Jan 28, 2011
Zephyr - A Sweet From Post-Soviet Countries
Zephyr is a very common sweet produced in Post-Soviet countries. Outwardly it’s similar to marshmallow, but it’s made with pureed apple (or other fruit), egg white, and pectin. It’s considered to be very healthy, as it contains a lot of pectins and almost no fat (the varieties of Zephyr I’m showing you today contain 0.2% fat). You can see that it’s recommended by the Latvian Dietitian Association:
Why is this sweet called Zephyr? Probably because it’s delicate and tender like a light wind. Zephyr produced in Latvia comes in a number of flavours such as cranberry, cherry, strawberry, cream flavoured or just neutrally sweet. It can also be coated in chocolate. My favourite is cranberry Zephyr, it contains bits of tangy cranberries:
This cream-flavoured Zephyr is coated in light waffle crumbs. As you can see, the texture is denser and more moist than that of marshmallow:
Each Zephyr is made of two halves resembling seashells that are stuck together:
It can be eaten as a standalone sweet or as an ingredient in treats like cakes or layered desserts. I like little cubes of cranberry Zephyr in my hot chocolate:
I’m not sure if it can be made at home, but if I ever succeed to recreate it, I will certainly let you know.
I’m curious if there’s anything similar to Zephyr in your countries. I would also love to know if you’d be interested in more reviews of Eastern European specialties?
Print This Post
Facebook
Flickr
FriendFeed
RSS
StumbleUpon
Twitter
Bloglovin
I think these might be like meringue… egg whites that have been beaten,usually with cream of tarter. They are sweetened and baked in a low oven?? Mmm.. zephyrs look very yummy.
I have been following you blog for a little while and have really enjoyed your recipes. We have a dear friend from Belarus, we were looking for something she had made… when we stumbled upon your blog. Keep up the good work. We are reading from Florida, US. :)
Oh thank you so much Mindy, I just realized I didn’t reply to your kind comment!! So sorry! As far as I know, Zephyrs are not baked, they are just formed into seashell-shaped halves and dried out!
Thank you for reading our blog!!
Interesting sweet, I have never heard of it in spite of travelling to Soviet Republics. Its free from sugar and butter. The popular dessert from NZ/Australia, pavlova, is a meringue. Its called Pavlova, named after a Russian lady that visited that part of the world. Maybe there is a connection.
And I didn’t know that zephyr’s were served in fancy glasses:)
Three-Cookies, wow what countries of the ex-USSR you’ve been to?
Hi Alina, I haven’t been to many. Russia, Siberia (it has its own constitution!), Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan. Still many more to visit…they are all interesting.
I live in Canada and enjoy reading your blog. The recipes and reviews are like a quick trip around the world! I made your recipe for layered rye bread dessert. It was unlike anything I’d ever tasted before - and so yummy! Everyone who had the dessert really liked it. I look forward to reading about, and sampling when possible, more of your unique foods. I sure would love to taste a Zephyr!
Nice to meet you Johanna! Thank you very much for your feedback - I’m always so excited to hear someone made our recipes, and of course I’m happy to hear you liked that dessert. Feel free to post any suggestions to improve the recipes you’ve tried!
In the US, there is the meringue. It’s fat free and similar to zephyrs, but without the fruit puree. Here, we might put chopped nuts/crushed peppermint candies/chocolate chips in the meringue and make meringue cookies with them. However, I’m not a very big fan of them, as they are EXTREMELY sweet.(almost like eating straight from the sugar jar) Are zephyrs extremely sweet as well?
And YES! please review more of these products! I find it absolutely interesting to learn more about other countries’ culture.
Love your pictures!
Thank you a lot anonymous :) Meringue is made with egg whites, right? Well I think Zephyr is not as sweet as meringue. Although it depends on the variety. That’s why I’m a patriot of Latvian zephyr - it’s moderately sweet and fluffy inside.
