The word halva (alternatively halwa, halvah, halava, helva, halawa etc.), originally derived from the Arabic root حلوى ḥalwā (sweet), is used to describe many distinct types of sweet confection, across the Middle East, Central Asia, South Asia, and the Balkans. Halva based on semolina is popular in India, Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Another common type, based on tahini (sesame paste), is more popular in the eastern Mediterranean and Balkan regions, in countries such as Romania, Bulgaria (тах'ан халв'а), Ukraine, Greece, Cyprus, Israel, Lebanon, Macedonia, Albania,Northern Cyprus, Syria, Central Asia, Caucasus region and Turkey as well as the Palestinian territories. Halva may also be made from a variety of other ingredients, including sunflower seeds, various nuts, beans, lentils, and vegetables—such as carrots, pumpkins, yams, and squashes.^[1] Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2168x1580, 472 KB) [edit] Summary Pistachio Tahini Halva, User:Sjschen, self-created [edit] Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Halva Metadata This file contains additional information... ... Tahini, jar 453g. ... Binomial name L. The pistachio (Pistacia vera L., Anacardiaceae; sometimes placed in Pistaciaceae) is a small tree up to 10 m tall, native to mountainous regions of Iran, Turkmenistan and western Afghanistan. ... Arabic redirects here. ... The Azerbaijani language, also called Azeri, Azari, Azeri Turkish, or Azerbaijani Turkish, is the official language of the Republic of Azerbaijan. ... Bangla redirects here. ... The Burmese language is the official language of Myanmar. ... Czech (pronounced ; čeÅ¡tina IPA: in Czech) is one of the West Slavic languages, along with Slovak, Polish, Pomeranian (Kashubian), and Lusatian Sorbian. ... This article is about the modern Greek dialect of Cyprus. ... Hebrew redirects here. ... Hindi (हिन्दी) is a language spoken mainly in North and Central India. ... The Kurdish language (Kurdish: Kurdî or کوردی) is the language spoken by Kurds. ... Serbian (; ) is one of the standard versions of the Shtokavian dialect, used primarily in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, and by Serbs in the Serbian diaspora. ... Malayalam ( ) is the language spoken predominantly in the state of Kerala, in southern India. ... Farsi redirects here. ... Tamil ( ; IPA ) is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamils in India and Sri Lanka, with smaller communities of speakers in many other countries. ... The phrase Zaban-e Urdu-e Mualla written in Urdu Urdu () is an Indo-European language of the Indo-Aryan family that developed under Persian, Turkish, Arabic, Hindi, and Sanskrit influence in South Asia during the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire (1200-1800). ... Slovenian or Slovene (slovenski jezik or slovenščina) is an Indo-European language that belongs to the family of South Slavic languages. ... Arabic can mean: From or related to Arabia From or related to the Arabs The Arabic language; see also Arabic grammar The Arabic alphabet, used for expressing the languages of Arabic, Persian, Malay ( Jawi), Kurdish, Panjabi, Pashto, Sindhi and Urdu, among others. ... The term confectionery refers to food items rich in sugar. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... Balkan redirects here. ... Picture of semolina Semolina grains Semolina is coarsely ground grain, usually wheat, with particles mostly between 0. ... Tahini, jar 453g. ... The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea positioned between Europe to the north, Africa to the south and Asia to the east, covering an approximate area of 2. ... ... Anthem: Ä°stiklâl Marşı(Turkish) Independence March Capital Nicosia (LefkoÅŸa in Turkish) Official languages Turkish Government Representative democratic republic1  -  President Mehmet Ali Talat  -  Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer Independence from Cyprus   -  Proclaimed November 15, 1983   -  Recognition By Turkey only  Area  -  Total 3,355 km² (167th ranked together with Cyprus... Map of Central Asia showing three sets of possible boundaries for the region Central Asia located as a region of the world Central Asia is a vast landlocked region of Asia. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Caucasus Mountains. ... This article is about the Palestinian territories as a geopolitical phenomenon. ...

Types

Most types of halva are relatively dense confections that are sweetened with sugar or honey. However, their textures are quite different. For example, semolina halva is gelatinous and translucent, while sesame halva is drier and more crumbly. This article is about sugar as food and as an important and widely-traded commodity. ... For other uses, see Honey (disambiguation). ...

