Known as the scariest night of the year, Halloween is a holiday with centuries of tradition. With Celtic origins and Roman and Christian influences, this date is an iconic celebration around the world.
The origins of Halloween date back to Samhain, a Celtic festival that represents the end of the harvest season. It is believed that on the night of October 31, the veil between the world of living and the dead weakened, allowing spirits to roam freely. Over the centuries, Samhain became associated with the Christian celebration of All Saints’ Day, and thus Halloween as we know it today.
Today, Halloween is called by different names depending on the culture and country, but if there is one thing they all have in common, it is the gastronomic ritual. Today we discover five international sweets to enjoy with our favorite Cuban mini cigars, both on Halloween and All Saints’ Day.
Barmbrack (Ireland)
This Irish sweet bread, made with raisins and candied fruit, is a Halloween must. It has a soft, spongy texture and is baked with fruit macerated in black tea. It also contains “surprises” inside: a ring, a pea, or a coin, which symbolize good luck, marriage, or fortune for whoever finds them.
Barmbrack is served with butter and tea on the night of October 31. We recommend lighting up a Cohiba Wide Short, whose aromatic character brings out the sweetness of this iconic bread.
Candy apples (USA)
A classic American Halloween treat, candy apples embody the festive spirit of the season. They consist of a whole apple skewered on a stick and covered with a brilliant layer of caramel. Sometimes, we can also find variations with nuts or chocolate, offering different degrees of sweetness.
Apples are a typical autumn fruit, so it’s no surprise that these sweets are an essential part of Halloween. A tip: there’s nothing like combining the smoothness of melted caramel with the strength of a Partagás Chicos, a contrast that awakens the palate.
Huesos de santo (Bones of the Saints – Spain)
Made from marzipan, huesos de santo are one of Spain’s sweetest and most iconic traditions. The marzipan is rolled into a “bone” shape and then filled with sweet egg yolk, although angel hair, chocolate, or jam can also be used to add different flavors and colors.
This sweet is not enjoyed on Halloween night, but the following morning, on All Saints’ Day, as it symbolizes the bones of the martyrs. The high sugar content of these sweet calls for a mild and delicate Cuban mini cigars. Our suggestion? A Guantanamera Mini.
Pan de Muerto (Bread of the Dead – Mexico)
Halloween is to the English-speaking world what Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) is to Mexico. Celebrated between November 1 and 2, this tradition is characterized by paying homage to the deceased with all kinds of rituals: from altars of the dead and decorated cranes to exuberant offerings.
Among the most emblematic elements is pan de muerto, a spongy bread flavored with anise and sprinkled with sugar that is placed on altars as an offering to loved ones. It is usually small and decorated with two crossed “bones” symbolizing the cycle of life and death. To balance the sweetness of this traditional bread, nothing beats a Montecristo Open Mini, a cigarrillo with intensity that complements the sensorial experience.
Colada Morada (Ecuador)
Not all desserts have to be eaten, and that is the case with colada morada. This traditional Ecuadorian drink is made with up to 25 ingredients, including blackberries, mortiño berries, and cornstarch. This mixture results in a characteristic sweet flavor with spicy notes, which pairs well with a soft cigar with sweet notes such as Romeo y Julieta Club.
Colada morada is enjoyed on All Souls’ Day (November 2) and is usually accompanied by guaguas de pan, small bread rolls decorated to look like babies or small children, symbolizing social alliances and commitments.
Halloween is much more than horror movies and midnight costumes. It is a tradition that combines pagan and religious festivities, celebrated around the world under different names and with different rituals. But if there is one thing, they all have in common, it is their love of food and their tribute to those who are no longer with us. It is as international as enjoying flavorful Cuban mini cigars.
