Angel hair, called in Portuguese ''Fios de ovos'' ("egg threads") is a traditional Portuguese sweet food made of eggs (chiefly

yolk Among animals which produce eggs, the yolk (; also known as the vitellus) is the nutrient-bearing portion of the egg whose primary function is to supply food for the development of the embryo. Some types of egg contain no yolk, for example ...

s), drawn into thin strands and boiled in

sugar Sugar is the generic name for sweet-tasting, soluble carbohydrates, many of which are used in food. Simple sugars, also called monosaccharides, include glucose, fructose, and galactose. Compound sugars, also called disaccharides or do ...

syrup. They are a traditional element in Portuguese and

Brazilian cuisine Brazilian cuisine is the set of cooking practices and traditions of Brazil, and is characterized by European, Amerindian, African, and Asian ( Lebanese, Chinese and, most recently, Japanese) influences. It varies greatly by region, reflecti ...

, both in

dessert Dessert is a course that concludes a meal. The course consists of sweet foods, such as confections, and possibly a beverage such as dessert wine and liqueur. In some parts of the world, such as much of Greece and West Africa, and most parts o ...

s and as side dishes (only in Brazil). This dish is called ''Letria'' in Goa, not to be confused with the vermicelli dessert made in Portugal. The preparation is also known in

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , ...

as ''Huevo hilado'' (" spun egg"), in

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the n ...

as ''Keiran Somen'' (鶏卵素麺, "hen's egg noodle"),''Kyoto Foodie'',
Wagashi: Angel Hair Keiran Somen (Fios de Ovos)
'. Accessed on July 7, 2009. in

Cambodia Cambodia (; also Kampuchea ; km, កម្ពុជា, UNGEGN: ), officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochinese Peninsula in Southeast Asia, spanning an area of , bordered by Thailand ...

as ''Vawee'', in Malaysia as ''Jala mas'' ("golden net"), in

Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...

as ''Foi Thong'' (ฝอยทอง; "golden strands"),''Bangkok Post Educational Services'',
Three tempting Thai delicacies
. Accessed on October 29, 2011. and in the

North Malabar North Malabar refers to the geographic area of southwest India covering the state of Kerala's present day Kasaragod, Kannur, and Wayanad districts, and the taluks of Vatakara, Koyilandy, and Thamarassery in the Kozhikode District of Keral ...

region of Kerala, India as ''Muttamala'' (മുട്ടമാല; "egg lace").''Muttamala Recipe'',

Accessed on September 12, 2017

History

Like other egg-based Portuguese sweets, ''fios de ovos'' is believed to have been created by Portuguese nuns around the 14th or 15th century.

Laundry Laundry refers to the washing of clothing and other textiles, and, more broadly, their drying and ironing as well. Laundry has been part of history since humans began to wear clothes, so the methods by which different cultures have dealt with ...

was a common service performed by

convent A convent is a community of monks, nuns, religious brothers or, sisters or priests. Alternatively, ''convent'' means the building used by the community. The word is particularly used in the Catholic Church, Lutheran churches, and the Angl ...

s and monasteries, and their use of

egg white Egg white is the clear liquid (also called the albumen or the glair/glaire) contained within an egg. In chickens it is formed from the layers of secretions of the anterior section of the hen's oviduct during the passage of the egg. It forms ar ...

s for " starching" clothes created a large surplus of yolks. The recipe was probably taken to Japan and Thailand by Portuguese explorers between the 16th and 18th centuries.

Brazil

, ''fios de ovos'' is used to make the bolo Marta Rocha (named after Miss Brazil 1954, Martha Rocha), a layered cake made with alternating layers of vanilla and chocolate

sponge Sponges, the members of the phylum Porifera (; meaning 'pore bearer'), are a basal animal clade as a sister of the diploblasts. They are multicellular organisms that have bodies full of pores and channels allowing water to circulate throu ...

, topped with whipped cream, ''fios de ovos'' and sometimes other toppings like

maraschino cherries A maraschino cherry ( ) is a preserved, sweetened cherry, typically made from light-colored sweet cherries such as the Royal Ann, Rainier, or Gold varieties. In their modern form, the cherries are first preserved in a brine solution usua ...

and nuts. It is used in a similar way as a decoration for '' torta de nozes'', a layer cake made with walnut sponge filled with ''doce de ovos'' (an egg custard), finished with meringue topping and ''fios de ovos''.

Thailand

''Fios de ovos'' is called ''Foi Thong'' in

. The name of the dessert comes from the observation that it has fine, long stripes and is shiny like

silk Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and is produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoons. The best-known silk is obtained from th ...

. It is considered a fine dessert. The word ''Thong'' (gold) has an auspicious connotation to Thai people. The long stripe is also seen as symbolizing a long life and undying love. ''Fios de ovos'' was introduced from Portugal to Thailand by

Maria Guyomar de Pinha Maria Guyomar de Pina ( th, มารีอา กียูมาร์ ดึ ปีญา; 1664 – 1728) (also known as ''Maria Guiomar de Pina'', ''Dona Maria del Pifia'' or as ''Marie Guimar'' and ''Madame Constance'' in French), Thao Thong Ki ...

, sometimes considered the Queen of Thai desserts.Thai Desserts
"Thai Food and Culture"
. Accessed on September 14, 2016.

Japan

''Keiran Somen'' is the name of ''fios de ovos'' in

. The dessert is one of the ''nanbangashi'', which are desserts introduced from

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of th ...

during the Nanban trade.

Uses

and

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

, ''fios de ovos'' are often used in fillings, cake decorations and other desserts and accompaniments for sweet dishes. In Brazil, they are also used as accompaniments in savory dishes, often served with canned fruits alongside

Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. A feast central to the Christian liturgical year ...

turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a small portion on the Balkan Peninsula ...

.Porto Cultura
"Peru de Natal"
Accessed on July 8, 2009.Terra Culinária

. Accessed on July 7, 2009. In Japan, they are served in the form of dessert rolls ('' wagashi''), and known as .

References