Semolina

This halva, produced and served in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran and surrounding countries (different versions of it are also found in Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Macedonia and Turkey), is usually made with semolina wheat, sugar or honey, and butter or vegetable oil. Raisins, dates, or other dried fruits are often included. Nuts such as almonds are also commonly added to semolina halva. The halva is very sweet with a gelatinous texture similar to polenta; the added butter gives it a rich mouthfeel. The classic proportions of semolina halva are 1:2:3:4, i.e. 1 part fat (a vegetable oil or butter), 2 parts semolina, 3 parts sweetening agent (e.g. sugar or honey) and 4 parts water. The semolina is cooked in the fat while a syrup is being made of the sweetener and water. Then the two are mixed carefully, extras added and the halva is left to settle. Species T. aestivum T. boeoticum T. dicoccoides T. dicoccon T. durum T. monococcum T. spelta T. sphaerococcum T. timopheevii References:   ITIS 42236 2002-09-22 Wheat Wheat For the indie rock group, see Wheat (band). ... For other uses, see Butter (disambiguation). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with cooking oil. ... Raisins Percentages are relative to US recommendations for adults. ... Binomial name Phoenix dactylifera L. The Date Palm Phoenix dactylifera is a palm, extensively cultivated for its edible fruit. ... Dried fruit is fruit that has been dried, either naturally or through use of a machine, such as a dehydrator. ... For other uses, see Almond (disambiguation). ... Polenta with sopressa and mushrooms. ... In many areas related to the testing and evaluating of foodstuffs,such as wine-tasting and rheology, mouthfeel is a product’s physical and chemical interaction in the mouth from initial perception on the palate, to first bite, through mastication to swallowing. ...

Though semolina halva is considered to be essentially a "Northern" confection in India, it is also quite popular in South India. A 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 closely related semolina preparation widely enjoyed throughout South India is called Kesari or Kesari-bath. This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The geographical south of India includes all Indian territory below the 20th parallel. ... South India is a geographic and linguistic-cultural region of India. ... Tamil ( ; IPA ) is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamils in India and Sri Lanka, with smaller communities of speakers in many other countries. ... , Tirunelveli (Tamil: ) is a Municipal Corporation, sixth largest city in Tamil Nadu(After Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Trichy and Salem)in southern India and the district headquarter of Tirunelveli district. ... Tamil Nadu (தமிழ் நாடு, Land of the Tamils) is a state at the southern tip of India. ...

In India, carrots (for gajar halwa) or mung beans (for moong dal halwa) or bottle gourds (for doodi halwa) for example, may be used instead of semolina. Prepared with condensed milk and ghee, without semolina to bind it together, the end result has a moist yet flaky texture when freshly prepared and bears some resemblance to a British pudding. This article is about the cultivated vegetable. ... Binomial name (L.) R. Wilczek Synonyms Phaeolus aureus Roxb. ... The calabash (Lagenaria siceraria) is a vine-based plant that produces a fruit that resembles either a bottle, utencil, or pipe. ... Ghee in a jar Ghee (Hindi घी, Urdu گھی, Punjabi ਘੋ, Kashmiri ग्याव/گیاو - from Sanskrit घृत sprinkled; also known in Arabic as سمن, samn, meaning ghee or fat) is a class of clarified butter that originates in the Indian subcontinent, and continues to be important in Indian cuisine as well as Egyptian cuisine. ... Pudding can be prepared with a large variety of toppings such as fresh fruit and/or berries, and whipped cream Christmas pudding Dessert pudding Illustrations from Isabella Beetons Mrs Beetons Book of Household Management, 1861 Pudding most often refers to a dessert, but can also be a savory dish. ...

