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Halva (also halvah, halwa, and other spellings, Persian : حلوا) is a type of
confectionery Confectionery is the art of making confections, which are food items that are rich in sugar and carbohydrates. Exact definitions are difficult. In general, however, confectionery is divided into two broad and somewhat overlapping categories ...
originating from Persia and widely spread throughout the Middle East. The name is used for a broad variety of recipes, generally a thick paste made from flour, butter, liquid oil, saffron, rosewater, milk, cocoa powder, and sweetened with sugar. Halva is popular in Iran and the Middle East.


Etymology

The word ''halva'' entered the English language between 1840 and 1850 from Romanian, which came from the ota, حلوى, helva, itself ultimately derived from the ar, حلوى, ḥalwá, a sweet confection.Halvah
Random House Dictionary, 2009
The root in ar, ح ل و, ''ḥ-l-w'', links=no, means "sweet".


History

Halva originated in Persia (modern day Iran). A reference to ''halvah'' appeared in the 7th century, referring to a mixture of mashed dates with milk. By the 9th century, the term was applied to numerous kinds of sweets, including the now-familiar sweetened cooked semolina or flour paste. Many of the earlier Persian recipes were documented in the 13th century Arabic book ''Kitab al-Tabikh'' (''The Book of Dishes''), as well as an anonymous cookbook from 13th-century Moorish Spain. Halva was adopted by the
Ottoman Turks The Ottoman Turks ( tr, Osmanlı Türkleri), were the Turkic founding and sociopolitically the most dominant ethnic group of the Ottoman Empire ( 1299/1302–1922). Reliable information about the early history of Ottoman Turks remains scarce, ...
, including a sesame-based version, and spread throughout their empire.


Types

Most types of halva are relatively dense confections sweetened with sugar or
honey Honey is a sweet and viscous substance made by several bees, the best-known of which are honey bees. Honey is made and stored to nourish bee colonies. Bees produce honey by gathering and then refining the sugary secretions of plants (primar ...
. Their textures, however, vary. For example, semolina-based halva's texture can be like a very buttery, moist clumpy couscous to something gelatinous and translucent, while sesame-based halva is drier and more crumbly.


Grain-based halva

Grain-based halva is made by toasting flour or cornstarch in oil, mixing it into a roux, and then cooking it with a sugary syrup. Corn is rarely used. Dishes made from wheat semolina include ''
suji ka halwa Suji is a type of halvah made by toasting semolina (called सूजी, suji, sooji or रवा, rawa in India) in a fat like ghee or oil, and adding a sweetener like sugar syrup or honey. It can be served for breakfast or as a dessert item. ...
'' (''sooji sheera'', ''rawa sheera'') in India and in Turkey. The semolina is first toasted in fat, either oil or butter, to which water or milk, and sugar is added as desired to create the preferred taste and consistency. Dairy-based rice flour halva, known as
Pathein halawa Pathein halawa ( my, ; ) is a traditional Burmese dessert or ''Mont (food), mont''. The dessert is a pudding cooked using glutinous rice flour, rice flour, coconut, sugar, poppy seeds, butter, and milk, and has 2 primary variants: wet and dry. T ...
, is considered a Burmese delicacy native to the city of
Pathein Pathein (, ; mnw, ဖာသီ, ), formerly called Bassein, is the largest city and the capital of the Ayeyarwady Region, Myanmar (Burma). It is located 190 km (120 mi) west of Yangon within Pathein Township on the bank of the Pathei ...
.


Sesame

Sesame Sesame ( or ; ''Sesamum indicum'') is a flowering plant in the genus ''Sesamum'', also called benne. Numerous wild relatives occur in Africa and a smaller number in India. It is widely naturalized in tropical regions around the world and is cu ...
halva is popular in the Balkans, Poland, Middle East, and other areas surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. The primary ingredients in this confection are sesame butter or paste (
tahini Tahini () or tahina (, ) is a Middle Eastern condiment made from toasted ground hulled sesame. It is served by itself (as a dip) or as a major ingredient in hummus, baba ghanoush, and halva. Tahini is used in the cuisines of the Levant and E ...
), and sugar, glucose or honey.
Soapwort ''Saponaria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, native to Asia and Europe, and are commonly known as soapworts. They are herbaceous perennials and annuals, some with woody bases. The flowers are abundant, five-petalled ...
(called ''‘erq al halaweh'' in Arabic; ''çöven'' in Turkish), egg white, or marshmallow root are added in some recipes to stabilize the oils in the mixture or create a distinctive texture for the resulting confection. Other ingredients and flavorings, such as
pistachio The pistachio (, ''Pistacia vera''), a member of the cashew family, is a small tree originating from Central Asia and the Middle East. The tree produces seeds that are widely consumed as food. ''Pistacia vera'' is often confused with other sp ...
nuts,
cocoa powder Cocoa may refer to: Chocolate * Chocolate * ''Theobroma cacao'', the cocoa tree * Cocoa bean, seed of ''Theobroma cacao'' * Chocolate liquor, or cocoa liquor, pure, liquid chocolate extracted from the cocoa bean, including both cocoa butter and ...
, orange juice, vanilla, or chocolate are often added to the basic tahini and sugar base.