Your welcome :D Yes, meringue is made with egg whites, sugar, and sometimes cream of tartar(to stabilize it). The ratio is 1 egg white and 1/3 cup of sugar (i think!). I have managed to make slightly moist and fluffy meringues before by decreasing the sugar content. Maybe the base for a zephyr is 1 egg white + 1/4 cup of sugar + fruit extract? Or maybe it’s 1 egg white + 1/3 cup of sugar + fruit puree folded in? Please try to recreate this recipe - I can’t find it on google! I will definitely be waiting for it!
You see, I’m not so sure these can be made at home because they’re not baked or thermally treated in any way :-o perhaps that’s the reason why there’s no recipe on the web :-/ Thank you for sharing your meringue ratio by the way, last time I made meringues they came out a little bit chewy :)
Zephyrs are similar to meringue, however they are a lot heavier, less crumbly and more chewy (I suppose because of the use of the puree), am I right?
It is hilarious, isn’t it, that Latvian dietitian association recommends zephys - low far, but filthilly packed with sugar:)
Katrina, well I’d say they’re not crumbly at all, the varieties you can find here in Riga are somewhat moist inside.
Zephyrs are packed with sugar, but they’re healthier than chocolate bars, aren’t they? I’ve seen Weight Watchers’ point charts adapted for Latvia and zephyr was one of the few sweets on which you could go practically unpunished.
Thank you for stopping by, your blog sounds intriguing, I’ll take a closer look at it later - I’m so drowsy right now :-/
yeah, I meant that ‘Soviet’ zephyrs are more chewy, moist than ‘western’ meringues. God, I’d kill for one right now!:)
hope you’ll stop by for longer at my blog - perhaps we should share a few posts?!
hey I could send you some if you’re still craving them ;-)
These are absolutely gorgeous!! I love your blog, I’m learning sooo many things. I had no idea these were made from apples. :)
Thank you Jenny! I didn’t realize these were made of apple puree either until I saw a Weightwatchers’ brochure a few years ago! :D
I grew up with these. Every now and then i can find them at the local Euro-Deli! They are a wonderful reminder of home!
That’s wonderful Sasha! Thank you stopping by! ^_^ Do you live in the US?
Great article but it didn’t have everythingI didn’t find the kitechn sink!
jFB6rd odncxksuqdlt
I happened to find Zephirs at a russian market a couple of days ago…they remind me of marshmallow, but with more pleasant tanginess.
I also bought a box of Latvian “Vecriga with raisins” cookies, and a “hearth baked parboiled rye bread”,also from Latvia(I love dark, substantial bread!). Parboiled!? Interesting.
Wow that’s amazing you tried Zephyrs and Latvian foods!! Where do you actually live? The Zephyrs must have been from Latvia too, weren’t they? Those made in Russia are normally sweeter, with little tanginess.
As for parboiled rye bread… hmm *I guess* it just means that the dough was made by combining flour and boiling water (something similar to choux pastry, in Russian it’s called Zavarnoe testo)… That’s what I think they meant by calling it parboiled. Was the bread very dark and dense?
Oh and Vecriga means Old Riga btw :)
Yes, it’s a dark and dense rye bread with caraway seeds. I also bought “classic rye bread” by the same Latvian company (Balt Trade), so I’m looking forward to try that, too.
I also tried a Russian chocolate-covered cheese dessert, and liked it very much. Do you eat this in Latvia, too?
And I bought something I had never tasted nor heard before–birch juice from Ukraine…it’s slightly sweet and clear in color…There are so many interesting food in this world and I want to try everything!!
Yeeees birch juice is delicious!! Just hope you got to buy a good brand because sometimes they sell very diluted and sweetened juice. It’s one of the best thirst quenchers I know, really. Ah I want a glass of birch juice now :)
And that chocolate-covered cheese dessert is called “Syrok” (”Little Cheese”), yes, we have a lot of them over here, I was actually going to write about them someday under the “Product Review” section. They can also be flavoured with fruit, berries, chocolate chips, nuts, or whatever else matches cottage cheese. I always have a couple of these in the fridge - it’s a great lunchtime snack!
I’m so excited you have the opportunity to try all these foods!
Well I don’t know if you’ve found the recipe yet or not, but I definately know that forum JazzedCook.com has a recipe that includes, eggwhites, sugar, agar-agar (this one settles at room temperature and does not need heating like pectin or other gelifying agents.
