Dulce de leche
In several regions of Cuba, this dulce de leche cortada is made, it is a delicious combination and it becomes a tradition to make it in homes and external places where they are regularly sold.
The exact origins of dulce de leche continue to be disputed as to who and where it was first created. As it is made in most of Latin America, countries such as Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, and Cuba claim their origins while Argentina and Uruguay claim ownership of its name.
Delicious Origin
All of these claims trace back to the first half of the 19th century with dulce de leche recipes appearing in Latin American cookbooks almost simultaneously. However, there are deeper roots to dulce de leche around the world.
While not dulce de leche itself, it is known that the Arabs brought sugarcane to Spain, as well as sugar processing techniques they learned from India.
At the same time, Spanish and Portuguese colonizers brought sugarcane and dairy cattle to Latin America.
It is said that Napoleon's chef first made dulce de leche when milk and sugar were heated for a long time.
Similarly, and more often told as the origin, a maid of an Argentine general supposedly and accidentally created the beloved dulce de leche. In a town in Buenos Aires, two generals from opposing armies came together to sign a treaty.
The host general's maid prepared a small pot of milk or warm milk with sugar. In the midst of heating it, she was called away and forgot about the pot. When she returned, she discovered that the milk had turned from hot liquid milk to a sticky sweet brown paste.
She asked a soldier to taste it, and it was delicious. The dulce de leche was born. And, it appeared in a historical reference of a peace agreement between the two generals.
