Alegrías, the ancestral Mexican sweet that lives up to its name
Besides having a beautiful name, this sweet treat has a high nutritional value, a delicious flavor, and a very interesting history.
This traditional sweet, which was already consumed in our territory before the arrival of the Spanish, is made with amaranth, nuts, and seeds. Originally, alegrías were molded into the shape of a god as an offering.
Nowadays, the production of these sweets has become more standardized and industrialized, although in many regions production remains artisanal.
Honor to his name
There are several theories about how this sweet's name came about. For one thing, an article published on excelsior.com.mx tells the story of a Franciscan named Fray Martín de Valencia who arrived in Xochimilco with some missionaries. One day, while on a hilltop, they tried to light a fire. They used amaranth sticks to light it, and suddenly they began to crackle and turn white. This sparked so much curiosity and joy that they began to sing and dance around the fire.
The production process for alegrías begins by roasting the seeds, which causes them to acquire the white color typical of the amaranth we know. Some say that the seeds appear to jump for joy during the roasting process, which is why many attribute the name to this.
Furthermore, it has been proven that the protein content of amaranth has an antidepressant effect that stimulates our system and improves our mood.
Want more reasons to eat joy more often?
With information from: Source 1