Other transliterations include: halava (Sanskrit), halvah (Hebrew), halwa or halwi (Arabic), helva (Turkish). Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language Turkish ( tr Türkçe IPA) is a language spoken by over 63 million people worldwide making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages.

The Hebrew spelling, halvah, may at times be used to refer specifically to the Kosher variety.

The word 'halawa' (حلاوة) in Arabic means 'sweetness' while the word halwa (حلوي) means sweets or candy. The word halva comes from the Arabic word halwa; the root word is hilwa meaning sweet. The root word is also the basis for the Arabic word for "good" (helwa').

Flag of Albania Albania

Halva in Albania is usually sweet and eaten as a dessert at the end of a meal. This article is about the country in southern Europe For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Albania topics. It is made with mostly chocolate, but also with vanilla (white halva made with either vanilla or just sugar), or a mixture of half and half. Many stores all over Albania sell this popular sweet in large, fresh and in-expensive blocks. Its taste is creamy, yet melt in your mouth. The ingredients are flour, butter, sugar, and other flavorings.

Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina

Halva is widely used in Bosnia, and is available in different forms and flavours. Bosnia and Herzegovina ( Latin script: Bosna i Hercegovina, Cyrillic script: Босна и Херцеговина is a country on the Balkan

Flag of Bangladesh Bangladesh

Halua as it is known in Bangla, is quite popular among the Bengalis. ( Bengali: বাংলাদেশ inc-Latn Bangladesh) officially There are many types of haluas that are savoured, among the common ones are: semolina (shoojir halua), carrot (gajorer halua), chickpeas (booter daaler halua), flour (neshestar halua) and almond (baadamer halua). Many Bangladeshis also eat halua made from papaya (peper halua). Halua is usually eaten as a rich dessert, but it is not uncommon for Bengalis to eat halua for breakfast with traditional breads (rice flour, porota etc. . )

Flag of Bulgaria Bulgaria

In Bulgaria the term halva (халва) is used for several varieties of the dessert. The state of Bulgaria (България transliterated bg-Latn ''Balgaria'' The country preserves the traditions (in ethnic name language and alphabet of the First Bulgarian The state of Bulgaria (България transliterated bg-Latn ''Balgaria'' The country preserves the traditions (in ethnic name language and alphabet of the First Bulgarian Tahini halva (тахан халва) is most popular and can be found in all food stores. Two different types of tahini halva are made - one using sunflower seed tahini and another using sesame seed tahini. Traditionally, the regions of Yablanitsa and Haskovo are famous for their halva. Yablanitsa (Ябланица also Jablanica, Iablanica, Yablanica, Jablanitsa, Iablanitsa, Jablanitza, Yablanitza Haskovo (Хасково is the name of a town and administrative centre of the province of the same name in southern Bulgaria, not far from the borders with Semolina halva (грис халва) is made at home and can be found only in some pastry stores. A third type is white halva (бяла халва), which is made of sugar. White halva is popular on the last Sunday before Lent (Sirni Zagovezni; Сирни заговезни), when a piece of white halva is tied on a string. Lent, in some Christian denominations, is the forty-day-long liturgical season of fasting and prayer before Easter. All the children at the party stand in a circle and must catch the turning piece of halva with their mouths. Almost all types of halva in Bulgaria are flavoured with essence of Good King Henry (чувен). Good King Henry ( Chenopodium bonus-henricus) also called poor-man's asparagus, Lincolnshire Spinach, markery is a species of Goosefoot

Flag of Croatia Croatia

Halva is a sweet that is consumed in Croatia. Croatia (Hrvatska ˈxȓvatska officially the Republic of Croatia ( Republika Hrvatska) is a southern Central European country at the crossroads between It is not uncommon to come across the specialty in the regions of Slavonia, Kordun, Lika and Baranja or regions that at one point came in contact with the Ottoman empire. Halva is especially popular in Slavonia during "kirvaj" or local church fairs.

