Merienda

Merienda is a light meal eaten in the afternoon across southern Europe, particularly Spain, Portugal, and Italy, and the word or a local variant of it spread with the custom to places including Latin America, the Philippines, and parts of North Africa and the Balkans. It fills the gap between the midday and evening meals, playing a role similar to afternoon tea in English-speaking countries, and typically consists of a simple offering such as fruit, bread, biscuits, or yogurt paired with a drink such as juice, milk, hot chocolate, or coffee. In the Philippines the term covers two distinct light meals, a late-morning snack and an afternoon one, while in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay merienda is taken around five in the afternoon and generally pairs an infusion such as mate or coffee with a baked snack such as scones or facturas.