Pretzel

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Pretzel
An assortment of pretzels
TypeBread, pastry
CourseSnack
Region or stateGermany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy (South Tyrol), France (Alsace)

A pretzel (listen), from German pronunciation, standard German: Breze(l) (listen is a type of baked pastry made from dough that is commonly shaped into a knot. The traditional pretzel shape is a distinctive symmetrical form, with the ends of a long strip of dough intertwined and then twisted back onto itself in a particular way (a pretzel loop or pretzel bow). Today, pretzels come in a wide range of shapes.

Salt is the most common seasoning, or topping, for pretzels, complementing the washing soda or lye treatment that gives pretzels their traditional skin and flavor acquired through the Maillard reaction. Other toppings are mustard, cheeses, sugar, chocolate, cinnamon, sweet glazing, seeds, and nuts. Varieties of pretzels include soft pretzels, which should be eaten shortly after preparation, and hard-baked pretzels, which have a long shelf life.[1]

History

Pretzel depicted at a banquet of Queen Esther and King Ahasuerus. 12th century Hortus deliciarum.

There are numerous accounts regarding the origin of pretzels, as well as the origin of the name; most state that they have Christian backgrounds and were invented by European monks.[2] According to some narratives, as cited by several sources, including The History of Science and Technology, by Bryan Bunch and Alexander Hellemans, in 610 AD "... [a]n Italian monk invents pretzels as a reward to children who learn their prayers. He calls the strips of baked dough, folded to resemble arms crossing the chest, 'pretiola' ('little reward[s]')".[3][4][5][6][7] Another source locates the invention in a monastery in southern France.[2][8][9] In Germany, there are stories that pretzels were the invention of desperate bakers held hostage by local dignitaries.[10]

The German name "Brezel" may derive also from Latin bracellus (a medieval term for 'bracelet'),[11] or bracchiola ('little arms').

The pretzel has been in use as an emblem of bakers and formerly their guilds in southern German areas since at least the 12th century.[10] A 12th century illustration of the banquet of Queen Esther and King Ahasuerus in the Hortus deliciarum from the Alsace region (today France) may contain the earliest depiction of a pretzel.

Within the Christian Church, pretzels were regarded as having religious significance for both ingredients and shape. Pretzels made with a simple recipe using only flour and water could be eaten during Lent when Christians were forbidden to eat eggs, lard, or dairy products such as milk and butter (cf. Daniel Fast).[12] As time passed, pretzels became associated with both Lent and Easter. Pretzels were hidden on Easter morning just as eggs are hidden today,[citation needed] and are particularly associated with Lent, fasting and prayers before Easter.[13]

Like the holes in the hubs of round Finnish flat bread, ruisreikäleipä, which let them be hung on poles suspended just below the kitchen ceiling, the loops in pretzels may have served a practical purpose: bakers could hang them on sticks, for instance, projecting upwards from a central column, as shown in a painting by Job Berckheyde (1630–1693) from around 1681.[14]

Emblem of the Bakers' Guild

  • The pretzel has been in use as an emblem of bakers, here with two lions, in Görlitz, Germany.
    The pretzel has been in use as an emblem of bakers, here with two lions, in Görlitz, Germany.
  • Bakery emblem in Hattingen, Germany
    Bakery emblem in Hattingen, Germany
  • Bakery emblem with a cut[15] in the pretzel, Ravensburg, Germany
    Bakery emblem with a cut[15] in the pretzel, Ravensburg, Germany
  • Bakery emblem in Ribe, Denmark
    Bakery emblem in Ribe, Denmark
  • Bakery emblem used as a logo at a Danish bakery in Ballard, Seattle
    Bakery emblem used as a logo at a Danish bakery in Ballard, Seattle

Geography

Southern German-speaking regions

Christmas market in Strasbourg; mulled wine and pretzels sold
Traditional Weisswurst meal, served with sweet mustard and soft pretzels
Sweet pretzel with almonds
Bretzels from Alsace

Pretzel baking has most firmly taken root in the region of

whole wheat, rye or spelt
.