Flag of Egypt Egypt

In Egypt, the name is halawa tahiniya (حلاوة طحينية). This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. The word 'halawa' in Arabic means 'sweetness' while the word halwa (حلوى) means sweets. It has many varieties such as plain blocks, and fine fibrous halawa called halawa hair. Other varieties with pine nuts, pistachios, and almonds exist in big blocks or pre-packed consumer portions, or more recently energy bars (chocolate bar size). Halawa is a very popular sweet enjoyed by a lot of Egyptians. It is eaten for breakfast and dinner, and enjoyed with hot bread, sandwiches, and sometimes with the Arabic equivalent of clotted cream (قشطة, pronounced ishta in Egyptian Arabic). Clotted cream is a thick yellow Cream made by heating Unpasteurized cow's Milk and then leaving it in shallow pans for several hours Kaymak or kajmak is a creamy Dairy product, similar to Clotted cream, made all over the Balkans, Turkey, the Middle East It is a staple food that is enjoyed all over the country as it does not need special storage conditions, and can be kept in ambient temperature with no risk of spoilage.

Flag of Greece Greece & Flag of Cyprus Cyprus

In Greece and most of Cyprus the term halva (Χαλβά) is used for both varieties of the dessert. Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία Cyprus (Κύπρος transliterated: Kýpros,; Kıbrıs officially the Republic of Cyprus (Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία Kypriakī́ Dīmokratía Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία Cyprus (Κύπρος transliterated: Kýpros,; Kıbrıs officially the Republic of Cyprus (Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία Kypriakī́ Dīmokratía Sesame halva was produced in classical times. [5] The dish was popular in the Byzantine Empire, and it is very popular throughout the country especially during Great Lent and other fasts. Halva is considered one of the most delicious Greek desserts which is appropriate under Orthodox Christian fasting guidelines. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world

Flag of India India

Various types of halva from India are distinguished by the region and the ingredients from which they are prepared. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country One of the most famous is Sooji halwa. Carrot halwa (called gajar halwa is a popular sweet throughout India[6]. Halwa of Calicut (kozhikodan halwa) Kerala, and Thirunelveli Halwa, produced in Thirunelveli, Tamilnadu are also famous.

Flag of Iran Iran

In Iran halva usually refers to a confection made from wheat flour and butter and flavored with rose water. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. thumb|right|250px|Rose water Rose water or rose syrup (گلاب Golâb, Gül suyu ماء ورد Māʾ ward, Urdu: گلاب رس The final product has a brownish shade of color. Halva usually gets served on funerals and such ceremonies, often with almonds or coconut dressing on the top.

One variation from the Caspian region of Gilan is called Asali Halva (literally honey halva). The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged Sea. Honey is a sweet and Viscous fluid produced by Honey bees (and some other species and derived from the nectar of Flowers According to the It is different from other types of halve prepared in Iran since it is based on rice flour rather than semolina, and instead of suger, it is sweetned with honey. Rice is a Cereal foodstuff which forms an important part of the diet of many people worldwide and as such it is a staple food for many


Flag of Israel Israel

Heavily sesame-flavoured tahini halvah (חלבה) is very popular with Jews in Israel and among Jews all over the world. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Israel topics. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Israel topics. PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ Spelled "halvah" in English, it usually comes in slabs or small packages and is available in a wide variety of flavours, chocolate and vanilla being very common. The halvah is almost always pareve, meaning it does not contain any meat or dairy ingredients, ensuring that it can be eaten with/after either milk or meat dishes according to the laws of Kashrut. See also Kashrut Kosher foods are those that conform to the regulations of Jewish religion Kashrut (also kashruth or kashrus, he כַּשְׁרוּת refers to Jewish dietary laws. Israeli and Jewish halvah will usually not contain wheat flour or semolina but will contain sesame tahini, glucose, sugar, vanilla and saponaria root extracts (Soapwort) which are not always found in other recipes. Flour is a powder made of Cereal grains It is the key ingredient of Bread, which is a staple food in many countries and therefore the availability Semolina is the purified middlings of hard wheat used in making Pasta; also the coarse middlings used for breakfast cereals puddings and Polenta. Sesame ( Sesamum indicum) is a Flowering plant in the genus Sesamum. Tahini, or sesame paste, is a paste of ground Sesame seeds used in cooking Glucose (Glc a Monosaccharide (or simple Sugar) also known as grape sugar, is an important Carbohydrate in Biology. Sugar is a class of edible Crystalline substances mainly Sucrose, Lactose, and Fructose. Vanilla is a Flavoring derived from Orchids of the genus Vanilla native to Mexico. Saponaria, also known as soapworts, is a genus of about 20 species of perennial Herbs in the Caryophyllaceae, native to southern

