A few months ago we told you about the Amazon of monastic sweets and we made a route through the lathes of Seville in search of the best Christmas sweets made by nuns, because it is true that there are no sweets like those made in many convents in Spain. This year, for the Inmaculada bridge, you will have to travel to Seville to try them all.
From October 4 to 7, the Royal Alcázar of Seville returns to the Sample of Convent Sweets , which this year will host a 290 varieties of sweets . Currently, there are about 34 convents with 435 nuns, of which only 19 from the Archdiocese of Seville will participate, which amounts to about 6,000 kg of sweets . Almost nothing!
"Consuming these products is a way of valuing, conserving and perpetuating the rich gastronomic and cultural heritage of the city", point out the organizers of the exhibition. The sweets they prepare have the seal of quality pray and work , that means that they meet several requirements: that they are made in the convent workshops, in an absolutely traditional way and that they are part of the gastronomic heritage of Seville.
Santa Inés buns.
What will you find in the sample? Honey pestiños, muffins, yolks, jams, jellies, biscuits, brunettes, quince meat... A whole assortment that you can always find on their websites, but this time you will have more at hand than ever.
For example, we highlight the sweets made in the convent of San Clemente that prepares, among many other things, a gluten-free marzipan cake called ‘Heart of Santa Gertrudis’ , almond pastes or special cuts that are made with flour, butter, sugar, anise, wine, lemon and angel hair.
Also the buns of Santa Inés , made with great care by the Franciscan Poor Clare nuns following its original recipe that dates back centuries. Interestingly, they are only made on Tuesdays and Fridays, and contain ingredients such as flour, olive oil, sugar, sesame, water, yeast, and salt. You can also find them online at Dulces El Torno.
Cortadillos of the San Clemente convent.
While of the lathe of the Mother of God (Dominicas) Madeleines, naranjitos, cordials or giraldillos, almond cake, hens in milk, almond bites or marzipan figures come out. That is, everything you will need on your Christmas table.
This year the communities of San Leandro (Agustinas), Santa Paula (Jerónimas), Santa Inés (Poor Clares), San Clemente (Cistercians), Madre de Dios (Dominicans), Santa Ana (Carmelites) and Santa María de Jesús will come from the capital. (Poor Clares).
For their part, there will be twelve convents from the rest of the province with a presence this year in the Reales Alcázares: Jerónimas de Constantina and Morón; Poor Clares of Alcalá, Estepa, Marchena, Morón and Carmona; Dominicans from Bormujos, Barefoot Mercedarias from Marchena and Osuna; Franciscan Conceptionists of Osuna and Carmelites of Utrera.
The schedule is from ten in the morning until seven in the afternoon, although they warn: “while supplies last” . In 2020 they broke sales records, with 50% more than in 2019.
More articles:
- When sweets are not a sin: the Sevillian turnstile route
- The best baker in the world is from Lebrija
- 7 Sevillian artisans to be inspired by
- Alcázar legacy: sleep on a little piece of Sevillian history