Sunflower

Sunflower The common sunflower (''Helianthus annuus'') is a large annual forb of the genus ''Helianthus'' grown as a crop for its edible oily seeds. Apart from cooking oil production, it is also used as livestock forage (as a meal or a silage plant), as ...
halva is popular in the countries of the former Soviet Union as well as in Bulgaria and Romania. It is made of roasted ground
sunflower seed The sunflower seed is the seed of the sunflower ('' Helianthus annuus''). There are three types of commonly used sunflower seeds: linoleic (most common), high oleic, and sunflower oil seeds. Each variety has its own unique levels of monounsat ...
s instead of sesame. It may include other ingredients, such as nuts, cocoa powder, or vanilla. [] In 1996 around 4–5 thousand tonnes of sunflower halva were being produced by Ukraine annually.


Peanuts

In Argentina, Greek immigrants at the beginning of the 20th century created a kind of halva called '' mantecol'' from peanut butter, currently marketed under the name of Mantecol and also Nucrem. Such a product is widely consumed in the country.


Other


Floss halva

'' Pişmaniye'' (
Turkish Turkish may refer to: *a Turkic language spoken by the Turks * of or about Turkey ** Turkish language *** Turkish alphabet ** Turkish people, a Turkic ethnic group and nation *** Turkish citizen, a citizen of Turkey *** Turkish communities and mi ...
) or ''floss halva'' is a traditional sweet, prepared in Kocaeli, Turkey, made by flossing thin strands of halva into a light confection. 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 (also or , ) is a set of dietary laws dealing with the foods that Jewish people are permitted to eat and how those foods must be prepared according to Jewish law. Food that may be consumed is deemed kosher ( in English, yi, כּשר), fro ...
certifications. A similar chickpea-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 Soan papdi (also known as san papri, shompapri,sohan papdi, shonpapdi or patisa) is a popular dessert in the Indian subcontinent. The term ''sohan'' is of Persian origin. It bears some resemblance to the Persian ''sohan pashmaki'', which gave ri ...
''. In Chinese cuisine, a floss-like candy similar to ''pismaniye'' or ''pashmak halva'', known as ''
dragon beard candy Dragon's beard candy ( zh, t=龍鬚糖, s=龙须糖, p=lóng xū táng, first=t or Chinese cotton candy is a handmade traditional art of China. It is a traditional Chinese confectionary similar to floss halva or Western cotton candy, which can ...
'', is eaten as a snack or dessert. A raw version of halva also has become popular among proponents of raw food diets. In this version, a mixture of raw sesame
tahini Tahini () or tahina (, ) is a Middle Eastern condiment made from toasted ground hulled sesame. It is served by itself (as a dip) or as a major ingredient in hummus, baba ghanoush, and halva. Tahini is used in the cuisines of the Levant and E ...
, raw
almonds The almond (''Prunus amygdalus'', Synonym (taxonomy)#Botany, syn. ''Prunus dulcis'') is a species of tree native to Iran and surrounding countries, including the Levant. The almond is also the name of the edible and widely cultivated seed of th ...
, raw agave nectar and salt are blended together and frozen to firm.


Cultural use

Halva can be a snack or served as part of a meal.


Azerbaijan

One regional variant is from Sheki where '' Şəki halvası'' halva refers to a layered
bakhlava Baklava (, or ; ota, باقلوا ) is a layered pastry dessert made of filo pastry, filled with chopped nuts, and sweetened with syrup or honey. It was one of the most popular sweet pastries of Ottoman cuisine. The pre- Ottoman origin of th ...
style pastry filled with spiced-nut mix and topped by crisscrossed patterns of a red syrup made from saffron, dried carrot and beetroot.