In Bavaria, lye pretzels accompany a main dish, such as Weisswurst sausage. The same dough and baking procedure with lye and salt is used to make other kinds of "lye pastry" (Laugengebäck): lye rolls, buns, croissants, and even loaves (Laugenbrötchen, Laugenstangen, Laugencroissants, Laugenbrot).[10][16] Yet, in some parts of Bavaria, especially in lower Bavaria, unglazed "white" pretzels, sprinkled with salt and caraway seeds are still popular. Basically, with the same ingredients, lye pretzels come in numerous local varieties. Sizes are usually similar; the main differences are the thickness of the dough, the content of fat and the degree of baking. Typical Swabian pretzels, for example, have very thin "arms" and a "fat belly" with a split, and a higher fat content. The thicker part makes it easier to slice them for the use of sandwiches. In Bavarian pretzels, the arms are left thicker so they do not bake to a crisp and contain very little fat.[17] Oversized pretzels are often sold at fairs or beer festivals.

The pretzel shape is used for a variety of sweet pastries made of different types of dough (flaky, brittle, soft, crispy) with a variety of toppings (icing, nuts, seeds, cinnamon). Around Christmas, they can be made of soft gingerbread (Lebkuchen) with chocolate coating. In southern Germany and adjoining German-speaking areas, pretzels have retained their original religious meanings and are still used in various traditions and festivals. In some areas, on 1 January, people give each other lightly sweetened yeast pretzels for good luck and good fortune. These "New Year's pretzels" are made in different sizes and can have a width of 50 centimetres (20 in) and more. Sometimes children visit their godparents to fetch their New Years pretzel. On 1 May, love-struck boys used to paint a pretzel on the doors of the adored. On the other hand, an upside-down pretzel would have been a sign of disgrace. Especially Catholic areas, such as Austria, Bavaria, or some parts of Swabia, the "Palm pretzel" is made for Palm Sunday celebrations. Sizes can range from 30 cm (0.98 ft) up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) and they can weigh up to 2.5 kg (5.5 lb).[18][19] An old tradition on Palm Sunday dating back to 1533 is the outdoor pretzel market (Brezgenmarkt) in the Hungerbrunnen Valley near Heldenfingen.

In the

Swabian Alb.[22] On the same occasion in Rhenish Hesse and the Palatinate, people have parades carrying big pretzels mounted on colourful decorated poles.[22]

During Lent in

Schloss Burg is renowned for a 200-year-old specialty, the "Burger pretzel". Its texture and flavour resemble rusk or zwieback. A local story says that the recipe came from a grateful Napoleonic soldier in 1795, whose wounds were treated by a baker's family in the little town of Burg.[23] The cultural importance of the pretzel for Burg is expressed by a monument in honour of the pretzel bakers, and by an 18 km hiking trail nearby called "Pretzel Hiking Trail".[24]

A variety typical for Upper Franconia is the "anise pretzel". The town of Weidenberg celebrates the "Pretzel weeks" during the carnival season when anise flavored pretzels are served with special dishes such as cooked meat with horseradish or roast. In the city of Lübeck, the 500-year-old guild of boatmen on the Stecknitz Canal call their annual meetings in January Kringelhöge (Pretzelfun). The elaborate affair, with about 200 participants, is celebrated as a breakfast with beer and includes Mass in the Lübeck Cathedral and a presentation of songs by a children's choir. In earlier times, the children were very poor, coming from an orphanage, and each received a Kringel (pretzel) as a reward. Hence, the name "Pretzelfun" was adopted, because this gift was considered a highlight. Today, the children come from schools, but they still get the pretzels.[25]

The city of Osnabrück celebrates the anniversary of the Peace of Westphalia (1648) and organizes an annual hobby horse race for grade-four children. On finishing the race, they are presented with a sweet pretzel.[26] In heraldry, the city seal of Nörten dates from around 1550 and depicts two facing lions holding a pretzel at the center.[27]

The lye pretzel is the theme for a number of festivals in Germany. The city of

peace symbol
.

