Miracle of the Manna

[Guest guest]

In the land of Iraq, there is a substance called manna. It is

gathered from desert shrubs and is a sweet exudate thereof. This is

gathered caringly at certain times of year and is used in the

production of an unbelievably angelic confection named variously

Mann al sama and/or Manna wa Salwa. It is concocted from the manna

nectar and whites of eggs, cardamon(a wonderfully aromatic spice from

another herbaceous plant), pistachios and sometimes almonds. Similar

to nougat but dissimilar enough from torrone to not be classified

under that umbrella of nomenclature. Typically the minor Christian

sects in Iraq, Jordan, Palestine,Kurdistan and the Arabias call this

treat Manna wa Salwa and the Islamic fold name it Mann al Sama.It is

used on special occasions and holy days, and it is not just for

children. Though being a sweet, it is also considered something else,

having a legendary affinity with the manna of the the Israelites

during the desert wanderings in search of the Promised Land. In Iran

too, the Persia of old, a similar treat named Gaz is concocted from a

sweet extract named gaz angabeen, which comes from shrubs as well,

locatedmost notably the mountainous KhansAr region of Iran. The VERY

best is made in Isfahan. The gaz exudate is really a deposit left by

specific insects that feed on Gaz shrubs and leave off the sweet

residue on the plants. As with the Manna of Iraq , this is considered

a scarce, special and almost mystical substance. The candy here is

also a mixture of the natural essence sweetener, this time gaz

angabeen and egg whites, sometimes pistachios(mostly not added) and a

distinctive rosewater. As with the Manna candy, it is ovoid shapes

and floured to keep the pieces from adhering to each other. This

particular sweetmeat is again used in religious and semi-religious

rites and celebrations: Islamic, Christian and to some degree the

still existing though small sect of Zoroaster. I first came upon mann

wa salwa when I was nine years of age and my father who was a

photographer for a large metropolitan newspaper and the Archdiocese

of Detroit was doing a special assignment covering the Maronite

Catholics from Iraq then living and forming a parish in Detroit,

Michigan. It was at the time of Easter. And since that time five

decades past, when that time of celebration on the Sunday following

the first full moon after the vernal equinox comes about I dream of

manna and gaz. This year as fortune would have it, some Iranian

friends have gifted me some real Isfahan gaz which they had brought

back from Iran for Nowrooz, the Persian New Year now being feted over

a number of days. And incredibly enough some Chaldean (Christian

Iraqis) living just 12 kilometers from my dwelling have brought some

Mann wa Salwa from Baghdad for the observance of the Ressurection of

the Christ this coming Easter, and have through the intecession of

one close to me, delivered unto me this very evening, a kilo of

heaven! It does not get any better or synchonous to Desire than this.

Truly, truly a miracle of the manna. Soon will be the time of sweet

tea and manna and gaz and family and dear ones who gather

together......Happy Happy Nowrooz and Easter to All..

and to All a Good Night.

.........bob