A MEXICAN STORY ABOUT FLAN

One of the most popular Mexican desserts is flan and with good reason.

There is a very long and interesting story behind this delicious dessert, which will explain how it became one of the traditional desserts in Mexico.

THE FLAN’S HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

Historically, the flan has been traced to the times of the Roman Empire, as have many other desserts. The Romans were the number one civilization to farm and domesticate chickens and found they eventually had a surplice of eggs which were not really being used. With this result, the developed various egg-based recipes which led to the flan, but the recipes they came up with for this dessert was very different to the one we use in modern times and all know and love.

GOSH! FLAN WAS SAVORY!

The first version that the Romans came up for of the flan were very much more savory than sweet. They used eel sprinkled with pepper as one of it’s main ingredients. However, they didn’t take long to use honey as it was their only sweetener they had. As the Roman Empire expanded throughout Europe, their recipe for flan also arrived in the rest of Europe which led to new versions and recipes.

FLAN HAS THE SPANISH INTEREST

The Spanish region was the one that were the most interested in the dessert and the first ones to use a sweet caramel sauce to top the flan. It remained in the Spanish territory for a long time and just as the Roman Empire had taken the recipe to distant lands, so did the Spanish. In 1518, conquistador Hernan Cortes travelled to and landed in the Yucatan Peninsula, at the south of Mexico.

FLAN MEETS THE MEXICANS

Because of the cultural encounter, the native Mexicans were introduced to the delicious and ancient dessert which they embraced and loved. Before long, Mexican cooks took the flan recipe to another level as it was adapted and changed from the ancient version first invented by the Romans and later the Spaniards. They created chocolate, coffee, and coconut flavors which also became popular throughout Latin-America as well.

MODERN-DAY FLAN

The modern-day flan has gained the reputation as a Mexican dessert and continues to hold the prestigious title. With this said, it was only until it arrived in Mexico, it was adapted into the most delicious and unmatchable dessert as we know it today.