  • Fastenbrezel
    Fastenbrezel
  • New Year's pretzel in a Stuttgart bakery (Swabia)
    New Year's pretzel in a Stuttgart bakery (Swabia)
  • Pretzel from Burg, typically carried around the neck
    Pretzel from Burg, typically carried around the neck
  • Laugenbrezel, observe the cut.[15]
    Laugenbrezel, observe the cut.[15]

United States

Hard mini pretzels

In the late 18th century, southern German and Swiss German immigrants introduced the pretzel to North America. The immigrants became known as the Pennsylvania Dutch, and in time, many handmade pretzel bakeries populated the central Pennsylvania countryside, and the pretzel's popularity spread.[35]

Philadelphia-style soft pretzels
A street vendor in Union Square, New York City selling pretzels

In the 20th century, soft pretzels became popular in other regions of the United States. Cities such as Philadelphia, Chicago, and New York became renowned for their soft pretzels.[36][37] The key to success was the introduction of the new mass production methods of the industrialized age, which increased the availability and quantity, and the opening up of multiple points of distribution at schools, convenience and grocery stores, and entertainment venues such as movie theaters, arenas, concert halls, and sport stadiums. Prior to that, street vendors used to sell pretzels on street corners in wooden glass-enclosed cases.[38]

In the U.S., pretzels come in many varieties of flavors and coatings, such as

Mars, Incorporated manufactures M&M's with a small spherical pretzel covered in milk chocolate and candy coated in all of the standard M&M's colors, called "Pretzel M&M's". Soft pretzels are frequently sold in shopping malls, with notable chains including Auntie Anne's and Wetzel's Pretzels
/Pretzel Time.

Pennsylvania

Southeastern Pennsylvania, with its large population of German background, including the Pennsylvania Dutch, is considered the birthplace of the American pretzel industry, and many pretzel bakers are still located in the area. Pennsylvania produces 80% of the nation's pretzels.[citation needed]

Hard pretzels originated in the United States, where, in 1850, the

Snack food hard pretzels are made in the form of loops, braids, letters, little pretzels, or sticks around 3 millimetres (18 in) thick and 12 centimetres (5 in) long; they have become a popular snack in many countries around the world. A thicker variety of sticks can be 1.5 centimetres (12 in) thick; in the U. S. these are called Bavarian pretzels or pretzel rods. Unlike the soft pretzels, these were durable when kept in an airtight environment and marketable in a variety of convenience stores. Large-scale production began in the first half of the 1900s, more so during 1930 to 1950. A prime example was in 1949, when highly innovative American Machine and Foundry Co., of New York City, developed the "pretzel bender": a new automatic crispy-styled baked pretzel-twisting machine that rolled and tied them at the rate of 50 a minute—more than twice as fast as skilled hand twisters could make them—and conveyed them through the baking and salting process.[39]

The annual United States pretzel industry is worth over $1.2 billion.[40][41] The average American consumes about 1.5 pounds (0.7 kg) of pretzels per year.[42] The privately run Pretzel Museum opened in Philadelphia in 1993, but is now defunct.[43][44] In 2003, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell declared 26 April "National Pretzel Day" to acknowledge the importance of the pretzel to the state's history and economy.[45] Philly Pretzel Factory stores offer a free pretzel to each customer on this day.[46] In Altoona, Pennsylvania, the Benzel's pretzel company calls them "bretzels", both for the alliteration and as a nod to their German heritage.

The S-shaped soft pretzel, often served with brown mustard, became very popular in Philadelphia and was established as a part of Philadelphia's cuisine for snacking at school, work, or home, and considered by most to be a quick meal. The average Philadelphian today consumes about twelve times as many pretzels as the national average.[47]

A miniature salted pretzel, shaped like a Christmas tree. Sold in England by Aldi in 2019.
Pennsylvania milestones timeline
1800s
Southern German and Swiss German immigrants who became known as the Pennsylvania Dutch introduced soft shaped pretzels with different shapes and pretzel bakery businesses.
1861
Sturgis Pretzel House in Lititz, Pennsylvania, becomes the first commercial hard pretzel bakery in the United States.[48]
1889
The Anderson Pretzel Factory in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is founded. Today, it calls itself the world's largest, producing 65 tons of hard pretzels daily.[49]
1935
The Reading Pretzel Machinery Company in Reading, Pennsylvania, introduced the first automatic hard pretzel twisting machine.[35]
1963
The largest soft pretzel of its time, weighing 40 pounds and measuring 5 feet across, is baked by Joseph Nacchio of the Federal Pretzel Baking Company for the film It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.[35]
1978
The first machine-produced stamped cut soft pretzel was innovated at Federal Pretzel Baking Company.[37]
1993
The first Pretzel Museum of soft pretzels is opened in Philadelphia. A seven-minute film, demonstration of championship hand twisting at 57 per minute, and tasting were highlights.[36]
2003
Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell declares 26 April as National Pretzel Day to acknowledge the importance of the pretzel to the state's history and economy.[45]

