Help! Question about Bolivian Tawa Tawas!

by Rissa
(San Diego, CA, USA)

During what holidays are tawa-tawas eaten? I know Three Kings Day, but what else?

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Jan 14, 2015
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Traditional Bolivian Tawa Tawas
by: BoliviaBella.com

First a little background. Tawa Tawa is a word in the Quechua language. "Tawa" is the word for the number 4 "four". Traditionally, four cuts are required in order to cut each tawa tawa into a rhombus shape. After making these delicious fritter-style cookies, Bolivians generally sprinkle them with sifted powdered (confectioner's) sugar AND drizzle them with miel de caña (sugar cane syrup). Some say tawa tawas originate in Potosí.

Tawa tawas are generally made as a tradition on Three King's Day (January 6th) as you stated, but are also eaten throughout the year, as they are easy and fast to make.

For example, you can often find them near some of Bolivia's bus stations (indigenous women often set up little tables on the sidewalks near bus stations) where they are sold piping hot with coffee, tea, hot chocolate or api (a hot purple cornmeal drink) as tired passengers arrive after a long night on a bus. They make them in huge gas-fired pans of oil right on the spot.

And while in other countries we may eat cookies and sweets as dessert, in Bolivia this type of fritter is generally eaten early in the morning or at tea time in the afternoon.

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