Parva (food) facts for kids
In the Paisa region of Colombia, parva refers to many different kinds of small baked goods and sweets. These are often eaten as quick snacks or for breakfast. Some parva foods are sweet, and others are savory (not sweet). People usually enjoy parva with a warm drink like coffee, hot chocolate, or a sweeter drink called aguapanela.
For example, savory parva foods include pan de queso (cheese bread), pandeyuca (yuca bread), and buñuelos (fried dough balls). Croissants are also a type of savory parva. Sweet examples of parva include red roll cakes filled with guava jam (called rollo rojo), mojicones, roscones, meringues, and cucas.
Where the Name "Parva" Comes From
The name for these foods, "parva," comes from a word in Yiddish, which is a language spoken by some Jewish people. The Yiddish word is "parve." It means food that is neither meat nor dairy. This word has been used in a similar way in Argentina and other parts of Latin America since 1492. This is because Sephardi people, who came from Spain, settled in these areas.
The term "parva" originally referred to cookies and fresh meals made quickly with flour, like chips and sweet pies. As these delicious foods became more popular, the word "parva" started to be known in other regions of Colombia, not just Antioquia.