Other regions

Freeport, Illinois, which sits about 100 miles outside of Chicago, is another city known for its rich pretzel history.[50] In 1869, a German immigrant named John Billerbeck[51] established the first Billerbeck Bakery which was known for selling German style pretzels to complement the large number of breweries that existed in Freeport during this time. Prohibition eventually shut down the breweries which led to the decline of pretzel sales in Freeport, but the city never lost its pretzel pride. For more than 100 years, Freeport has been known as "Pretzel City, USA." Their high school athletic mascot is the Pretzel and the football stadium has been appropriately named "Pretzel Field." In 2003, local citizens launched Freeport's first Pretzel Festival which is a large community event where residents get together to celebrate the city's pretzel history. Contestants are chosen to be crowned Pretzel Prince and Princess and a festival mascot by the name of "Pretzel Bill" (stemming from the Billerbeck Bakery name) dresses as a 6-foot tall walking talking pretzel who hands out pretzels from floats and takes photos with the local festival goers.[52]

Other countries

Although not as popular as among German speakers and Americans, the looped pretzel is known in other European countries and in other countries around the world. In Romania, the pretzel is known as a variety of covrigi; it is a very popular fast food in urban areas and also popular as a holiday gift.[citation needed]

  • Viipurinrinkeli, a pretzel from Vyborg, Russia
    Viipurinrinkeli, a pretzel from Vyborg, Russia
  • Party food in Japan, pretzel sticks called Glico Pretz
    Party food in Japan, pretzel sticks called Glico Pretz
  • A street vendor in Kraków, Poland, selling pretzels, as well as obwarzanki krakowskie and bagels
    A street vendor in
    bagels
  • Pretzels in Strasbourg
    Pretzels in Strasbourg
  • Brașov pretzels with poppy seeds and salt
    Brașov pretzels with poppy seeds and salt
  • Swedish home-baked sweet pretzels known as kringlor, some with chocolate
    Swedish home-baked sweet pretzels known as kringlor, some with chocolate

In popular culture

The pretzel has become an element in popular culture, both as a food staple, and its unique knotted twist shape which has inspired

perspectives, attitudes, memes,[53] images, and other phenomena. Although historically, the pretzel has influenced culture, it has recently been heavily influenced by mass media
.

municipal government of the City of Freeport, Illinois, also known as "Pretzel City USA", have also adopted a pretzel logo as their trademark.[57]

The pretzel dance move was part of swing dancing in the 1920s.[58]

The "pretzel" bikini bathing suit design, a variant of the

Lycra, these bikinis became most popular on the beaches of Europe, including Saint-Tropez, Marbella, Mykonos, and Ibiza.[59]

A circulating internet video shows a press conference of US president George W. Bush from January 2002, in which he recalls choking on a pretzel: "When you're eating pretzels, chew before you swallow. Listen to your mother."[60]

  • Clara Peeters, Still Life with Cheeses, Almonds and Pretzels, 1685
    Clara Peeters, Still Life with Cheeses, Almonds and Pretzels, 1685
  • Jan Steen, Baker Arent Oostwaard and His Wife Catherina Keizerswaar (1658) features pretzels, Rijksmuseum.
    Jan Steen, Baker Arent Oostwaard and His Wife Catherina Keizerswaar (1658) features pretzels, Rijksmuseum.

See also

References

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  2. ^ .
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  6. ^ "hungry-history, twisted history". History.com.
  7. ^ What is the story behind the pretzel's special shape? The pretzel represents folded arms across the chest. In that way, it was common to pray during the Middle Ages. According to a story, it was an Italian monk who produced the special pastry in the 7th century. The monk wanted to reward his students with small pieces of bread shaped in the same way as the children's arms when they crossed them during prayer. The pastries were named "pretiolas" - "little rewards". (Translated from Swedish). https://varldenshistoria.se/kultur/gastronomi/varifran-har-kringlan-fatt-sin-form
  8. .
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  11. ^ E.g. OED s.v.: "[G. pretzel, bretzel, in OHG. brizzila = It. bracciello Florio) a cracknel; usually taken as ad. med. L. bracellus a bracelet; also a kind of cake or biscuit (Du Cange)]"
  12. ^ SAUNDERS, Fr. William. "Lenten Pretzels". CERC. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
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Further reading