Sesame

Sesame halva is popular in the Balkans, Middle East, and other areas surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. The primary ingredients in this confection are sesame seeds or paste (tahini), and sugar, glucose or honey.^[2] Soap root^[3] (called ‘erq al halaweh in Arabic; çöven kökü in Turkish^[4]), egg white, or marshmallow root are added in some recipes, to create a distinctive texture. Other ingredients and flavourings such as pistachio nuts, cocoa powder, orange juice, vanilla, or chocolate are normally added to the basic tahini and sugar base. Binomial name Sesamum indicum L. Sesame (Sesamum indicum) is a flowering plant in the genus Sesamum. ... The Balkans is the historic and geographic name used to describe southeastern Europe (see the Definitions and boundaries section below). ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... Binomial name Sesamum indicum L. Sesame (Sesamum indicum) is a flowering plant in the genus Sesamum. ... Tahini, jar 453g. ... Gypsophila is a genus of hardy annual and perennial plants (family Caryophyllaceae). ... For the confection, see marshmallow. ... Binomial name L. The pistachio (Pistacia vera L., Anacardiaceae; sometimes placed in Pistaciaceae) is a small tree up to 10 m tall, native to mountainous regions of Iran, Turkmenistan and western Afghanistan. ... For other uses, see Cocoa (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Orange juice (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Vanilla (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Chocolate (disambiguation). ...

Floss halva

Pişmaniye (Turkish) or floss halva is a traditional sweetmeat, prepared in Kocaeli, Turkey, made by flossing thin strands of halva into a light confection. Made primarily of wheat flour and sugar, the strands are continuously wrapped into a ball shape and then compressed. The result is a halva with a light consistency, similar to cotton candy. Floss halva can be found in regular and pistachio flavors, and there are brands with halal or kosher certifications. There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... Izmit (also known as Ismid and Kocaeli) is a city in the northwestern part of Anatolia, Turkey. ... Candyfloss redirects here. ... Halal (حلال, alāl, halaal) is an Arabic term meaning permissible. In the English language it most frequently refers to food that is permissible according to Islamic law. ... The circled U indicates that this can of tuna is certified kosher by the Union of Orthodox Congregations. ...

A similar pistachio-based version of Floss halva is popular in North India. It tends to be slightly denser and is often referred to as "Patisa" or Sohan papdi.

Sunflower

Sunflower halva, popular in countries from Eastern Europe, such as Belarus, Romania, Republic of Moldova, Russia and Ukraine, is made of sunflower seeds instead of sesame. It has a rich , unmistakable flavor and "addictive" taste. For other uses, see Sunflower (disambiguation). ... Statistical regions of Europe as delineated by the United Nations (UN definition of Eastern Europe marked red):  Northern Europe  Western Europe  Eastern Europe  Southern Europe Pre-1989 division between the West (grey) and Eastern Bloc (orange) superimposed on current borders: Russia (dark orange), other countries formerly part of the USSR... Motto: none Anthem: Limba noastră (Our Tongue) Capital ChiÅŸinău Largest city ChiÅŸinău Official language(s) Moldovan (Romanian) Government President Prime Minister Parliamentary Republic Vladimir Voronin Vasile Tarlev Independence  - Formation  - Independence August 27, 1991 August 2, 1940, August 27, 1991 Area  - Total  - Water (%)   33,843 km² (135th... For other uses, see Sunflower (disambiguation). ...

Etymology and cultural use

Halva is the most common modern English spelling and the transliteration from most Balkan languages. Other transliterations include: halava (Sanskrit), halvah (Hebrew), halwa or halwi (Arabic), helva (Turkish). The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Transliteration is the practice of transcribing a word or text written in one writing system into another writing system. ... This is a list of languages spoken in the Balkans. ... Sanskrit ( , for short ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ... Hebrew redirects here. ... Arabic redirects here. ...

The Hebrew spelling, halvah, may at times be used to refer specifically to the Kosher variety. The circled U indicates that this can of tuna is certified kosher by the Union of Orthodox Congregations. ...

The word 'halawa' (حلاوة) in Arabic means 'sweetness' while the word halwa (حلوي) means sweets or candy. The word halva comes from the Arabic word halwa; the root word is hilwa meaning sweet. The root word is also the basis for the Arabic word for "good" (helwa').

 Albania

Halva in Albania is usually sweet and eaten as a dessert at the end of a meal. It is made with mostly chocolate, but also with vanilla (white halva made with either vanilla or just sugar), or a mixture of half and half. Many stores all over Albania sell this popular sweet in large, fresh and in-expensive blocks. Its taste is creamy, yet melt in your mouth. The ingredients are flour, butter, sugar, and other flavorings. Image File history File links Flag_of_Albania. ...

