Overkill53 · CC BY-SA 4.0Kosereva
kosereva (de «conserva»)
Bitter-orange peel candied in dark cane molasses: sweet, tart, bitter and good for digestion.
What it is
Bitter oranges (apepu) are thinly peeled, cut into wedges and soaked for a whole day with several changes of water to draw out the bitterness, then cooked with sugar and dark cane molasses until candied. The result is a dark, glossy sweet, bittersweet with a bitter finish. It is served with queso Paraguay or cream and is said to aid digestion. It is one of the country’s most characterful desserts.
Ingredients
History
Its name is a Guaraní rendering of conserva (“preserve”): in colonial times, citrus peel was preserved by cooking it with cane syrup and storing it in clay jars. In 2018 the national intellectual property office (DINAPI) recognized it as part of Paraguay’s culinary heritage.
Did you know…?
To make it last longer, more sugar and molasses are added; it was once kept in clay pitchers.
When
After-meal dessert, year-round.
Where
Markets, craft fairs and traditional restaurants.
Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 2 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.