Bread of the dead: the sweet that Mexicans share with their dead
From the second week of October, Mexicans begin to talk about only one thing: the bread of the dead.
Every year, looking forward to autumn because this is the moment when Mexicans can offer to their dead a bit of the things they enjoyed in life . they make it from symbolic way and with various elements, each one with such strong semantic power, that it has been considered a world heritage festival.
This series of rituals/festivals, has the name of ** Day of the dead ** and covers from October 30 to November 2, days in which, according to the mexican worldview, the dead come home to visit the living and to enjoy with them their favorite foods (within which this bread is always included).
Celebration of the Day of the Dead in Mexico
All that banquet is carefully prepared and placed in a temporary altar , called "offering" , made up of sails (which guide them back) and cempaxuchitl flowers (with which they are remembered) .
The dead bread has its origin in the time of The colony but its foundations are founded on the Prehispanic Mexico , that territory that offered to its gods, the bodies of some privileged (usually members of pre-Hispanic royalty) causing a strong cultural shock to the Spaniards who arrived, and who saw in these ceremonies, paganism and violence, which led to their prohibition.
One such ritual involved mix the blood of the sacrifices with amaranth , making a food that was shared between gods and humans . post-colony, the body of the sacrificed it was replaced by corn and wheat bread, to which a small ball was added in the central part to represent the skull, and four strips in the shape of bones, placed in the shape of a cross.
The delicious Mexican bread of the dead
Despite its short production (starts the second week of October and ends the second week of November ) , the dead bread , is currently one of the most desired delicacies by Mexicans. The traditional version carries above white sugar or sesame , and tastes similar to roscon de reyes , but with a much more buttery and smooth consistency.
Of course there are also more modern and risky versions , with flavors and combinations as varied as tastes: ginger, cardamom, lavender, lemon, guava, filled with coffee cream, jams, honey and an infinite etcetera. It is accompanied by a hot chocolate , and it is enjoyed thinking about the ancestors, who return home to share it.
And to all this... Where to try bread of the dead in Madrid? We leave you some options:
Mother Yeast Dead Bread
1.**Mother Yeast**
surely you know this bakery chain organic that have both stores and coffee bakeries . Its range of handcrafted products is as large as it is cared for. In addition to the products that they always have in their branches, there is the option of ordering products from bakery and pastry custom made.
On these dates they add dead bread to your offer, which is made with the same raw materials ( sustainable and local ) with those who make their production of the day, with a wonderful result (you can place your orders directly from their website).
2.**Pan Mex Bakery**
This bakery from Aluche is dedicated solely to mexican bread , so if you want tradition, this is the option . The service is at home (within the M30) and they can make special shipments to the entire peninsula. Best of all, they'll have pan de muerto the entire month of November!
Tip: order your loaves a couple of days in advance. Direct orders on your social networks.
3.**Iztac Restaurant**
This is possibly the most gourmet option because although the bread they make is traditional, the proposal is designed by the Mexican chef Nacho Oropeza , who has always sought to work with a proposal of Mexican haute cuisine. BEWARE, the bread of the dead will only be present in the Tasting Menu (you will find this restaurant in the Plaza de República de Ecuador; reservations from their website).
Bread of the dead from Iztac Restaurant
Four. Majorcan Pastry
They have several stores throughout the city: Génova, Velázquez, Goya, Las Rozas etc. Its opening hours are from 09:00 to 21:00 from Monday to Sunday and you can place your orders through its website.