 Bosnia and Herzegovina

Halva is widely used in Bosnia, and is available in different forms and flavours. Image File history File links Flag_of_Bosnia_and_Herzegovina. ...

 Bangladesh

Halua as it is known in Bangla, is quite popular among the Bengalis. There are many types of haluas that are savoured, among the common ones are: semolina (shoojir halua), carrot (gajorer halua), chickpeas (booter daaler halua), flour (neshestar halua) and almond (baadamer halua). Many Bangladeshis also eat halua made from papaya (peper halua). Halua is usually eaten as a rich dessert, but it is not uncommon for Bengalis to eat halua for breakfast with traditional breads (rice flour, porota etc..) Image File history File links Flag_of_Bangladesh. ...

 Bulgaria

In Bulgaria the term halva (халва) is used for several varieties of the dessert. Tahini halva (тахан халва) is most popular and can be found in all food stores. Two different types of tahini halva are made - one using sunflower seed tahini and another using sesame seed tahini. Traditionally, the regions of Yablanitsa and Haskovo are famous for their halva. Semolina halva (грис халва) is made at home and can be found only in some pastry stores. A third type is white halva (бяла халва), which is made of sugar. White halva is popular on the last Sunday before Lent (Sirni Zagovezni; Сирни заговезни), when a piece of white halva is tied on a string. All the children at the party stand in a circle and must catch the turning piece of halva with their mouths. Almost all types of halva in Bulgaria are flavoured with essence of Good King Henry (чувен). Image File history File links Flag_of_Bulgaria. ... Yablanitsa (Bulgarian: ; also Jablanica, Iablanica, Yablanica, Jablanitsa, Iablanitsa, Jablanitza, Yablanitza, Iablanitza, etc. ... Location of Haskovo Coordinates: , Country Bulgaria Provinces (Oblast) Government  - Mayor Georgi Ivanov Elevation 196 m (643 ft) Population (2005-12-14)  - Total 96,010 Time zone EET (UTC+2)  - Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3) Postal Code Area code(s) 038 Haskovo (Bulgarian: ); is the name of a town and administrative... For other uses, see Lent (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Chenopodium bonus-henricus L. Good King Henry, also called mercury, lincolnshire spinach or poor mans asparagus is a species of goosefoot native to much of central and southern Europe. ...

 Croatia

Halva is a sweet that is consumed in Croatia. It is not uncommon to come across the specialty in the regions of Slavonia, Kordum, Lika and Baranja or regions that at one point came in contact with the Ottoman empire. Halva is especially popular in Slavonia during "Kirvaj" or local church carnivals. Image File history File links Flag_of_Croatia. ...

 Egypt

In Egypt, the name is halawa tahiniya (حلاوة طحينية). The word 'halawa' in Arabic means 'sweetness' while the word halwa (حلوى) means sweets. It has many varieties such as plain blocks, and fine fibrous halawa called halawa hair. Other varieties with pine nuts, pistachios, and almonds exist in big blocks or pre-packed consumer portions, or more recently energy bars (chocolate bar size). Halawa is a very popular sweet enjoyed by a lot of Egyptians. It is eaten for breakfast and dinner, and enjoyed with hot bread, sandwiches, and sometimes with the Arabic equivalent of clotted cream (قشطة, pronounced ishta in Egyptian Arabic). It is a staple food that is enjoyed all over the country as it does not need special storage conditions, and can be kept in ambient temperature with no risk of spoilage. Image File history File links Flag_of_Egypt. ... Clotted cream on scones with jam, also called Cream Tea. ... Kajmak or Kaymak is a creamy dairy product, similar to clotted cream, made all over the Middle East, Southeast Europe, Iran, Afghanistan, India and Turkey. ... Egyptian Arabic (MarÄ« مصري) is part of the Arabic macrolanguage of the Semitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family. ...

