Feb 26, 2011
Churchkhela - A Sweet From The Caucasus
Today I’m going to tell you about a Georgian sweet that a relative of mine recently brought us from the Caucasus. Despite its name, it has nothing to do with the church; it is a sausage-shaped sweet that (to my mind) looks a little bit gross yet tastes good.
Churchkhela is made by dipping strings of nuts or dried fruits into thickened grape juice with addition of flour; then Churchkhelas are dried in the sun or in a dry ventilated place. The grape juice that coats the filling is rubbery and very dense; it has a mildly sweet flavour and a subtle fruity smell.
This sweet is also made in Armenia, I’ve eaten it in the Crimea, and I’ve heard that they have an analogous sweet in Turkey. The variety I’ve had in the Crimea had a thinner coating of juice and was coloured into bright yellow, red, or purple. The Churchkhela I got from Georgia looks more natural, and the thickened juice is more tender. This variety has walnuts inside:
Each Churchkhela has a funny “tail”:
The string can be easily pulled out before you eat the sweet. You can either bite into the whole Churchkhela or cut it into small pieces:
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Looks interesting, like a sausage. Never seen it before, or maybe I did and thought it was sausage:)
Three-Cookies, hehe yes I thought these were sausages when I first saw them in the Crimea :) I thought something like “hmm, yellow sausages, strange” :D
YUM! I must try this! though I feel that mine will have more than just a funny tail :D
Colleen, yes you should really try these if you ever have the opportunity!
looks interesting!
Thank you a lot for stopping by Kat! ^_^
Thats an interesting sweet which looks like non-vegetarian food :) Glad you shared the info.
Thank you Tanvi! Yes these sweets are actually vegan while they look like sausage :))
That is soooooo interesting and looks tasty. LOVE your site. It really broadens my horizons. :)
Awww thank you Jenny :-* I’ve been swamped with work (and housework) recently so I’m reviewing interesting products while I have no new recipes to share :-)
I know them. They are delicious! Where can I get them in the USA or Canada?
I’ve had these before in Armenia, as well. And as a child I was hesitant to try them, because they don’t look appetizing at all, but after I tried, I couldn’t stop! they are addictive! Not to mention the excuse that they are sort of “health food” because of the nuts and fruits ;)
I made some and I am trying to sell it on ebay and on etsy, if someone wants to try it please visit etsy and search sujux or churchkhela.
thank you
Hi everyone I am making and selling it on ebay and on etsy,
you can visit http://www.etsy.com/listing/78528401/sujux-churchkhela
and buy if you want
thank you
Artur
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Had some this weekend in Allaverdi Monastery in Georgia and it was SO delicious the monks gave me some to bring home, but I know I’ll need more! Will search it on eBay
Its Georgian Sweet Churchkhela(ჩურჩხელა)very delicious belive me! but as everything you need to try good one ;) maybe you’ll find well made churchkhela in only Georgia made by peasants..
but it is also on Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Kernel-Walnuts-Churchkhela/dp/B007939BWE/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1334056357&sr=1-2-catcorr