From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bolo de mel
(
Portuguese pronunciation:
[?bolu
ð?
?m?l]
, "honey cake") is a traditional cake from the
Madeira Islands
.
History
[
edit
]
This cake is considered to be Madeira's oldest dessert.
[
citation needed
]
First noted in the 15th century using spices from
Europe
and
India
, it was first created by nuns in the Convent of Santa Clara in Funchal. It is also popular in the Azores Islands of
Portugal
.
[1]
Ingredients
[
edit
]
The
bolo de mel
cake became a popular confection when the island was an important sugar producer, since the cake itself is traditionally made with
molasses
instead of the now-popular
honey
, which meant it could be stored for up to 5 years.
[
citation needed
]
When made with molasses, the cake is very dark in color and has a spongy sticky texture resembling a soft
cookie
. The cake often has
walnuts
and
almonds
mixed within it. Clove, cinnamon, black pepper, anise seeds and allspice are popular spices used in the preparation. When it is served in Madeira, it is customary not to cut the cake, but rather to tear pieces off using the hands.
[
citation needed
]
Bolo de mel
is traditionally made around 8 December so that it will be consumed during
Christmas
often in a large enough batch that it can be enjoyed throughout the year.
[2]
See also
[
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]
References
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]
External links
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]
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Appetizers
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Sausages
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Dishes
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Desserts
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Beverages
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Non alcoholic beverages
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Cheeses
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