Koliva – Celebrating Life & Honouring Passed Loved Ones ❤️

This recipe post is dedicated to the loving memory of my grandmother Polixeni who passed away 4 years ago on the 10/05/2017.

Making koliva is a common greek custom. Koliva is the sweet offering we make to honour our loved ones who have passed at their funeral or their memorial.  They are prepared and taken to the church service to be blessed during the prayers for the dead. We then scoop them into paper bags or cups  to distribute to the church goers . At that point we say «Αιωνία τους η μνήμη», meaning “May their memory be eternal” 

Meaning behind the ingredients of koliva: The wheat kernels express belief in everlasting life. Just as a new life rises from the buried kernel of wheat, we believe the one buried will rise one day to a new life with the universe/god.

There are a variety of ways to make koliva based on the region people are from but also the season (i.e if fresh pomegranates are available – this could also be going back to connected with Persephone). also sugar, nuts , parsley (again connected to Persephone) the more I research and study witchcraft the more I realise these are connected.

Ingredients:

200gr Wheat Berries

50gr Raisins

60gr Slivered Almonds

60gr Walnuts

60gr Pomegranate

1/2 teaspoon of Cinnamon

6 Mint Leaves

6 Parsley Leaves

100gr Toasted Plain Flour

150gr Sesame Seeds

200gr Icing Sugar

Method:

Rinse wheat with cold water.

Place wheat in a pot, bring to a boil and simmer for 90 minutes.

Drain wheat in a colander and allow to cool.

Place a tea towel on a baking tray and spread out the wheat, then cover with another tea towel on top for approximately 3 to 4 hours. (This helps remove the excess moisture. You can also place it in the fridge like this overnight and continue in the morning).

In a blender place sesame seeds, almonds and walnuts. Process until it’s a medium size crumb.

To toast the plain flour place in a non stick frying pan over a low heat and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until toasted and remove from heat.

Transfer wheat into a mixing bowl, add toasted flour, nut mix, cinnamon, raisins, chopped herbs, pomegranate and mix.

To decorate place Koliva in your desired bowl/dish. Press down the Koliva and cover it with the icing sugar and decorate with nuts, pomegranate and herbs. You can make patterns and symbols on the top.

Bless with your intentions and place on your altar to charge for 10 minutes. You can also light a candle at this point.

Mix and serve immediately.

You can also offer a small serving to the goddesses Dimitra and Persephone if you wish.

*A food safety note you should be aware of when making koliva is the bacterium called Bacillus cereus, which can lead to food poisoning. This is a type of bacterium found in cereal and under certain conditions, it can multiply very quickly. There are two things you should keep in mind if you want to avoid any unpleasant situations. Add the icing sugar only before serving and store in the fridge any koliva you have left. This is the reason why the typical Greek koliva is first covered with the flour and then with the sugar. That way the sugar doesn’t come in contact with the wheat berries.

I hope you enjoy this recipe and let me know how you go.

Blessed be,

Sensual Chef xx