- Spoon sweets
Spoon sweets are sweet preserves, served in a spoon as a gesture of hospitality in the
Balkans , theMiddle East , and inRussia . They can be made from almost any fruit, though sour and bitter fruits are especially prized. There are also spoon sweets produced without fruit.Some of the fruits that are used include seedless
grape s, mulberries and other berries, bergamot,apricot s,apple s.pear s, sour and sweet cherries, oranges andkumquat s,lemon s,grapefruit ,tangerine s,pomegranate s,quince s,fig s, prunes, etc. Even soft fruit likemelon orwatermelon can be thus prepared, although retaining a relatively firm texture is quite the challenge there. Other varieties include green, unripewalnut s,pistachio s,hazelnut s, and other nuts, or even flower petals likerose . Many fruits or parts of fruits that are normally inedible, such as the various citrus peels and blossoms, or sliced citrus fruits with their peel intact, can be made into sweet, flavorful preserves, as can some vegetables such as babyeggplant s orcherry tomato es. A well-made spoon sweet retains the original shape, color, aroma and taste of the fruit.Spoon sweets are usually offered to guests served by the teaspoon in a small
china orcrystal dish or bowl, with coffee or tea and cold water. Most of the time they are homemade, but nowadays they can also be easily found in most supermarkets; these are more likely to be made with glucose syrup rather than sugar, for reasons of cost.They can be used as
ice cream oryogurt topping, or in the Western way as a spread on toast for breakfast.Greece
Spoon sweets (γλυκό του κουταλιού 'sweet of the spoon') are popular in
Greece andCyprus , usually served withGreek coffee and a glass of cold water. Most are made of whole fruit, though some kinds are made of pieces or purees.One typically Greek spoon sweet is the snow-white and intensely aromatic Βανίλια [va'nilja] , which is "not" made of
vanilla , but ofmastic resin , for which the Aegean island ofChios is famous. This is usually served as a spoonful of sweet on a table spoon dropped into a tall glass of ice-cold water and popularly called "βανίλια υποβρύχιο", a "vanilla submarine". The Greek diaspora introduced this treat to other countries as far away asJapan . [http://mastic.info/mastic_shouhin.htm] It is said to be the official treat of thePatriarchate of Constantinople .Whole fruit preserves can be found in most Greek and Cypriot homes. They are made by slowly and gently boiling fruit in water and sugar over several hours or days, until the syrup sets. Thus the main prerequisites to making good spoon sweets are said to be "patience and a heavy pot". Some lemon juice is often added to preserve the fruit's original color, as the
citric acid prevents oxidation. A small quantity of blanched almonds, slivered or whole, may also be added for crunch, often to apples or grapes. Ingredients variously added during the boiling, and then discarded, include a quill ofcinnamon bark, a mint bouquet, or the green, fragrant leaves of the shrub "Pelargonium odoratissimum" (apple geranium) which add some astringency and a slight aroma offrankincense and is especially popular in theIonian islands .The overall method of preparation is essentially the same as that of
marmalade , except that fruit pieces remain firm and whole; a well-made spoon sweet is chewy.References
* Claudia Roden, "A Book of Middle Eastern Food", 1970. ISBN 0-14-046-159-0.
External links
* [http://www.chios.gr/products/spoon_en.htm Chios Spoon Sweet]
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