What is the origin of this dish?
This delicacy does not have a clearly defined, recorded, or confirmed history. Among the theories of its origin, it is said to have appeared in the 7th century, where dates were crushed with milk. Another legend states that in the 9th century, the recipe was used to make many types of sweets, with the difference of adding cooked semolina and flour paste.
The earliest confirmed record of this dish is found in a 13th-century Arabic recipe book; and in the same century, this recipe can also be found in a Spanish cookbook.
The Ottoman Empire also played a role in spreading various dishes, including one of the earliest versions of halva, characterized by being a sweet based on sesame.
Characteristic traits
This treat with a thousand names derives from an Arabic word meaning "sweet," and it is characterized as a paste sweetened with various ingredients, depending on the type of halva. However, it is its sweetness that makes it one of the most well-known Jewish dishes worldwide.
What truly characterizes halva is its wide variety of variants. As it reaches different territories, each tries to give it a local touch, making halva versions increasingly diverse.
In places like the Middle East, it is very common to see sesame seed halva sweetened with sugar and honey, and optionally, with added coconut paste, chocolate, or vanilla.
In Eastern Europe, it is also common to see sunflower seed halva, which retains some ingredients but replaces sesame with sunflower seeds.
