How to Make Homemade Turrón and Learn about Its Fascinating History
When we think of Christmas, some flavours automatically evoke nostalgia and joy. Among them, Turrón has a special place on our tables and hearts. But what is behind this traditional sweet that unites generations?
Beyond being a typical holiday delicacy, Turrón has a fascinating history that goes back to Ancient Greece, crosses the Arab world, and is consolidated in the Mediterranean lands as an expression of culture and tradition.
In this article, in addition to sharing an easy and traditional Turrón de Alicante (Hard almond Turrón) recipe, we will explore how this sweet has travelled through the centuries, adapting, evolving and conquering palates in every corner of the world.
Prepare for a delicious journey that mixes history, flavour and Christmas magic.
The fascinating history of Turrón
Turrón, that emblematic sweet that accompanies us every Christmas, has a history as rich as its flavour. Its origins take us back to Ancient Greece, where Olympic athletes consumed a mixture of honey and crushed almonds to gain energy, a precursor of the Turrón de Jijona we know today. Later, the Romans adopted it as “cupedia”, according to the writings of Titus Livius and the poet Martial, and even gave its name to the street vendors of Italy: “cupetari”.
But history does not stop there. The Arabs, masters of confectionery, also have an important place in the creation of this sweet. In the 11th century, the medical treatise De medicinis et cibis semplicibus mentions a sweet called “turun”, suggesting that the Muslims brought this delicacy to the Iberian Peninsula during their occupation.
Spanish Turrón has its cradle in the province of Alicante, where it was already famous in the 15th century. The first known recipe appears between 1475 and 1525 in the “Manual de Mujeres”