 Greece &  Cyprus

In Greece and most of Cyprus the term halva (Χαλβά) is used for both varieties of the dessert. Sesame halva was produced in classical times.^[5] The dish was popular in the Byzantine Empire, and it is very popular throughout the country especially during Great Lent and other fasts. Halva is considered one of the most delicious Greek desserts which is appropriate under Orthodox Christian fasting guidelines. Image File history File links Flag_of_Greece. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cyprus. ... Byzantine redirects here. ... Orthodox icon of Pentecost. ...

 India &  Pakistan

Halwa is one of the main sweet dishes of Pakistan and India. Mostly made of semolina, ghee and sugar. There are various types of halva in the Indian subcontinent, distinguished by the region and the content in which it is prepared. One of the famous halwa is Sooji halwa. Carrot halwa (called gaajar halwa is a popular sweet throughout India. Halva can also be made from tender bottle gourds. ^[6] Image File history File links Flag_of_India. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

 Israel

Heavily sesame-flavoured tahini halvah (חלבה) is very popular with Jews in Israel and among Jews all over the world. Spelled "halvah" in English, it usually comes in slabs or small packages and is available in a wide variety of flavours, chocolate and vanilla being very common. The halvah is almost always pareve, meaning it does not contain any meat or dairy ingredients, ensuring that it can be eaten with/after either milk or meat dishes according to the laws of Kashrut. Israeli and Jewish halvah will usually not contain wheat flour or semolina but will contain sesame tahini, glucose, sugar, vanilla and saponaria root extracts (Soapwort) which are not always found in other recipes. Image File history File links Flag_of_Israel. ... Kosher foods are those that meet certain criteria of Jewish law. ... The circled U indicates that this product is certified as kosher by the Orthodox Union (OU). ... An ingredient used in many foods, flour is a fine powder made from grain or other starchy food sources. ... Picture of semolina Semolina grains Semolina is coarsely ground grain, usually wheat, with particles mostly between 0. ... Binomial name Sesamum indicum L. Sesame (Sesamum indicum) is a flowering plant in the genus Sesamum. ... Tahini, jar 453g. ... Glucose (Glc), a monosaccharide (or simple sugar), is an important carbohydrate in biology. ... This article is about sugar as food and as an important and widely-traded commodity. ... For other uses, see Vanilla (disambiguation). ... Species About 20 species, including: Saponaria bellidifolia Saponaria caespitosa Saponaria calabrica Saponaria lutea Saponaria ocymoides Saponaria officinalis Saponaria pumilio Saponaria sicula Saponaria, also known as soapwort, is a genus of about 20 species of perennial herbs in the Caryophyllaceae, native to southern Europe and southwest Asia. ...

 Lebanon and  Syria and  Jordan

In the region of the Levant - which includes Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the Palestinians, halva is typically the sesame or tahini-based form, which can be flavored in various ways and may include pistachios or almonds. A large quantity of halva is exported from Lebanon throughout the world. Image File history File links Flag_of_Lebanon. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Syria. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Jordan. ... The Levant The Levant (IPA: ) is an imprecise geographical term historically referring to a large area in the Middle East south of the Taurus Mountains, bounded by the Mediterranean Sea on the west, and by the northern Arabian Desert and Upper Mesopotamia to the east. ... The Palestinian flag, adopted in 1948, is a widely recognized modern symbol of the Palestinian people. ...

 Libya

In Libya, it is called حلوى شامية halwa shamiya or simply shamiya which means Levantine sweet, whereas the word halawa is never used. Image File history File links Flag_of_Libya. ...

 Malta

In Malta, the term ħelwa tat-Tork is used to refer to a tahini-based block confection sometimes containing pistachios or almonds. It is commonly served at the end of wedding celebrations. Image File history File links Flag_of_Malta. ...

 Romania &  Moldova &  Slovenia

In Romania, Slovenia and Republic of Moldova, the term halva is used to refer to a sunflower-based (in Republic of Moldova it's mostly referred to as as "halva de răsărită". In Romania it's known as "halva de floarea soarelui") block confection sometimes containing pistachios, almonds or chocolate. Image File history File links Flag_of_Romania. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Moldova. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Slovenia. ... Motto: none Anthem: Limba noastră (Our Tongue) Capital ChiÅŸinău Largest city ChiÅŸinău Official language(s) Moldovan (Romanian) Government President Prime Minister Parliamentary Republic Vladimir Voronin Vasile Tarlev Independence  - Formation  - Independence August 27, 1991 August 2, 1940, August 27, 1991 Area  - Total  - Water (%)   33,843 km² (135th... Motto: none Anthem: Limba noastră (Our Tongue) Capital ChiÅŸinău Largest city ChiÅŸinău Official language(s) Moldovan (Romanian) Government President Prime Minister Parliamentary Republic Vladimir Voronin Vasile Tarlev Independence  - Formation  - Independence August 27, 1991 August 2, 1940, August 27, 1991 Area  - Total  - Water (%)   33,843 km² (135th...

