Buying Sweets from a Convent in Sevilla

Mar 20

Mar 20 Buying Sweets from a Convent in Sevilla

Before coming to Sevilla, I had read about buying sweets from convents. The nuns in the convents make sweets to sell as a way to generate income. I remember from my Lisbon trip that this was how the pasteis de belem were made - after using up all of the egg whites to starch the nuns' habits, they had to use the egg yolks somehow and made these egg tarts!

Anyway, near the Setas of Sevilla, you can find the Real Monasterio de Santa Ines.

Be sure to check up their hours before going, as they're not open all the time. Walk through the front doors, and to this area directly on the other side of the courtyard.

Here, you'll find a little area with an open door. You'll find a wooden shelf that spins around - the nun is on one side hidden from public view, and you're on the othe! The price list is posted on the door. You ring the buzzer to the left, and the nun on the other side asks for your order. You place your order, and then the wooden shelf spins around with your sweets. You then place your money on the shelf, and it spins around again. If you need change, then I suppose the shelf spins around again!

I ordered in a very transactional way, really just speaking to say what I wanted. But the guy after me showered the nun with flowery religious greetings!

My purchase was an order of Pestiños, a fried treat that's typical in Sevilla during Semana Santa. It's a fried dough, flavored with spices like cinnamon, clove, aniseed, and sesame, and also some lemon.