# Anybody remember Halavah? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 8, 2013, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-halavah/652400 "2013-03-08T16:53:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-halavah/652400/1 "2013-03-08T16:53:23Z")
It was a candy my parents would get from the supermarket but I haven’t seen it in years. I believe it is middle eastern and made from Sesame seeds and honey. The packages had a little character on them that looked like the Prigles guy with a turban. Blue was plain and the brown package was dark chocolate covered. It was very tasty but had a strange chalky texture unlike almost anything else. Anyone else eat this? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-halavah/652400/2 "2013-03-08T16:57:01Z")
Yes. I saw it frequently in grocery stores and delis in the NY area. Haven’t seen it since leaving there. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-halavah/652400/3 "2013-03-08T16:58:02Z")
It’s still available at many locations. ISTR I could buy it at Trader Joe’s when I lived in L.A., but I haven’t looked to see if they still carry it. I rarely buy it nowadays. It’s like 127% fat, and it’s so good I could probably eat a few ounces of it at a time. Best to avoid temptation. When I do need a halva fix, I run down to The Souk at Pike Place Market. I like the plain kind, and the kind with pistachios in it. Never had the desire to try any with chocolate. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-halavah/652400/4 "2013-03-08T18:22:55Z")
You should be able to find it in most Middle Eastern groceries and some Jewish delis. The stuff that’s cut straight off the loaf (if that’s the right term) is about a billion times better than the stuff in the tiny package. There are also slightly different versions of the stuff in Russia and the Balkans (and quite different versions in India, but they are a rather different animal than what you’re talking about). I am partial to the Jewish version because it’s what I grew up with (preferably chocolate marbled with nuts). Or you could [make it yourself.](http://homemade-recipes.blogspot.com/2010/01/sesame-or-tahini-halva-recipe-how-to.html) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-halavah/652400/5 "2013-03-08T18:29:59Z")
> [@Eva\_Luna](#): > > The stuff that’s cut straight off the loaf (if that’s the right term) is about a billion times better than the stuff in the tiny package. The guy at The Souk has been doing it long enough that he can cut the amount you want very accurately without weighing. Cut, weigh, and the scale says he’s right on the button. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-halavah/652400/6 "2013-03-08T18:31:53Z")
Let me check the fridge… yep, remembered to get some. Seriously, it’s everywhere here. You can also get halva spread, halva-flavored ice cream, and ten dozen other configurations. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-halavah/652400/7 "2013-03-08T18:43:41Z")
I could pick some up my local grocery store today if I wanted to - it’s not uncommon around here. It’s good stuff - it is indeed hard to describe to anyone, but tasty as hell. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-halavah/652400/8 "2013-03-08T18:57:05Z")
Halva? Hell ya. Can only manage a couple of bites before the sandy sweet texture gets a bit cloying. The original recipe is one of my good childhood memories. ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-halavah/652400/9 "2013-03-08T19:05:38Z")
sure thing: sawdust and sugar, right? ---
**Author:** ![cuberdon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/45deac/32.png) [@cuberdon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuberdon)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-halavah/652400/10 "2013-03-08T19:23:07Z")
> [@phungi](#): > > sure thing: sawdust and sugar, right? Supposedly some people spread it on bagels. I find this unbelievable, but to each their own. Depends where you are. Look for a middle eastern, halal, or kosher market, where it will be inexpensive and fresh from high turnover. Or if there is some high end foodie mart they may sell it, in small foil wrapped pieces, for exorbitant prices. And yes, it is made from sesame seeds and either sugar or honey. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-halavah/652400/11 "2013-03-08T19:31:28Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > It was a candy my parents would get from the supermarket but I haven’t seen it in years. I believe it is middle eastern and made from Sesame seeds and honey. The packages had a little character on them that looked like the Prigles guy with a turban. Blue was plain and the brown package was dark chocolate covered. It was very tasty but had a strange chalky texture unlike almost anything else. Anyone else eat this? [Here it is.](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/00/03/06/84/82/0003068482987_500X500.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.walmart.com/ip/Joyva-Halvah-Chocolate-Covered-Sesame-Candy-8-oz/17194821&h=500&w=500&sz=42&tbnid=MFv0uJeF-xqpfM:&tbnh=117&tbnw=117&zoom=1&usg=__x4KCuSNaiDqfJOTuU52Y7XHLoWo=&docid=as_ycPuqlOH29M&sa=X&ei=Gzw6UYXKM6-F0QGajoCoDg&ved=0CFQQ9QEwBw&dur=77) ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-halavah/652400/12 "2013-03-08T19:42:08Z")
Back when I had a roommate we’d buy some every once in a while simply because neither of us could make up our minds if we liked it or not. ---
**Author:** ![Tapiotar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@Tapiotar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapiotar)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-halavah/652400/13 "2013-03-08T20:13:57Z")
It should be available in the Jewish and/or Middle eastern sections of any good supermarket. It was available at the corner convenience market when i was in college. My freshamn year best freind and I became addicted to the stuff. Nowadays, it’s so sweet I could only eat a very small amount at a time. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-halavah/652400/14 "2013-03-09T04:51:42Z")
> [@cjepson](#): > > [Here it is.](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/00/03/06/84/82/0003068482987_500X500.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.walmart.com/ip/Joyva-Halvah-Chocolate-Covered-Sesame-Candy-8-oz/17194821&h=500&w=500&sz=42&tbnid=MFv0uJeF-xqpfM:&tbnh=117&tbnw=117&zoom=1&usg=__x4KCuSNaiDqfJOTuU52Y7XHLoWo=&docid=as_ycPuqlOH29M&sa=X&ei=Gzw6UYXKM6-F0QGajoCoDg&ved=0CFQQ9QEwBw&dur=77) That was indeed exactly it, thanks! ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-halavah/652400/15 "2013-03-09T05:13:06Z")
I’ve never tried it, but I can tell you where to get some if you visit NH: Market Basket. They keep it in the deli area. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-halavah/652400/16 "2013-03-09T15:02:55Z")
We sold that in the grocery store where I work. Over time those little bricks would sweat oil, and the packages would get greasier and greasier. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-halavah/652400/17 "2013-03-09T17:15:10Z")
They have it in the supermarket where I shop. They’ve got the regular, marble, chocolate, and chocolate-covered. Mmmmmmm! ---
**Author:** ![sidhechaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sidhechaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sidhechaos)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-halavah/652400/18 "2013-03-15T01:48:36Z")
I see it in few international markets in Indianapolis ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-halavah/652400/19 "2013-03-15T02:49:05Z")
I have restrained myself from getting a 1/2 lb of pistachio-laced halvah for 7 days now, since the start of this thread. The international store that has it is less than 5 minutes away. _I don’t know how much longer I can hold out…_ ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-halavah/652400/20 "2013-03-15T04:33:31Z")
This thread inspired me to buy some. Yup, still love it . . . and had to give myself extra insulin. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-halavah/652400.md?page=2)