Dulces Marianos
Dulces Marianos is one name for the many different, colorful sweets that are typically sold in Nicaragua from mid-November to January. This time period encompasses both the Christmas holidays and La Purísima, the most popular feast for the majority of locals.
La Purísima ma is a nine-day devotion dedicated to the Conception of the Virgin Mary that takes place between November 28th and December 8th. Every novena day, family, friends, and neighbors gather to pray and sing to the Virgin Mary, as well as to exchange sweets, candies, and treats.
Such sweets can be purchased individually, in pre-packaged trays, or in handcrafted baskets, and always include some fudge. Bright pink coconut fudge (cajeta de coco), milk fudge (cajeta de leche), papaya fudge (cajeta de papaya or pionates), and coyolito are all common sights (fudge made from coyol, a special palm tree fruit).
Bienmesabe, a dessert of fried green plantain strips caramelized in cane sugar, is another Dulces Marianos favorite.
Finally, no La Purísima is complete without Gofio, a diamond-shaped candy originally from northern Nicaragua. It's made with pinol (toasted ground white corn), spices (ginger, nutmeg, anise, cinnamon), and miel, a caramel made from black cane sugar.
