Curiosities of violet candies

For those of us who grew up in Madrid, violet candies are a symbol of the generations that preceded us. It was a rare grandfather who did not carry in his pockets some violet candy and, even today, they are still one of the most coveted candies in the candy stores.

A candy from Madrid

Churros, pestiños, rosquillas and violet candies. Within the list of typical sweets from Madrid, we cannot leave out the famous violet candies. A unique candy if ever there was one, as they have the shape and flavor of a flower, something that may seem strange to those who have not tried them, but they are more addictive than a mother’s potato omelet.

Its recipe has been associated with a small bakery in the Plaza de Canalejas since 1915, but they do not have the exclusive right to sell them, so they can currently be found in several establishments in the capital city such as
Casa Mira
along with other Madrilenian specialties such as the famous rosquillas del santo or lenguas de gato.

Curiosities of violet candies

• They are a symbol of Madrid, although they are also traditional in some other French cities such as Toulouse.
• It was the most typical candy at the beginning of the 20th century in Madrid.
• Their true origin is not known, but it is known that in Madrid they began to manufacture them for sale to the public in the store “La violeta” since 1915.
• It is said that its original recipe is jealously guarded, but what is known is that its main ingredients are sugar and violet essence.
• It is said that it was one of the recurring gifts that Alfonso XII gave to his wife Queen Victoria Eugenia, but also to his mistress, the actress Carmen Ruiz de Moregas.
• Don Jacinto Benavente was also an absolute fan of these candies and would go to buy them periodically.
• Violet candies have many followers and some of their main fans come from all over the world to buy them.
• They are handmade, flower-shaped with five petals, and have a beautiful violet color.
• A kilo of violets costs 20 euros and 300 kilos of candies are sold per week.
• Its flavor has become so recognizable that today we can find other products with this peculiar flavor such as violet ice cream, violet tea or sponge cake.
• The violet is a typical flower of the Madrid mountains that the violeteras used to sell in the streets of the city center during the spring.

If you have not yet had the chance to try these delicious and typical candies, not at all cloying, or you want to relive the essence of your childhood, you can visit the Casa Mira store, in the heart of Madrid. They sell them in various formats, such as a beautiful heart-shaped box or a metal box with illustrations of the most emblematic streets of the capital. They even have a variety of violet candy without sugar.

You can also visit the
online store
There you will find a wide variety of typical Madrilenian sweets that you can’t miss, and take home a souvenir that will stay in your mind forever.