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One would be flabbergasted by the sheer extensiveness of sweetmeats on the Goan Christmas menu. What is most exotic of all is Bolo Rei, a baked delight with its root inveterated in Portugal. It is undebatable that this sweet treat is intertwined with this Indian coastal state's festive culture. Bolo Rei, also known as Portuguese Christmas Fruit Cake, is a classic cake. The cake is especially famous in Portugal between Christmas Day or December 25th and Kings Day (January 6th), the holiday season. The authentic Bolo Rei is seasonal, and the last day of its availability is till the 6th day of January.
What's in the name?
Bolo Rei belongs Portuguese Christmas and Epiphany tradition. Its name infers to the three wise men and translates as King's Cake. It's an unctuously sweet cake that resembles brioche. It mimics a crown with a circular shape and a massive hole in the centre. The outer layer is studded with nuts, raisins, and crystallised fruit. This intricate ornamentation depicts the gems of the King's crown.
The cake with heritage, Image Source: Freepik
The source of Bolo-Rei heritage
Bolo-Rei is claimed to have originated during the Roman Saturnalia festivities. Specifically, the reference is to the fava bean-filled cake baked with figs, dates, and honey. Following that, the Catholic church transformed this Roman custom into a depiction of the Epiphany festival.
The inclusion of fève and charms
Bolo Rei is interesting since, originally, the cake contained two more items. The first is a fava bean, sometimes known as a broad bean. Another thing is a tiny gift, which is frequently a toy. Bolo Rei's shape and ingredients vary, but a fève or fava bean, such as a figurine thought to represent the Christ Child, is usually hidden inside. Following cutting the cake, whoever receives the fève wins a gift. Another custom was that the recipient of the cake slice with fava bean had to supply the Bolo Rei the ensuing Christmas. Another tale cites a dried fava bean and a little metal charm buried in the dough.
An ornate Bolo Rei cake, Image Source: fiel_1957@Instagram
The intent was to predict good or bad luck for the coming year. Whoever discovers the charm will have "good luck" the following year, but the one receiving the bean has to pay for the next king cake. Few would conceal the small puzzles in the cakes, with the prize being a half-gold pound. Some would show their gratitude by mixing the real coins into the batter. Contemporary fèves can be fashioned from a range of materials. Due to choking hazards, the Economic Food and Health Authority (ASAE) has now prohibited this practice.
French muse
Surprisingly, the Portuguese Bolo-Rei is inspired by the 19th-century French gateau des rois. Similarly, a dry fava bean and a porcelain present were included in the French tradition. The person who found the bean was crowned king or queen of the party. As a result, a situational crown-wearing privilege and the ability to make a wish were granted. Furthermore, they needed to pay for the following cake. Dry beans were replaced by porcelain beans beginning in the 1870s. Eventually, porcelain was replaced by plastic.
According to legend, the Three Wise Men - Gaspar, Belchior, and Baltazar - created a variant of the famous Bolo-Rei. The cake represents the gifts they presented to baby Jesus: gold, myrrh, and frankincense. The Wise Men argued about who would be honoured to be the first to give their gift to the Child. To resolve the debate, a baker created a cake with a fava bean hidden inside. The person who discovered it was declared the winner. The story does not specify who found it.
