Cajeta
Encyclopedia
Cajeta is a Mexican
confection of thickened syrup
usually made of sweetened caramelised
milk
.
According to chef Rick Bayless
, the name for cajeta came from the Spanish phrase al punto de cajeta, which means a liquid thickened to the point at which a spoon drawn through the liquid reveals the bottom of the pot in which it is being cooked. However, it is more popularly known it takes its name from the small wooden
boxes in which it was traditionally packed. Mexican cajeta is considered a specialty of and popularly associated with the city of Celaya
in the state of Guanajuato
, although it is also produced with the traditional method in several towns of the state of Jalisco
, such as Mazamitla
, Sayula
, and Atotonilco el Alto
.
Cajeta is made by simmering goat's milk, or occasionally a sweetened liquid, stirring frequently, until it becomes very viscous due to evaporation of water, and caramelized. While goat milk is the most usual base, other liquids or juices may be used.
In Celaya, and eventually the rest of Mexico, the confection of half goat
's milk and half cow's milk became known by the name cajeta, but elsewhere, the milk candy became known as leche quemada, dulce de leche
, etc. It has cousins in the many India
n milk-based sweets like pera
and the milk fudge
burfi, and in the opera fudge of the U.S. Cajeta is eaten on its own as a sweet, as a spread or filling for bread
s and pastries, such as churros, and as a topping for ice cream
.
Certain liquors are added to special recipes called cajeta envinada. In addition, cajeta envinada especial is enriched with raisins, almonds, pecans or nuts. Often it is used as a topping for crêpes, as a sweet sauce boiled and softened down with milk to soak the crepes, resulting in a tasty dessert.
introduced a line of cajeta-flavored confections styled "Cajeta Elegancita", targeted at Mexican-food aficionados living in the United States
. The marketing decision made headlines when it was discovered the word is a risqué term for the vulva
in Argentinian
parlance.
In 2006, San Antonio, Texas-based grocery chain H-E-B
introduced cajeta-flavored ice cream.
In September, 2010, cajeta was declared the Bicentennial Dessert of Mexico, honouring its history, tradition and origin. Cajeta was born in the city of Celaya, Guanajuato, the state where the Independence of Mexico started back in 1810, with the famous Grito de Dolores
by father Miguel Hidalgo
. In Celaya, Hidalgo was named Captain General of America by his staff, making it an important element of the Independence War
, as it was easily stored and transported, and lasted for several months without decomposing, thus becoming an important food complement for the poorly fed troops.
To commemorate this event, the Coca Cola Company launched a new cajeta-flavored Coke in the Mexican market. The colorful bottles, made entirely of aluminum alloy, were designed by Octavio Ocampo, a well reputed painter born in Celaya.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
confection of thickened syrup
Syrup
In cooking, a syrup is a thick, viscous liquid consisting primarily of a solution of sugar in water, containing a large amount of dissolved sugars but showing little tendency to deposit crystals...
usually made of sweetened caramelised
Caramel
Caramel is a beige to dark-brown confection made by heating any of a variety of sugars. It is used as a flavoring in puddings and desserts, as a filling in bonbons, and as a topping for ice cream, custard and coffee....
milk
Milk
Milk is a white liquid produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals before they are able to digest other types of food. Early-lactation milk contains colostrum, which carries the mother's antibodies to the baby and can reduce the risk of many...
.
According to chef Rick Bayless
Rick Bayless
Rick Bayless is an American chef who specializes in traditional Mexican cuisine with modern interpretations. He is perhaps best known for his PBS series Mexico: One Plate at a Time....
, the name for cajeta came from the Spanish phrase al punto de cajeta, which means a liquid thickened to the point at which a spoon drawn through the liquid reveals the bottom of the pot in which it is being cooked. However, it is more popularly known it takes its name from the small wooden
Wood
Wood is a hard, fibrous tissue found in many trees. It has been used for hundreds of thousands of years for both fuel and as a construction material. It is an organic material, a natural composite of cellulose fibers embedded in a matrix of lignin which resists compression...
boxes in which it was traditionally packed. Mexican cajeta is considered a specialty of and popularly associated with the city of Celaya
Celaya
Celaya is a city and its surrounding municipality in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico, located in the southeast quadrant of the state. It is the third most populous city in the state, with a 2005 census population of 310,413. The municipality for which the city serves as municipal seat, had a...
in the state of Guanajuato
Guanajuato
Guanajuato officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Guanajuato is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 46 municipalities and its capital city is Guanajuato....
, although it is also produced with the traditional method in several towns of the state of Jalisco
Jalisco
Jalisco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in Western Mexico and divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Guadalajara.It is one of the more important states...
, such as Mazamitla
Mazamitla
Mazamitla is a town and municipality of the Mexican state of Jalisco. It is located 124 km south of Guadalajara in the Southeast Region and is a popular resort destination for travelers from Guadalajara. Its name comes from the Nahuatl and means "place where arrows to hunt deer are made"; its...
, Sayula
Sayula
Sayula is a town and municipality in the Mexican state of Jalisco, approximately 100 kilometers south of Guadalajara. It is surrounded by smaller towns, such as Usmajac, San Andres, El Reparo, and Amacueca....