Greece

Halva is a traditional fasting food among Greek Orthodox who traditionally have food restrictions, especially from meat, on Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the year, for all of
Great Lent Great Lent, or the Great Fast, (Greek: Μεγάλη Τεσσαρακοστή or Μεγάλη Νηστεία, meaning "Great 40 Days," and "Great Fast," respectively) is the most important fasting season of the church year within many denominat ...
and other fasting periods.


India

India has many types of halva, some unique to particular regions of the country. It is one of the popular sweets of India usually made from semolina. The town of Bhatkal in
Coastal Karnataka Kanara, also known as Karavali is the historically significant stretch of land situated by the southwestern coast of India, alongside the Arabian Sea in the present-day Indian state of Karnataka. The region comprises three civil districts, ...
is famous for its unique Banana Halwa which is infused with either whole cashews, pistachio or almonds. This type of authentic halwas are a specialty of the Muslims of this town. It is speculated that Halva (or Halwa) is associated with Indian traditions and culture, written records of sweets from Mānasollāsa indicate that semolina halvas, the most popular form of halvas in India, were already known in India, for instance, it mentions a sweet called ''shali-anna'' which is a semolina based sweet today known as Kesari in South India. Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu is known for its wheat halwa. Its preparation is a laborious process that "is slowly seeing this sweet disappear." Unlike other sweets, the extra ghee is not drained out but forms an outer layer. This increases the shelf life of the halwa. The unique taste of the halwa is attributed to the perennial Thamirabranai. The history of Kozhikode Halwa in Kerala could trace back to Zamorin era. Zamorin invited chefs from Gujarat to prepare halwa for their royal feast. They were also granted places to stay beside royal kitchen. This settlement later evolved as sweet sellers street, nowadays known as SM (Sweet Meat) Street or Mittayitheruvu. Kozhikode halwa is made of pure coconut oil, not from ghee. Kozhikode halwa also builds religious harmony; Ayyappa devotees from neighboring states Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh buy halwa and chips like prasadam (sacred food). They distribute them among their neighbors and friends, who consume them with a religious zeal. Another best thing about Indian halwa is that it is homemade. With fresh, high-quality ingredients, homemade halwa is carefully chosen and prepared in just a few minutes with an authentic flavor and a smooth, creamy texture. It is a special treat that is perfect for celebrations and special occasions. Homemade halwa is a delicious, traditional dessert that can customize for any preference.


Iran

In Iran, ''halva'' ( fa, "حلوا") usually refers to a related confection made from wheat flour and butter and flavored with saffron and
rose water Rose water ( fa, گلاب) is a flavoured water made by steeping rose petals in water. It is the hydrosol portion of the distillate of rose petals, a by-product of the production of rose oil Rose oil (rose otto, attar of rose, attar of rose ...
. The final product has a yellow color or brown color or dark brown color. The halva is spread thin on a plate till it dries into a paste. Halva usually is served at wedding celebrations, religious ceremonies and funerals. ''Halva Ardeh'' is the Iranian term for tahini-based halva, and may or may not include whole pistachios. ''Ardeh'' is processed sesame in the form of paste, usually sweetened with syrup.


Israel

Tahini halvah ( he, חלווה) is very popular in Israel and among Jewish people throughout the diaspora. Spelled "halvah" in English, it usually comes in slabs, nearly-cylindrical cakes (illustrated), or small packages, and is available in a wide variety of flavours, chocolate and vanilla being very common. The halvah is almost always
parve In ''kashrut'', the dietary laws of Judaism, pareve (from yi, פאַרעוו for "neutral", in Hebrew , and also parve and other variant English spellings) is a classification of edible substances that contain neither dairy nor meat ingredients. ...
. Israeli halvah will usually not contain wheat flour or semolina, but will contain
sesame Sesame ( or ; ''Sesamum indicum'') is a flowering plant in the genus ''Sesamum'', also called benne. Numerous wild relatives occur in Africa and a smaller number in India. It is widely naturalized in tropical regions around the world and is cu ...
tahini Tahini () or tahina (, ) is a Middle Eastern condiment made from toasted ground hulled sesame. It is served by itself (as a dip) or as a major ingredient in hummus, baba ghanoush, and halva. Tahini is used in the cuisines of the Levant and E ...
, glucose, sugar, vanilla and '' Saponaria officinalis'' (soapwort) root extracts, which are not usually found in other recipes. It is often served as a breakfast component at Israeli hotels, though it is not usually part of an Israeli breakfast, and it is even used in specialty ice cream.


