Zefir

Zefir is a Russian confection with an airy, pillowy texture, similar to marshmallows and meringue. It is made by whipping fruit purée, usually apple, with sugar and egg white, and its name comes from Zephyr, the Greek god of the gentle west wind, a nod to its delicate lightness.

History

Zefir descends from pastila, a traditional Russian sweet recorded since the 14th century, to which egg white foam and a gelling agent were later added. The use of unwhipped egg white is associated with the town of Kolomna during the 15th century.

The modern version, with whipped egg white, most likely took shape in the 19th century, probably after a French adaptation of the recipe that was later brought back to Russia. It has remained widely made and sold across the countries of the former Soviet Union.

Culture

Zefir is part of the confectionery tradition of Russia and the other countries that shared its Soviet past, and it is a common sight in shops and bakeries. It looks like meringue but is never crisp; inside it stays soft, moist and slightly sticky.

It is most often milky white, though rose-coloured versions flavoured with berries or cherries exist, and green ones for apple. It is often sold with a thin chocolate coating and sometimes contains berry jam inside. Unlike many chocolate-coated marshmallow-style sweets, it usually comes without biscuit layers.