DISH RESEARCH · Dish
Bienmesabe
Canarian almond paste enriched with egg yolks, lemon zest and cinnamon.

About Bienmesabe
This profile covers Canarian bienmesabe, the almond dessert paste associated especially with La Palma and Gran Canaria. It follows the complete Canary Islands government recipe rather than a different regional dessert with the same name.
Almonds give it a rich, nutty flavour, while sugar supplies the sweetness. Lemon zest adds a fresh citrus note, cinnamon brings warm spice and egg yolks round out the paste.
The finished bienmesabe is thick, softly grainy and spreadable, with a golden-beige colour flecked by cinnamon and lemon zest. It may accompany other desserts, but those serving suggestions are not part of this recipe.
Allergens in this recipe
Contains: Almond, Egg.
Other allergen details are unconfirmed.
Ingredients vary by restaurant. Confirm your allergens with staff before ordering.
Ingredients in Bienmesabe
CanariWiki Canarian bienmesabe.
- AlmondsNut base
- SugarSyrup sweetener
- WaterSyrup liquid
- Egg yolksEnrichment and binder
- Lemon zestCitrus aromatic
- Ground cinnamonWarm spice
Ingredient details & uncertainties
Allergen information is incomplete. Unconfirmed details do not establish that an allergen is absent.
- Almonds: . Mapped to the established singular almond ingredient route. Almond remains positive.
- Sugar: . Sugar grade is unspecified.
- Water: . Mapped to the established broader water ingredient route.
- Egg yolks: . Egg remains positive.
- Lemon zest: . The recipe uses the grated outer peel.
- Ground cinnamon: . Mapped to the established ground-cinnamon route.
Origins & food traditions
Canary Islands tourism describes bienmesabe as particularly traditional in La Palma and Gran Canaria, especially Tejeda. The selected Government of the Canary Islands recipe identifies the Canarian preparation as an almond-based paste and notes especially strong tradition in La Palma alongside its prominence in Tejeda.
Cuisines & regions
- Canarian Cuisine
- Venezuelan CuisineCatalogue link pending review
- Panamanian CuisineCatalogue link pending review
AI-generated illustration of one possible presentation. Recipes and ingredients vary; the image does not establish allergen content.