Honey nut brittle without sugar

Brittle or “pasteli”: The snack Homer ate🏛️

Brittle is an ancient Greek sweet with deep roots in Greece’s history and culture. It was used not only as a nourishing meal for warriors but also as a symbol of fertility and love. Its name comes from the ancient verb “pas” (paso), meaning “to spread,” which is related to the techniques involved in its preparation. The first reference to brittle is found in the Homeric era, where “idrian,” a sweet made from honey and sesame, was mentioned as providing energy to warriors during the Trojan War. After Homeric times, Spartan soldiers consumed it before battles. During the golden age of Athens, around the 6th century BC, brittle gained a different symbolism associated with joy and celebration. The historian Herodotus, in the 5th century BC, described a honey and sesame sweet consumed at feasts and dances, which later became a ritual element in weddings. At weddings, brittle was offered to the bride and groom, symbolizing love and fertility. The tradition of eating brittle during weddings continues today, especially on the Aegean islands.📜