Toruń gingerbread
Type | Biscuit |
---|---|
Place of origin | Poland |
Region or state | Toruń |
Toruń gingerbread (Polish: pierniki toruńskie, German: Thorner Lebkuchen) is a traditional Polish gingerbread that has been produced since the Middle Ages in the city of Toruń.[1]
History
Old Polish sayings connect Toruń with making of some form of gingerbread, and the expansion of the craft, which started in the 13th century.[2][3]
A considerable factor behind the development of gingerbread-making in Toruń was its excellent location. Situated on high-quality
The very first mention of Toruń gingerbread comes from 1380 and speaks of a local baker called Niclos Czana.[4] The product quickly gained fame across Poland and abroad. Toruń and the city of Nuremberg, itself famous for special pancakes, were eager to protect the secrets of their recipes from each other.[5] Finally in 1556, they formed an agreement by which each city could bake the specialties of the other.[6]
The artisans were not the only ones engaged in the production of the delicacy. In the 16th century, the
In the 18th and 19th century, the city saw a fall in baking and other craftsmanship. In 1825, only three bakers were left. With the advent of capitalism, large companies took over from the local craftsmen and mass production of the gingerbread ensued.
The largest factory was owned by Gustav Weese, based on tradition dating from 1763, when Johann Weese[7] started to bake gingerbread. Gustav Traugott Weese inherited a small workshop after his father Andreas in 1824 and changed it into a large company. In 1875 the Toruń Gazette (Gazeta Toruńska) wrote on New Year's Eve that due to the demand it was even sold in Africa. Other exotic places of export included Turkey, Japan, China and Honolulu. In 1913, Gustav Weese, a descendant of Gustav Traugott Weese, constructed a factory which, after World War I ended, was employing over 500 workers. Gustav Weese sold it in January 1939 to the Polish company "Społem" and left for his other gingerbread factory in Germany. The company in Toruń still exists and is the oldest confectionery company in Poland today and one of the oldest in the world.
Besides Weese's factory there was also the Hermann Thomas company founded in 1857, which in 1907 employed 200 workers. Another important company engaged in the production of gingerbread was founded by Jan Ruchniewicz in 1907.[8] The enterprise prospered quite successfully and had 50 workers. It was especially known for the ornamental gingerbread topped with Toruń's crest.[8]
Toruń gingerbread in Polish culture
Pierniki Toruńskie, as they are known in Polish, are an icon of
Since at least the Middle Ages, pierniki have been connected with Toruń in Polish proverbs and legends. One legend claims that gingerbread was a gift from the Queen of the Bees to the apprentice
The 18th-century poet and
When the precocious 15-year-old composer
Toruń holds an annual celebration of gingerbread called Święto Piernika (the Gingerbread Festival).
Current producers
There are two main producers of Toruń gingerbread: the confectionery factory "Kopernik" S.A., and the Toruń Bakery. The first upholds its legal rights to the brand name and is the successor to a company that was founded in 1763 by Johann Weese.[11] The second company was formed by Toruń bakers who specialized in producing gingerbread; its aim is to spread knowledge of the craft and to produce fine gingerbread for restaurants, parties and elite meetings.
See also
References
- ^ "History of Gingerbread - Confectionary Chalet". confectionarychalet.com. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ a b "Kopernik.com.pl". Archived from the original on 9 February 2008. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ www.3xw.pl, 3xW -. "Toruńskie Pierniki®". www.kopernik.com.pl. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Pierniki toruńskie i nie tylko". www.icimss.edu.pl. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ "Z piernika król". Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ "Wyborcza.pl". wyborcza.pl. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ "Toruńskie pierniki - www.torun.pl". www.torun.pl. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ a b "Toruńscy piernikarze – Jan Ruchniewicz – oToruniu.net". otoruniu.net. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ "Pierniki toruńskie - dlaczego nie zawsze traktowano je jako przysmak?". Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ Development, JW Web. "Toruń, Atrakcje Torunia, Przewodnik po Toruniu, Zwiedzanie Torunia z przewodnikiem, Przewodnicy miejscy Toruń przewodnik miejski Informacja turystyczna, Zabytki i kujawsko-pomorskiego, Muzea, Historia, Pierniki toruńskie, Twierdza Toruń". www.turystyka.torun.pl. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ "Jan Weese - Magic Travels Around the World". magictravelsaroundtheworld.wordpress.com. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
External links
- Kopernik.com.pl Kopernik S.A.: largest Torun gingerbread maker
- (in Polish) Torunskiepierniki.pl, Torun bakery
- (in German) Weihnachtsseiten.de, recipes
- (in English, Polish, and German) Torun.pl Toruń gingerbread