Museo del Alfeñique – Toluca, Mexico - Gastro Obscura
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Museo del Alfeñique

Toluca, Mexico

This museum tells the history of Day of the Dead sugar sculptures. 

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An ofrenda for Day of the Dead. Mario Yair TS (Atlas Obscura User)
An ofrenda for Day of the Dead. Mario Yair TS (Atlas Obscura User)
Miniature of alfeñique factory made with alfeñique. Mario Yair TS (Atlas Obscura User)
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The city of Toluca is known for the candy of alfeñique its residents produce for Día de Muertos (“Day of the Dead”). But its tradition dates back to the 16th century when the first manufacturer of these sweets was established in North America.

The Museo del Alfeñique tells the story of these sweets and the way they are traditionally manufactured in the city. This story gets accompanied by skulls in every corner of the space, including some animatronic skeletons. Every year, the museum also exhibits the best edible works of the region. This showcase doesn’t just include decorated skulls, but also altars, models, animals, and all kinds of objects related to the Day of the Dead. 

The museum is not very big but the best season to visit it is between October and November when the festivities for Day of the Dead reach their full splendor.

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Mario Yair TS
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Mario Yair TS
Published
November 5, 2021
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Nearby
Cosmovitral Botanical Garden
0.27 miles
Árbol de Manitas (Little Hands Tree)
0.44 miles
Manuel M. Villada Museum of Natural History
0.48 miles
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