On the inside of the door of my Savta’s fridge there were always two large glass jars that had once held instant coffee, filled continuously with her delicious compote. She would always offer this as a snack if we were hungry. Not always a child’s first choice for nosh, but my Saba always had a hidden stash of Kit-Kats.
Nonetheless, I loved the sweet and lemony combination of dried fruit and winter fruits.
She always served it for Tu Bishvat – not that she made it especially; but if we happened to be at her house on the day and someone told her what it was Tu Bishvat, out it would come!
Compote conformed to the medieval belief that fruit cooked in sugar syrup balanced the effects of humidity in the body. Because it was easy to prepare, made from inexpensive ingredients and parev, compote became a staple of Jewish households throughout Europe.
