THE 5 MOST POPULAR YUCATAN TYPICAL SWEETS - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The typical sweets of Yucatán are influenced by both the Mayan culture and the Spanish and French. They have their origin in the second half of the 19th century and have remained popular to this day.

When they arrived in the province of Yucatán, the Spanish brought various products with them, among them sugar. They also introduced techniques such as baking and baking to the region.

This resulted in the manufacture of sweets, especially in convents. Later this practice spread to most homes in the area.

Today the typical sweets of the region can be divided into three types: traditional confectionery, syrup sweets and honey sweets.

Currently there are many different types of sweets in the Yucatan region. Most are still very popular with the native population, although more and more foreigners are curious to try them.

You may also be interested in the traditions and customs of Yucatan.

The 5 main typical sweets of Yucatan

1- Almond marzipan

This traditional sweet is made with a mixture of crushed almonds and sweet syrup. This syrup is normally prepared by boiling a mixture of honey, cinnamon, and water until it is the desired consistency.

After mixing the two ingredients, they are rounded and the dough is placed in the oven until it is thin and consistent.

Later it can be flavored with rose essence, or add supplements such as larger pieces of almond.

2- Zapotitos

Yucatecan zapotitos are candies shaped like small fruits prepared with pumpkin seeds and sugar. They have a consistency similar to marzipan and are usually coated in cinnamon.

These traditional sweets get their name because they were traditionally made in the shape of sapote, a typical fruit of the area.

Currently they can be found with many different aspects. However, the flavor is always the same for all types of zapotitos.

3- Run over cake

The pastel atropellado is a typical Yucatan sweet prepared with sweet potato (a typical Latin American tuber), grated coconut, sugar and cinnamon.

They are usually rounded in shape, although they can also be prepared similar to a cake.

4- Guava paste

Another of the best-known sweets in this area is guava paste, resulting from cooking the tropical fruit of the same name. It is a very sweet and aromatic fruit, with pink or white pulp.

The paste is made by grinding and straining the pulp of the fruit, and then boiling it with syrup until it is consistent.

This paste is spread out in large blocks. On cooling it is cut into small squares. It can be served with both sweet and savory complements.

It is very typical to find it accompanying pieces of soft cheese, salads or cookies and cakes.

5- Meringue

The last typical sweet on the list is also one of the best known. Made with egg whites and sugar, it can come in various shapes and colors but always with its characteristic flavor.

Meringue is traditionally sold by "merengueros", street traders who have been preparing and selling these sweets for more than a century.

In the past, the sale of merengue was carried out through a game of chance called "volado", although this tradition is no longer so common in the region.

References

1. "Meringue (food)" in: Wikipedia. Retrieved on: November 4, 2017 from Wikipedia: es.wikipedia.org
2. "Yucatecan sweets" in: Mérida de Yucatán. Retrieved on: November 4, 2017 from Mérida de Yucatán: meridadeyucatan.com
3. “Yucatan sweets, Spanish influence and Mayan mix of flavors” in: Radio Fórmula. Retrieved on: November 4, 2017 from Radio Fórmula: radioformula.com.mx
4. "The sweet flavors of Yucatán" in: From 10. Retrieved on: November 4, 2017 from From 10: de10.com.mx
5. "The sweet sin that every Yucatecan commits" in: Sipse. Retrieved on: November 4, 2017 from Sipse: sipse.com