Pan de muerto, bread of the dead

In Mexico , pan de muerto ( bread of the dead ) is a type of bread traditionally made to celebrate the Day of the Dead (Mexican holiday celebrated throughout the country on November 1 and 2 ) whose origin can be traced back to certain Pre-hispanic rituals condemned during the Spanish Conquest .

Have you ever heard of

Copal

,  the “Food of the Gods”?

José Luis Curiel Monteagudo

, in his book Azucarados Afanes, Dulces y Panes ( Sugary Whims, Sweets and Pastries ), emphasizes that for Mexican people, the notion of eating the Dead is such a pleasurable experience that it is considered the anthropophagy of bread and sugar .

“The phenomenon is assimilated with both respect and irony challenging Death , and mocking it while they eat it,” assures the food researcher.

Have you ever heard of 

Cempasúchil

 or the "flower of the Dead"?

Nowadays, there are about 920 versions of this ceremonial bread which varies from region to region in form, alluding to human beings, animals, flowers or even mystical beings, in ingredients, preparations, and recipes.

Pan de muerto, bread of the dead

However, traditional pan de muerto is generally overflowed with anise and orange hints sprinkled with sugar or covered in sesame seeds.

Pan de muerto, bread of the dead

Filled with clotted cream, whipped cream or even chocolate are different and decadent ways of enjoying bread of the dead , indulgent on its own, but even better paired with a cup of foamy Mexican hot chocolate!

sg