The story
Chajá is a Uruguayan cake from Paysandú, a city on the Uruguay River facing Argentina. It was created on 27 April 1927 by Orlando Castellano, owner of the Confitería Las Familias, who layered sponge cake with whipped cream and peaches and covered it in crumbled meringue. He named it after the chajá, or southern screamer, a large, noisy bird of the region, and the fluffy topping is said to recall its plumage. Being so close to Colón in Argentina has led to rival versions of the story, but the credit goes to Castellano. Made semi-industrially from the start, it is now sold across Uruguay and exported abroad.
Also known as postre chajá, torta chajá, chaja.
On the Meridish menu
Chajá was the dessert course on menu No. 27 on October 27, 2026. Its clue in the game, which hints at the place without naming it:
Sponge cake, meringue, cream and peaches, named after a noisy local bird. A confectioner created it in 1927 in this river city on the border with Argentina.
In Meridish, every dish is pinned to the town or city most widely credited with creating it. A guess within 25 km scores all 100 points. How scoring works.
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaj%C3%A1
- lanacion.com.ar/recetas/como-hacer-chaja-el-postre-que-divide-a-argentinos-y-uruguayos-nid14122025
Food history is often disputed. Think we've pinned it in the wrong place? Tell us at hello@meridish.com, ideally with a source.
