Bolo de mel facts for kids
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| Alternative names | Bolo de mel de cana |
|---|---|
| Type | Cake |
| Place of origin | Portugal |
| Region or state | Madeira |
| Created by | Santa Clara nuns |
| Main ingredients | Flour, sugar, butter or margarine, lard, molasses or honey, walnuts, almonds, spices |
Bolo de mel (pronounced "BOH-loo deh MEL") is a special and very old cake from the Madeira Islands in Portugal. It means "honey cake," but it's often made with something called molasses instead of honey. This delicious treat is a big part of Madeira's food traditions.
A Sweet History
Bolo de mel is known as the oldest dessert from Madeira. People first wrote about it in the 1400s! Back then, it was made with special spices brought from places like Europe and India. The first Bolo de mel cakes were baked by nuns at the Santa Clara Convent in Funchal, Madeira. This yummy cake is also popular in the Azores Islands, another part of Portugal.
What's Inside Bolo de Mel?
The Bolo de mel cake became very popular when Madeira was a big producer of sugar. This is why the cake is traditionally made with molasses (a thick, dark syrup from sugar cane) instead of honey. Using molasses meant the cake could be stored for a very long time, sometimes up to five years!
When made with molasses, the cake is usually very dark. It has a soft, sticky texture, a bit like a chewy cookie. You'll often find walnuts and almonds mixed into the cake. Many different spices are used to give it flavor, such as clove, cinnamon, black pepper, anise seeds, and allspice.
How to Serve It
When people in Madeira eat Bolo de mel, they usually don't cut it with a knife. Instead, it's a tradition to tear off pieces using your hands. This makes sharing it even more fun!
Christmas Tradition
Bolo de mel is a special part of Christmas celebrations. Families traditionally make it around December 8th. They often bake a very large batch. This way, they can enjoy the cake throughout the Christmas season and even for the rest of the year!
See also
In Spanish: Bolo de mel para niños