, and Atotonilco el Alto
Atotonilco El Alto
Atotonilco El Alto is a town and municipality, in Jalisco in central-western Mexico. The municipality covers an area of 638.15 km².Atotonilco means Atotonilco El Alto means The High for honor Cristero War...
.
Cajeta is made by simmering goat's milk, or occasionally a sweetened liquid, stirring frequently, until it becomes very viscous due to evaporation of water, and caramelized. While goat milk is the most usual base, other liquids or juices may be used.
In Celaya, and eventually the rest of Mexico, the confection of half goat
Goat
The domestic goat is a subspecies of goat domesticated from the wild goat of southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the Bovidae family and is closely related to the sheep as both are in the goat-antelope subfamily Caprinae. There are over three hundred distinct breeds of...
's milk and half cow's milk became known by the name cajeta, but elsewhere, the milk candy became known as leche quemada, dulce de leche
Dulce de leche
Dulce de leche is a thick,creamy, caramel-like milk-based sauce or spread.Literally translated, dulce de leche means "sweet from milk". It is prepared by slowly heating sweetened milk to create a product that derives its taste from caramelised sugar. It is a popular sweet in Latin America, where...
, etc. It has cousins in the many India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n milk-based sweets like pera
Peda
Peda, Pheda or Pera is a sweet from the Indian subcontinent, usually prepared in thick, semi-soft pieces. The main ingredients are khoa, sugar and traditional flavorings, including cardamom seeds, pistachio nuts and saffron. The color varies from a creamy white to a caramel colour...
and the milk fudge
Fudge
Fudge is a type of Western confectionery which is usually very sweet, and extremely rich. It is made by mixing sugar, butter, and milk and heating it to the soft-ball stage at , and then beating the mixture while it cools so that it acquires a smooth, creamy consistency...
burfi, and in the opera fudge of the U.S. Cajeta is eaten on its own as a sweet, as a spread or filling for bread
Bread
Bread is a staple food prepared by cooking a dough of flour and water and often additional ingredients. Doughs are usually baked, but in some cuisines breads are steamed , fried , or baked on an unoiled frying pan . It may be leavened or unleavened...
s and pastries, such as churros, and as a topping for ice cream
Ice cream
Ice cream is a frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, and often combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavours. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners...
.
Certain liquors are added to special recipes called cajeta envinada. In addition, cajeta envinada especial is enriched with raisins, almonds, pecans or nuts. Often it is used as a topping for crêpes, as a sweet sauce boiled and softened down with milk to soak the crepes, resulting in a tasty dessert.
Recent events
In 2005, the Hershey CompanyThe Hershey Company
The Hershey Company, known until April 2005 as the Hershey Foods Corporation and commonly called Hershey's, is the largest chocolate manufacturer in North America. Its headquarters are in Hershey, Pennsylvania, which is also home to Hershey's Chocolate World. It was founded by Milton S...
introduced a line of cajeta-flavored confections styled "Cajeta Elegancita", targeted at Mexican-food aficionados living in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The marketing decision made headlines when it was discovered the word is a risqué term for the vulva
Vulva
The vulva consists of the external genital organs of the female mammal. This article deals with the vulva of the human being, although the structures are similar for other mammals....
in Argentinian
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
parlance.
In 2006, San Antonio, Texas-based grocery chain H-E-B
H-E-B
HEB Grocery Company, LP is a privately held San Antonio, Texas-based supermarket chain with more than 315 stores throughout Texas and northern Mexico. The company also operates Central Market, an upscale organic and fine foods retailer.H-E-B ranked No...
introduced cajeta-flavored ice cream.
In September, 2010, cajeta was declared the Bicentennial Dessert of Mexico, honouring its history, tradition and origin. Cajeta was born in the city of Celaya, Guanajuato, the state where the Independence of Mexico started back in 1810, with the famous Grito de Dolores
Grito de Dolores
The Grito de Dolores also known as El Grito de la Independencia , uttered from the small town of Dolores, near Guanajuato on April 19, 1810 is the event that marks the beginning of the Mexican War of Independence and is the most important national holiday observed in Mexico...
by father Miguel Hidalgo
Miguel Hidalgo
Miguel Gregorio Antonio Ignacio Hidalgo y Costilla y Gallaga Mandarte Villaseñor , more commonly known as Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla or simply Miguel Hidalgo, was a Mexican priest and a leader of the Mexican War of Independence.In 1810 Hidalgo led a group of peasants in a revolt against the dominant...
. In Celaya, Hidalgo was named Captain General of America by his staff, making it an important element of the Independence War
Mexican War of Independence
The Mexican War of Independence was an armed conflict between the people of Mexico and the Spanish colonial authorities which started on 16 September 1810. The movement, which became known as the Mexican War of Independence, was led by Mexican-born Spaniards, Mestizos and Amerindians who sought...
, as it was easily stored and transported, and lasted for several months without decomposing, thus becoming an important food complement for the poorly fed troops.
To commemorate this event, the Coca Cola Company launched a new cajeta-flavored Coke in the Mexican market. The colorful bottles, made entirely of aluminum alloy, were designed by Octavio Ocampo, a well reputed painter born in Celaya.