Flag of Lebanon Lebanon and Flag of Syria Syria and Flag of Jordan Jordan

In the region of the Levant - which includes Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the Palestinians, halva is typically the sesame or tahini-based form, which can be flavored in various ways and may include pistachios or almonds. Lebanon (ˈlɛbənɒn Arabic: ar لبنان Lubnān) officially the Republic of Lebanon or Lebanese Republic (ar الجمهورية اللبنانية Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية Jordan, officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (الأردنّ al-Urdunn) is an Arab country in Southwest Asia spanning the southern See also Names of the Levant The Levant (lə'vænt is a geographical term that denotes a large area in Western Asia, roughly bounded on the north by the Jordan, officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (الأردنّ al-Urdunn) is an Arab country in Southwest Asia spanning the southern Lebanon (ˈlɛbənɒn Arabic: ar لبنان Lubnān) officially the Republic of Lebanon or Lebanese Republic (ar الجمهورية اللبنانية Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية Palestinian people or Palestinians ( الشعب الفلسطيني, ash-sha`b al-filasTīni; الفلسطينيون, al-filasTīnīyyūn A large quantity of halva is exported from Lebanon throughout the world.

Flag of Libya Libya

In Libya, it is called حلوى شامية halwa shamiya or simply shamiya which means Levantine sweet, whereas the word halawa is never used. Libya ( ليبيا ar-Latn Lībiyā; Libyan vernacular: Lībya; Amazigh:) officially the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab

Flag of Malta Malta

In Malta, the term ħelwa tat-Tork (Maltese: Turk's sweet) is used to refer to a tahini-based block confection sometimes containing pistachios or almonds. Malta, officially the Republic of Malta (Repubblika ta' Malta is a European Microstate, comprising an Archipelago of three islands Malta, officially the Republic of Malta (Repubblika ta' Malta is a European Microstate, comprising an Archipelago of three islands Maltese (Maltese Malti is the National language of Malta, and a co-official language of the country alongside English, It forms part of the Maltese cuisine and is a common sweet snack on the islands, especially served at the end of wedding celebrations. Maltese cuisine is typically Mediterranean, based on fresh seasonal locally available Produce and Seafood, with some influence from Italian

Flag of Pakistan Pakistan

There are various types of halva (Urdu: حلوا) in Pakistan, distinguished by the region and the content from which they are prepared. Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and Urdu ( ur '''{{Nastaliq اردو}}''' trans Urdū, historically spelled Ordu) is a Central Indo-Aryan language Urdu is a standardised Most is made from semolina, ghee and sugar. Carrot halwa[6] (called gaajar halwa is also popular, as is halva made from tender bottle gourds . Karachi Halva is a specialty dessert from Karachi, Sindh. (ڪراچي) is the largest city in Pakistan. It is the world's second largest city proper behind Mumbai in terms of population which exceeds 10 million Sindh ( Sindhī: سنڌ Urdu: سندھ is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhis.

Flag of Romania Romania & Flag of Moldova Moldova & Flag of Slovenia Slovenia

In Romania, Slovenia and Republic of Moldova, the term halva is used to refer to a sunflower-based (in Republic of Moldova it's mostly referred to as as "halva de răsărită". Romania ( dated: Rumania, Roumania Moldova, officially the Republic of Moldova ( Republica Moldova) is a Landlocked country in Eastern Europe, located between Romania Slovenia, officially the Republic of Slovenia (Republika Slovenija) is a Country in southern Central Europe bordering Italy to the west Romania ( dated: Rumania, Roumania Slovenia, officially the Republic of Slovenia (Republika Slovenija) is a Country in southern Central Europe bordering Italy to the west Moldova, officially the Republic of Moldova ( Republica Moldova) is a Landlocked country in Eastern Europe, located between Romania Moldova, officially the Republic of Moldova ( Republica Moldova) is a Landlocked country in Eastern Europe, located between Romania In Romania it's known as "halva de floarea soarelui") block confection sometimes containing pistachios, almonds or chocolate. Romania ( dated: Rumania, Roumania

