Charoset

Charoset (also spelled Haroset), is a sweet, dark-colored, paste made of fruits and nuts eaten at the Passover Seder. Its color and texture are meant to recall mortar (or mud used to make adobe bricks) which the Israelites used when they were enslaved in Ancient Egypt as mentioned in the Book of Exodus of the Hebrew Bible. The word "charoset" comes from the Hebrew word cheres — חרס — "clay."

Charoset is one of the symbolic foods on the Passover Seder Plate. After reciting the blessings, and eating a matzah "sandwich" made with charoset and maror (bitter herbs), the remainder is often eaten plain, spread onto matzah.

Ingredients and Preparation

Charoset's ingredients may vary, depending on the culture and tradition of each Jewish community. The basic ingredients include nuts, fruits (usually apples or dates), cinnamon, and sweet red wine. Ashkenazi, Sephardic, and Mizrahi Jews have distinct recipes for charoset.

Ashkenazi Jews traditionally make apple-walnut charoset, while Sephardic Jews often use figs or dates and add different spices. Mizrahi Jews from Eastern countries like Iran and Iraq traditionally use dates as the base of their charoset.

Symbolism

Charoset serves a dual purpose in the Passover Seder. Its sweetness serves to counteract the bitterness of the maror, symbolizing the sweetness of freedom following the bitterness of slavery. At the same time, its texture is a reminder of the hard labor endured by the Israelites in Egypt.

See Also

• Passover Seder Plate
• Maror
• Ashkenazi Jews
• Sephardic Jews
• Mizrahi Jews

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