Alfajor
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AlfajoresTriples.jpg
An alfajor (Spanish, in IPA ; plural alfajores) is a traditional cookie in some South American countries, most notably Argentina, and to a lesser extent Peru, Uruguay and Chile. Its most basic form consists of two round sweet biscuits joined together with a sweet jam, generally dulce de leche (milk jam).
Another popular feature of the alfajor, although not always present, is a coating of black or white chocolate (many alfajores are sold in "black" and "white" flavours). Most alfajores come packaged in aluminium foil, similarly to most chocolate bars, though alfajores artesanales (hand-made) are just as accessible and generally packaged in plastic wrap or wax paper.
Other varieties of alfajor include different elements in the preparation of the biscuits, such as peanuts; they also vary the filling and coating and even add a third biscuit (alfajor triple).
Though the food has been popular in Argentina and Uruguay since the mid 19th century, it has its roots in the Middle East. The name alfajor is derived from Arabic al-hasu, which means "stuffed" or "filled".
Statistics indicate that in 2004, Argentina's 36 million inhabitants consumed a daily average of 6 million alfajores.
In the province of Cádiz, Spain, there is a completely different candy also called alfajor that is made of flour, honey, almonds and several species, such as cinnamon. It is most commonly sold around Christmas.
See also
External links
- Alfajores Havanna (http://www.havanna.com.ar/data/Productos/alfajores.htm) - a well known Argentine brand of alfajors (Spanish)
- Alfajor Culture (http://www.roadjunky.com/culture/alfajores.shtml) - an editorial discussing alfajoreses:Alfajor