Flag of Tajikistan Tajikistan

Soft sesame halva is made from sugar syrup, egg whites, and sesame seeds. Tajikistan (təˈdʒɪkɨstæn or /təˈdʒiːkɨstæn/ Тоҷикистон tɔʤikɪsˈtɔn or, Persian تاجیکستان‎ taajikestaan officially the Republic of Solid sesame Halva is made from pulled sugar, repeatedly stretched to give a white colour; prepared sesame is added to the warm sugar and formed on big trays. [7]

Flag of Turkey Turkey & Flag of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Northern Cyprus

Un helvası
Un helvası

The term helva is used by Turkish people, to describe tahin (crushed sesame seeds), flour, or semolina halva, called "tahin helvası", "un helvası", and "irmik helvası", respectively. Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus ( TRNC) (Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti KKTC) commonly called Northern Cyprus (Kuzey Kıbrıs though its Tahini, or sesame paste, is a paste of ground Sesame seeds used in cooking Flour is a powder made of Cereal grains It is the key ingredient of Bread, which is a staple food in many countries and therefore the availability Semolina is the purified middlings of hard wheat used in making Pasta; also the coarse middlings used for breakfast cereals puddings and Polenta. Yaz helvası is the one made of almond or walnut. Semolina halva (garnished with pine nuts) has a cultural significance in Turkish folk religion and is the most common type. Pine nuts are the edible Seeds of Pines (family Pinaceae, genus Pinus) Folk religion consists of Beliefs Superstitions and Rituals transmitted from generation to generation in a specific Culture. Traditionally, halva prepared with flour un helvası is cooked and served upon the death of a person. In addition, some sweets and desserts are also called helva such as pamuk helva or Kos helva, a sweet like dessert which is widespread in Turkey. In Safranbolu kos helva is also called "leaf-halva". Safranbolu is a district and a town of Karabük Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey.

Cultural references

In Turkey, after the burial ceremony, on the seventh and fortieth day following the death of a muslim, and also on the first anniversary, flour helva is cooked and offered to visitors and neighbours by relatives of the deceased. Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches For this reason, flour (un) helva is also called "ölü helvası" meaning "helva of the dead". The expression "roasting the helva of someone" suggests that the person referred to died some time ago.

There is a Greek saying Ante re halva! ("Άντε ρε χαλβά!" - could be translated as "get lost halva"), which is used when the speaker wants to offend someone, usually a man by calling him coward and/or chubby. Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly Another saying, dating from the period of Ottoman domination, states that "Ρωμαίικος καβγάς, τούρκικος χαλβάς" (roughly translated as "A fight among Greeks is a Turk's delight").

See also

References

  1. ^ Davidson, Alan (1999). Arab cuisine is defined as the various regional cuisines spanning the Arab World from Iraq to Morocco to Somalia to Yemen, and incorporating Barfi or burfi ( Urdu: برفی is an Indian and Pakistani sweet Persian cuisine or the cuisine of Iran is diverse with each province featuring dishes culinary traditions and styles distinct to their regions Levantine cuisine is the traditional Cuisine of Ottoman Syria, now usually called the Levant. Jewish cuisine is a collection of international Cookery traditions linked by Jewish Dietary laws ( Kashrus) and Jewish holiday traditions Turkish cuisine is largely the heritage of Ottoman cuisine, which can be described as a fusion and refinement of Central Asian, Middle Eastern and Alan Eaton Davidson (30 March 1924 – 2 December 2003 was a British diplomat and historian best known for his writing and editing on food and Gastronomy. The Oxford Companion to Food. Oxford: Oxford University press, xx + 892. ISBN 0-19-211579.  
  2. ^ Sesame Halva recipe
  3. ^ Halva Ethnological Museum of Thrace
  4. ^ Turkish halva
  5. ^ Sesame seed and tahini production. Dimitris Perrotis, College of Agricultural Studies, American Farm School, Thessaloniki, Greece
  6. ^ a b Gajar halwa video demonstration
  7. ^ Halva from Tajikistan Nacion

Dictionary

halva

-noun

  1. A confection usually made from crushed sesame seeds and honey. It is a traditional dessert in India, the Mediterranean, the Balkans, and the Middle East.
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