DULCE DE LECHE

One flavour stands above all others in Argentina — dulce de leche, a sumptuous concoction made by slowly heating milk and sugar over many patient hours. It’s quite the national treasure — so much so that in 2003, an application was submitted to have it declared Argentinian cultural heritage by UNESCO. (Uruguay quibbled with this, saying it should be considered the gastronomical heritage of the Río de Plata region, common to both countries.) Whole supermarket aisles are dedicated to dulce de leche products in Argentina (especially in the run-up to International Dulce de Leche Day on 11 October). It’s the star ingredient in the nation’s favourite sweet snack: alfajores (which are basically just an excuse to sandwich a lick of dulce de leche between two biscuits). When footballer Lionel Messi was young, one of his coaches would reward him with an alfajor every time he got a goal. When he started getting five goals per game, the coach changed the deal to two alfajores per goal, but only if they were headers.

When asked what he thinks of the fact that roughly a billion alfajores are sold in Argentina every year, Alex says, “It’s ridiculous. It’s a beautiful thing. Even people queuing to get a bus will stop at a dairy and get an alfajor.” Lorena confirms her homeland’s alfajor fever: “My mum sent alfajores back with us to Alex after our last trip to Argentina even though she knows he makes his own.” patagoniachocolates.co.nz