Halva

The word halva (Arabic: حَلاوة; Greek: χαλβάς; Hebrew: חלווה; Macedonian: алва; Russian: халва; Polish: chałwa; Turkish: helva; Persian: حلوا) is used to describe two distinctly different types of sweet, block shaped confections. One type of halva is based on semolina that is popular in India, Pakistan, and Persia. The other type is based on tahini, which is more popular in the east Mediterranean region.

Types

Both types of halva are relatively dense confections that are sweetened with sugar or honey. However, their textures are quite different with semolina halva being more gelatinous and translucent, while tahini halva being drier and more crumbly.

Semolina

Halva produced and served in India, Pakistan, Persia and surrounding countries (different versions of it are also found in Greece and Turkey), is usually made with semolina wheat, sugar or honey, and butter or vegetable oil. Raisins, dates, or other dried fruits are often included. Nuts such as almonds are also commonly added to semolina halva. The halva is very sweet with a gelatinous texture similar to polenta. The added butter gives it a rich mouthfeel too.

Though semolina halva is considered to be essentially a " Northern" confection in India, it is also quite famous in South India. 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. The halva in the southern state was brought by North Indian businessmen or "Lalas", and hence the the famous name "Lala Kadai Halva" (Lala's Shop Halva). In Tirunelveli, a famous shop serves halva after six in evening hence it is called "irutu kadai" meaning "dark shop" in Tamil. It is known for its delicious halva which is red in color and has ghee floating on it.

Tahini

Tahini halva is popular in the western part of the the Balkans, Middle East, and other areas surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. The primary ingredients in this confection are tahini and sugar or honey, with Vanilla or Marshmallow root (called "Halawa") extracts as common flavorings. Other ingredients such as pistachio nuts, orange juice, or chocolate are often added to the basic tahini and sugar base, resulting in a variety of flavors. ^*

Etymology and cultural use

Halva is the modern English spelling and the Bosnian, Bulgarian, Greek, and Serbian transliteration. The word may also be spelled halava (Sanskrit transliteration), halvah (Hebrew transliteration), halwa or halwi (Arabic transliteration), helva (Turkish transliteration), halwa (alternate Hindi transliteration) or alwaa (Tamil transliteration). The Hebrew spelling, halvah, may at times be used to refer specifically to the Jewish variety. The Arabic word halwa is a generic term for candy, or "sweetmeat" in literal translation. It is also sometimes spelt Chalva.

Turkey

In Turkey, the term "halva" (helva but also colloquially, halva) is the commonly used for any dessert that is not prepared from processed doughs (such as phyllo dough in types of baklava) or with milk (in types of sütlaç) as the primary ingredient. In fact the term "halva" is used by Turkish people, to describe tahini, wheat flour, or semolina halva, called "tahin helvası", "un helvası", and "irmik helvası", respectively. Semolina halva (garnished with pine nuts) has a has a cultural significance in Turkish folk religion.

Tamil

Halva enjoys a special status in popular jargon in the state of Tamil Nadu. "Enakkae alvaavaa?" (roughly translated as "are you trying to give me alvaa?!") is a humorous colloquial Tamil phrase used when the speaker feels that another person is trying to outsmart him or her.

Tirunelveli halva is immortalized in a popular Tamil comic song (originally from a movie) that includes the line, Thirunelvaeli alvaa daa, Thiruchi malai koetta daa, Tirupathikkae laddu thandha saami daa (referring to some South Indian cities and what they are popularly associated with: Tirunelveli with its delicious alvaa; Tiruchi with the famous Rock Fort temple dedicated to Lord Vinayaka; and the Hindu pilgrim destination, Tirupathi, with a sweet called laddu).

External links

Halva Recipes from Cooks.com

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