#HealthNotes: Melomakarona vs Kurabiedes! Myths & Stories!
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The story of Kurabie!
Kurabies is coming from distant Persia, today’s Iran, and made a first stop in Lebanon, where in the 7th century was spread to East and West, with the rapid production of sugar. This sweet can be found mainly in the Balkan countries, such as Albania, Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey. The word kurabies comes from the Arabic word ‘kurabiyya’ and the Turkish ‘kurambiye’, which means dry sweet, because it is fluffy and soft like a biscuit.
In every day speaking, they tend to call a soft person to a Kurabie, as well as the lazy and cowardly soldier. The custom of making kurabiedes also hides a fairy tale. Kurabies, according to this, was a handsome young man, who Ice witch fell in love with. Because he refused her, she took revenge on him, by pushing him into a frozen lake. But his fairy godmother, saved him and transformed him into a sweet. He also transformed the snow of the lake, into fine powdered sugar, so that her kurabie could swim.
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The story of Melomakarono!
When the Asia Minorities brought melomakarona in Greece, they also called them Foinikia, as they are still used to call them in the Dodecanese and Cyprus. Their history is strange, because in the Middle Ages it was the treat offered at funerals. That’s why melomakarona were also called psychopitakia. The word melomakarono goes back to Ancient Greece, which means macaroni bathed in honey. The Italians make it by calling it, pasta macaroni with honey. The English call it ‘macaron’, while Greeks make it and dip it in syrup and honey, while also sprinkling it with chopped walnuts.
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Nutritionally speaking what should you choose? Melomakarono or Kurabie?
Choose the melomakarono from the kurabie. Because, although they have almost the same calories, honey melomakarona are healthier. They are prepared with olive oil which provides the body with good fats, while kurabiedes are mainly prepared with butter which provides the body with saturated fats. Their increased consumption is harmful to the cardiovascular system. In addition, honey melomakarona are made with honey and less sugar, while kurabiedes are made with only sugar.