Myanmar (Burma)

In
Myanmar Myanmar, ; UK pronunciations: US pronunciations incl. . Note: Wikipedia's IPA conventions require indicating /r/ even in British English although only some British English speakers pronounce r at the end of syllables. As John C. Wells, Joh ...
(Burma), ''halawa'' () generally refers to
Pathein halawa Pathein halawa ( my, ; ) is a traditional Burmese dessert or ''Mont (food), mont''. The dessert is a pudding cooked using glutinous rice flour, rice flour, coconut, sugar, poppy seeds, butter, and milk, and has 2 primary variants: wet and dry. T ...
(), a Burmese confection or ''
mont Mont may refer to: Places * Mont., an abbreviation for Montana, a U.S. state * Mont, Belgium (disambiguation), several places in Belgium * Mont, Hautes-Pyrénées, a commune in France * Mont, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, a commune in France * Mont, Sa ...
'' made with
glutinous rice flour Domestication syndrome refers to two sets of phenotypic traits that are common to either domesticated animals, or domesticated plants. These traits were identified by Charles Darwin in '' The Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication. ...
, rice flour, milk, and coconut shavings originating from the Irrawaddy delta town of
Pathein Pathein (, ; mnw, ဖာသီ, ), formerly called Bassein, is the largest city and the capital of the Ayeyarwady Region, Myanmar (Burma). It is located 190 km (120 mi) west of Yangon within Pathein Township on the bank of the Pathei ...
. Another popular semolina-based confection, which is known as sooji halawa in India, is called
sanwin makin Sanwin makin ( my, ; , also spelt sa-nwin-ma-kin) is a traditional Burmese dessert or '' mont'', popularly served during traditional donation feasts, satuditha feasts, and as a street snack. The dessert bears resemblance to desserts in neighbori ...
in Myanmar.


United States

Halva can be found in ethnic Indian, Jewish, Arab, Persian, Greek, Balkan, and Turkish community stores and delicatessens. It is increasingly offered by upscale restaurants in some areas. Besides being imported, it is manufactured in the United States, with the largest producer being Brooklyn-originated
Joyva Joyva is a chocolate and confectionery manufacturer headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, Brooklyn, New York (state), New York. "The house that sesame built" was started in 1907 by a newly immigrated Russian man named Nathan Radutzky who was look ...
.


Turkey

In Turkey halva is served for special occasions such as births, circumcisions, weddings and religious gatherings. The tradition is for semolina halva to be served at funerals, when someone leaves or returns from
Hajj The Hajj (; ar, حَجّ '; sometimes also spelled Hadj, Hadji or Haj in English) is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest city for Muslims. Hajj is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims that must be carried ...
, and during
Ramadan , type = islam , longtype = Religious , image = Ramadan montage.jpg , caption=From top, left to right: A crescent moon over Sarıçam, Turkey, marking the beginning of the Islamic month of Ramadan. Ramadan Quran reading in Bandar Torkaman, Iran. ...
. For this reason, flour (''un'') halva is also called in Turkish , meaning "halva of the dead". The expression "roasting halva for someone" suggests that the person referred to has died.


See also

* List of desserts *
Mahim halwa Mahim halwa is an Indian sweet (translated as "layered semolina sweet") named after Mahim, an area in Mumbai. It is also known as Ice Halwa. It is named so because it was created by the sweetmeat makers Joshi Budhakaka from Mahim. It is a food s ...
* Barfi *
Aluwa Aluwa ( si, අළුවා) is a Sri Lankan sweet. It is made from roasted rice flour or potatoes with boiled treacle, cashew nuts and cardamom and is served in a flat cookie-like form.A Recipe for Aluwat Infolanka.com/ref> Aluwa is traditio ...


References

{{Authority control Confectionery Desserts Arab cuisine Vegetarian cuisine Arab desserts Balkan cuisine Burmese desserts and snacks Iranian desserts Israeli desserts Israeli confectionery Jewish desserts Levantine cuisine Ottoman cuisine South Asian cuisine Uzbekistani cuisine Tajik cuisine Turkish desserts Halva Bulgarian cuisine Greek cuisine Semolina dishes Ancient dishes Lenten foods Breakfast Albanian cuisine