Halwa

If you asked ten Somalis about the ingredients of halwa you would get at least twelve answers. This sweet part Somali culture is a treasured by most and the secret ingredients to each recipe is well guarded. When we first asked our students about halwa, it was around our small office table as they were preparing it for a class certificate party in January. We were puzzled by the peculiar taste of this sticky treat: "What's in it?" There was a commotion as the students argued over the ingredients -- "sugar!" "butter!" "NO not butter, oil!" "flour and nuts" "garlic..." The list went on.

To shed some light on the subject, we are happy to share a short essay by one of our students.

Halwa by Aasha Ferah

Today I like to talk about Halwa and what it is made and contained.

The Halwa is something cooked. First, water is boiled and then you add or we add sugar, saffron, cardamon oil and butter. After that, or the last thing, we add peanuts. So Halwa contains that or something else.

Halwa is used at special ceremonies like a wedding, parties, and at a birth. We eat it a lot when we are in honeymoon. When we mostly eat it we use a fork, plate and knife. I eat it three days in every week and it is my favorite.

Students in Erica's Beginner English Class