 Tajikistan

Soft sesame halva is made from sugar syrup, egg whites, and sesame seeds. Solid sesame Halva is made from pulled sugar, repeatedly stretched to give a white colour; prepared sesame is added to the warm sugar and formed on big trays.^[7] Image File history File links Flag_of_Tajikistan. ...

 Turkey &  Northern Cyprus

Un helvası

The term helva is used by Turkish people, to describe tahin (crushed sesame seeds), flour, or semolina halva, called "tahin helvası", "un helvası", and "irmik helvası", respectively. Yaz helvası is the one made of almond or walnut. Semolina halva (garnished with pine nuts) has a cultural significance in Turkish folk religion and is the most common type. Traditionally, halva prepared with flour un helvası is cooked and served upon the death of a person. In addition, some sweets and desserts are also called helva such as pamuk helva or Kos helva, a sweet like dessert which is widespread in Turkey. In Safranbolu kos helva is also called "leaf-halva". Image File history File links Flag_of_Turkey. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Turkish_Republic_of_Northern_Cyprus. ... Anthem: Ä°stiklâl Marşı(Turkish) Independence March Capital Nicosia (LefkoÅŸa in Turkish) Official languages Turkish Government Representative democratic republic1  -  President Mehmet Ali Talat  -  Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer Independence from Cyprus   -  Proclaimed November 15, 1983   -  Recognition By Turkey only  Area  -  Total 3,355 km² (167th ranked together with Cyprus... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2856 × 2142 pixel, file size: 2. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2856 × 2142 pixel, file size: 2. ... Tahini, jar 453g. ... For other uses, see Flour (disambiguation). ... Picture of semolina Semolina grains Semolina is coarsely ground grain, usually wheat, with particles mostly between 0. ... Pine nuts are the edible seeds of pine trees (family Pinaceae, genus Pinus). ... Folk religion consists of beliefs, superstitions and rituals transmitted from generation to generation of a specific culture. ... Traditional houses in old town Traditional house Safranbolu is a town in Turkey and a district of Karabük Province. ...

Cultural references

In Turkey, after the burial ceremony, on the seventh and fortieth day following the death of a muslim, and also on the first anniversary, flour helva is cooked and offered to visitors and neighbours by relatives of the deceased. For this reason, flour (un) helva is also called "ölü helvası" meaning "helva of the dead". The expression "roasting the helva of someone" suggests that the person referred to died some time ago.

There is a Greek saying Ante re halva! ("Άντε ρε χαλβά!" - could be translated as "get lost halva"), which is used when the speaker wants to offend someone, usually a man by calling him coward and/or chubby. Another saying, dating from the period of Ottoman domination, states that "Ρωμαίικος καβγάς, τούρκικος χαλβάς" (roughly translated as "A fight among Greeks is a Turk's delight").

See also

• Arab cuisine
• Barfi
• Iranian cuisine
• Levantine cuisine
• Jewish cuisine
• Turkish cuisine

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Arab cuisine is the cuisine of the Arab countries. ... Tray of barfi Fig barfi Barfi or burfi is an Indian sweet. ... The cuisine of Iran is diverse, with each province featuring dishes, as well as culinary traditions and styles, distinct to their regions. ... Levantine cuisine is the traditional cuisine of the Levant region. ... Jewish cuisine isnt one unified cuisine, but rather a collection of international cookery traditions, loosely linked by kashrut, the Jewish dietary laws. ... Turkish cuisine inherited its Ottoman heritage which could be described as a fusion and refinement of Turkic, Arabic, Greek, Armenian and Persian cuisines. ...

References