There are some things that are unique to my Cuban culture that I take for granted. Particularly at Christmastime.
Like most people and most other cultures, there are things we grew up with that seem normal. But outside of our cultural context are just plain weird.
Let's take TURRONES for example. (Pronounced TOO-RON-EHS. Well, sort of…)
See? Already my non-Cuban readers are saying "Huh? What the heck?" (they're probably asking other questions, but this is a family blog. =D)
It's a sort of nougat-like, umm…, candy-ish, sweet…. with nuts….or not….made with egg yolks…. or almonds… and… *sigh* Impossible to explain!
My mom and I went to the local mercado (which is technically a little Mexican market that stocks all kinds of products by Goya, but that's not important right now) where I shop for the stuff I need to support my guava and mojo criollo habit. 😉
And there it was. An entire shelf dedicated to the turrones. And of course, we all know that you must have the turrones for the traditional Cuban Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) Celebration.
After we stuff ourselves with lechón, there is dessert. And part of the traditional Noche Buena dessert set up is a mix of turrones.
And everyone has their favorites. In fact, we can get quite passionate (Cubans, being passionate?? Shut up. =D) about our turron of choice.
So, for those of you who can identify…
Which is your favorite turron?
- Yema?
- Jijona?
- Alicante?
- Or do you go straight for the marzipan?
For you Cuban-Americans living in places where turrones are hard to come by…. Most varieties are available here.
Me? I'm a Yema girl myself. (But I'll deny it if you tell anybody. =D)
I’m fine with skipping the turrones and going straight for the flan . . . 😉
Yema, of course! I also like some of the newer types that are smooth, creamy chocolate. I already had some for Thanksgiving and I stocked up this weekend for Nochebuena. If I don’t have turron on Nochebuena, it just does not feel right.
Alicante and Chocolate!
We Dominicans also enjoy turrones on Noche Buena. My favorite was Alicante…so hard to bite into but sooo good. We used to pretend that the thin, papery covering was Holy Communion, and those of us girls who were too young still to take it officially in church would practice receiving it using little bits of the turron’s paper cover. We were weird back then, lol. Now my mother in law (cubana), who lives in Atlanta, loves to take them back home with her when she visits me here in Fort Lauderdale for Thanksgiving. She gives them to all her friends in her card game group, and they just think turron is the most exotic thing in the world! Thanks for awakening the memories, Marta!
It’s called “nougat” in Europe and also that’s what American’s would know it by.
Thanks for bringing back some great memories Martica!I’m also a Yema girl!
I wish you well 🙂 Melek
“Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time”.~ Laura I. Wilder
Marta, tengo pena, but I don’t remember the names of those candy … I do know that I liked the real hard candy … you know, the one that you can break your teeth on!BTW, is that Latin mercado that you go to in So. Orange County?…Or in Santa Ana or Anaheim?
George,The hard-break-your-teeth stuff is definitely the Alicante.
The mercado is in Laguna Hills. http://www.mercadocorona.com/
Besos,
Marta
My favorite it actually “Turron Blando” from the brand “El Almendrado”
My favorite is the Alicante!!! Love the nuts with the papery like wafer. Something like that. 😉
MMMMMMM Jijona is the food of the gods. Though I enjoy all three.
Kikita, I’m with you there … or the tres leche dessert!
George,I LOVE tres leches! (even if it IS originally from Nicaragua)
Shout out to the Alicante…
Yema, girl, yema!!!!I’m all atwitter thinking of eating turrones…pero de pena, I’ve already gained my winter weight. 🙁
my uncle broke his “bridge” every year on alicante!
where is your favorite Cuban Market. My husband is Brazilian and we always go to San Diego to stock up on the Brazilian goods at a Cuban Market, but haven’t found one here locally in Mission Viejo.