Duvalín is a popular Mexican candy consisting of a sweet, creamy frosting-adjacent spread that comes in a small, square plastic container with a peelable foil top. It is advertised as “bi sabor,” meaning it features two flavors, usually a combination of hazelnut, strawberry, and vanilla. Duvalín comes with a small plastic spoon to scoop out the creamy, sugary treat. These pockets of sweetness trace their origins back to the streets of Mexico, where street markets overflow with endless tantalizing treats and delicacies. Duvalín is a multigenerational love in my family. My mother discovered it early in her youth in Mexico, and after moving away, she bought boxes of Duvalín each time she returned to visit family. When I was a toddler, she found Duvalín in a bodega in New York City, and ever since then, it has become, thankfully, more accessible, allowing us to regularly purchase it in bulk. Not only is Duvalín delicious and the perfect treat to satisfy a hankering for something sweet, but it is a dessert that connects me to my mother and her Mexican ancestry. 

– Lucia Romano

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