The lady that makes the zephyr, makes them to order and she shared the recipe on the website. You can look in there I’m sure you’ll find it :)
Wow thank you so much Marina!! I found the recipe you were talking about… sounds intriguing! I should definitely try it, although I´m not sure our baby will allow me to spend so much time in the kitchen :D You have a wonderful blog by the way, your photography is so professional. Do you have a twitter account to follow you?
Thank you once again!
Where can I buy some of this?
I live in Atlanta, GA and just recently picked up from a local international farmer’s market, Zefir Re Cream Nezhniy. What a wild wonderful experience, especially since I was expecting more of the merengue crunch, less of the marshmallow chewy sweetness, and never expected the ponch of tart! The ingredients listed are: sugar molasses, apple jam, water, egg powder, pectin, lactic acid. One is certainly too sweet for me on its own, however, fabulous in a s’more!
[url=http://fad-screaming.asoo.info/]Любовь дружба секс - инцест девочка видео[/url]
[url=http://icbdw-northview.asoo.info/hux.html]Сиськи писки[/url]
[url=http://mhnsbr-162.asoo.info/]Гей порно дима билан - домашнее порнуха видеоролик[/url]
[url=http://lookout-bteq.asoo.info/cpgyix.html]Порно герои мультфильмов[/url]
[url=http://214.asoo.info/fxohv.html]Порнографией new thread[/url]
[url=http://pmc.asoo.info/szsp.html]Порно девственниц[/url]
[url=http://homesick-estructura.asoo.info/thffc.html]Видео орал секс[/url]
[url=http://cbgst-570.asoo.info/gieefa.html]Русское секс видео безплатно[/url]
[url=http://pisos-clubhouse.asoo.info/fia.html]Porno horse[/url]
[url=http://publicity.asoo.info/]Посмотреть порно памелы андерсон - зрел девочки видеоролик[/url]
[url=http://twly-616.asoo.info/]Porn send thread - онлайн порно видеофильм[/url]
[url=http://4-kiwy.asoo.info/huel.html]Порно mp 4[/url]
[url=http://ixig-690.asoo.info/hhwsydi.html]Фото длинный клитор[/url]
[url=http://aldridge.asoo.info/xtqn.html]Порно маленькие сиськи[/url]
[url=http://bate-maxium.asoo.info/fgcagtc.html]Порно голых девочек[/url]
[url=http://grinding-atlas.asoo.info/]Медицинский секс порно - русское женщины фильм[/url]
[url=http://89-attorny.asoo.info/njcfqym.html]Секс ролики просмотр[/url]
[url=http://dickens-274.asoo.info/uauald.html]Тексты песен cекс пистолз[/url]
[url=http://sjtdo-383.asoo.info/]Оргия порно фото - портал эротика видео[/url]
[url=http://rosewood-81.asoo.info/hqst.html]Sex pictures[/url]
[url=http://continous-colonia.asoo.info/rsyv.html]Секс среди геев[/url]
[url=http://vkajk-lawnmowers.asoo.info/wel.html]Tom jones sex[/url]
[url=http://sytza.asoo.info/nfen.html]Сургутское порно[/url]
[url=http://1200.asoo.info/lhdey.html]Porn post phtml topicid[/url]
[url=http://valentina-djoyng.asoo.info/]Порно фото женских ступней - русское порнуха видеоролик[/url]
[url=http://bgpon-225.asoo.info/hzwm.html]Фотографии вагины[/url]
[url=http://fmxyg-susanne.asoo.info/hhwrm.html]Возбужденный клитор[/url]
[url=http://saba.asoo.info/dvfmqko.html]Порно фото пятнадцатилетних[/url]
[url=http://nonnude-ligament.rure.info/pyqw.html]Порно галлереи инцеста[/url]
[url=http://burleson-caoci.rure.info/xfm.html]Фото стёпа ебёт[/url]
[url=http://961-uyox.rure.info/]Секс знакомства тамбов - зрелых эротика фильм[/url]
[url=http://gdksv.rure.info/qdctun.html]Секс лизьбиянок[/url]