Everything for a great finale
A cake that came from the big houses to sweeten the hottest parties of the year
A cake as famous as this must of course have its own history. But who really invented this recipe for success?
The roots lie with the Souza Leão family in the Brazilian state of Pernambuco. Around 1700, when sugar cane cultivation reached its peak, the Souza Leão family owned large estates and sugar factories. The family gave the cake its name.
"The king of cakes," as it is called today, can be bought everywhere: in bakeries, supermarkets and pastry shops.
"This is the tastiest cake in Recife," says businesswoman Teresa Figueiredo about this regional specialty.
It is like a pudding, adds Priscilla Maria da Costa. She too raves about this special cake. "I love this cake," she explains enthusiastically.
A Journey Through Time
According to one story, Mrs. Rita de Cássia Souza Leão invented the cake in the São Bartolomeu sugar factory in Jaboatão dos Guararapes. Her intention was to replace the imported ingredients from Portugal with local ingredients. Rita de Cássia Souza Leão wanted to create a real Brazilian cake that would impress the sugar cane aristocracy.
Another version says that the cake was invented in the Moreno sugar factory, also in the state of
Pernambuco. The owner of this sugar factory was Antônio de Souza Leão, a member of the traditional Pernambucan Sousa Leão
family. The cake is said to have been served on the occasion of the visit of the Emperor Dom Pedro II in 1859, when Antônio de Souza
Leão received the title of Baron of Moreno.
Souza Leão - The King of Cakes?
The Souza Leão cake became so important to Pernambuco cuisine that it was legally recognized and registered as an intangible cultural heritage.
The king? I would say he is the emperor of cakes, because he was served to Emperor Dom Pedro II and Brazil never had a king. So he became the cake of the oligarchs and the nobility.
Only later did it become the people's cake, says Paulo Maranhão from the Pernambuco Archaeological Institute.
A Brazilian cake with 200 years of history. A recipe that has survived and delighted the times thanks to available ingredients and adaptations. The adaptations were necessary because the original
recipe was very high in calories. It contained 24 egg yolks and a lot of butter, which made it difficult for any diet.
Fenando Monteiro Dias, a master of the art of pastry, modernized the recipe and made Souza Leão the most delicious and undisputed cake in Recife today.
"I reduced the butter and sugar a little until I got to the point that suits our current palate," explains Fernando Monteiro Dias. In the days of the sugar cane aristocracy, the calories were
welcome to the fine plantation ladies. The extra pounds were a sign of wealth. "They were really sweet," laughs Fernando.
It is a cake that requires a lot of work. A mixture of cassava paste, sugar syrup with butter, coconut milk, egg yolk and a pinch of salt. The liquid is baked in the oven until it becomes a
creamy custard-like mass.
The June Festival without Souza Leão is not a June Festival
June brings the "Festas Juninas". It is the largest festival in northeastern Brazil and often bigger than Carnival. More than 3 million people visit the region. In Caruaru and Campina Grande, the
festival lasts 30 days. There are dance competitions, bonfires and forro music. One of the most important things about São João is the abundance of good food on offer.
The colorful festival in honor of Santo Antônio, São Pedro and São João is accompanied by the rhythms of the forró. The festival is known for the variety of typical delicacies. The Souza Leão
cake is the centerpiece and is considered the undisputed king of the festival. Visitors enjoy the cake in large quantities. The recipe travels with the tourists and spreads all over the world.
Real taste and tradition from Pernambuco
The Souza-Leão cake is a Brazilian sweet. It is a regional specialty from the state of Pernambuco.
Simple ingredients offer impressive flavors. Their careful preparation makes the difference.
The emperor was delighted with the cake that was served, which contributed to the good, relaxed atmosphere.
The Souza-Leão dessert with caramel sauce and slivers of cashew nuts is the combination for lovers.