Turrón+de+Doña+Pepa

= Turrón de Doña Pepa =

Turrón de Doña Pepa is a traditional Peruvian sweet that is eaten around the time of the festividad del Señor de los Milagros. This is also known as the feast of the lord of Miracles. This dish is made with sticks of dough layered with a syrup containing chancaca, water, orange rind, and cloves. Then the top of the delicacy is decorated with various shapes and colors.

One origin of this traditional Lima food, was to remember the salve Josefa Marmanillo as a good cook. One story states that she began to suffer from paralysis and was left with no ability to work. She had heard the rumors about the miracles of the Christ of Pachacamilla and then traveled to Lima herself. There she was said to have been cured of her illness, so she then created the Turrón as a tribute to the miracles.

The other story is that there was a viceroy that had organized a contest. The goal was to make a pleasant, nutritious food that could last for several days. The winner was Josefa Marmanillo. The viceroy’s nickname was “Doña Pepa,” so naturally the dessert was named after him.

By: McKayla Holmes