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Articles about Halva |
Information About ™Halva |
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The word ''halva'' is used to describe two distinctly different types of Confection s. One type of candy called halva is popular in India and neighboring countries, and is made with Semolina Wheat , Sugar or Honey , and Butter or Vegetable Oil . Raisin s, Date s or other Dried Fruit s are often included. Another type of candy called halva is popular in the greater Middle East , The Balkans , and other areas around the Mediterranean . The primary ingredients in this confection are Tahini and sugar or honey. Vanilla is typically included. 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. {Link without Title} In Turkey , halva (''helva'' but also colloquially, ''halva'') is the common name for desserts that are not prepared with processed Flour (in type of '' Baklava '') or with Milk (in type of '' Sütlaç '') as the primary ingredient. However, usually halva in a Turkish mind is whether made of tahini (''tahin helvası''), Wheat Flour (''un helvası'') or semolina (''irmik helvası''). Especially semolina halva (garnished with Pine Nut s) has a Folk Religion significance. It is usually cooked in the name of a newly deceased person and to restrain from eating this halva is often considered as a sin. SPELLING Halva is the modern English spelling and the Bosnian , Bulgarian , Serbian and Greek transliteration. The word may also be spelled halava ( Sanskrit Transliteration ), '''halvah''' ( Hebrew transliteration), '''halwa''' or '''halwi''' ( Arabic transliteration), '''helva''' ( Turkish transliteration) or '''halwa''' (alternate Hindi 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. SOUTH INDIAN HALVA Though the Indian halva is considered to be essentially a "north Indian" confection, it is famous in south India too. The 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 . 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. HALVA IN COLLOQUIAL TAMIL Halva enjoys a special status in popular jargon in the state of Tamil Nadu . "Enakkae alvaavaa?" (roughly translated as "you trying to give alvaa even to me?!!") is a very humorous colloquial Tamil phrase used in situations where one feels that another person is trying to outsmart him. Tirunelveli halva is immortalized by an ever-popular Tamil movie song (a very humorous song) that goes as follows: ''Thirunelvaeli alvaa daa, Thiruchi malai koetta daa, Tirupathikkae laddu thandha saami daa '' (That line from the song mentions some south Indian cities and what those cities are associated with popularly. Tirunelveli is often associated with its delicious alvaa; Tiruchi is associated with the famous ''Rock Fort'' temple dedicated to Lord Vinayaka and the extremely popular Hindu pilgrim destination, Tirupathi , is also associated with a sweet called Laddu ) |
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