The fabulous universe of spice bread: an ancestral delight

Much more than just a cake, dive into the world of Christmas through the gingerbread and its traditions!

A sweet smell of honey. Cinnamon, ginger and cardamom, or a clementine zest. But above all, a perfume that brings us closer to the end of the year.

The regions of France, or even elsewhere, are preparing to make all kinds of delights. And the one we expect to find each year, the most representative of Christmas, is the bread of spices.

So, come and immerse yourself in the enchanting universe of this famous cake, from its amazing origins to the fabulous traditions, and even further!

Pain of spices, where do you come from?

If the gingerbread is today a flagship delight of the holiday season, this effervescence is the result of a long and tasty story. Prepare to make a good in time, direction antiquity!

“Melitounta” or “Melitounta”, these are the names that Greek Aristophane and his compatriot Athenee report, to designate a bread based on sesame and honey flour. In ancient Rome, Pile the old name “Paris Mellitus”, and describes it as a fried bread sprinkled with honey.

However, it would seem that our gingerbread originates more precisely... from China ! Indeed, the “Mi-Kong” was known in China in the 10th century as a recipe based on wheat flour, honey and sometimes raised with aromatic plants.

The horsemen of Gengis Khan in Mongolia carry this famous bread in their ration when they go to war. Thus, the “Mi-Kong” is coming to the Arabian Peninsula, then falling into the hands of the Crusaders who finally bring the bread and spices back to Europe.

L’ Germany was the first to welcome the gingerbread in 1296, where he spread into the monasteries and then became a real trade, “ Lebzelters “, meaning gingerbread in German.

This is how the famous honey cake traces its way to France and even more widely in Europe and then around the world. In addition to Alsace, the gingerbread is also famous in the city of Reims , in which several grocery loaves had been elected from the Middle Ages.

Gertwiller, or the capital of spice bread in France

Want to discover the wonderful world of spice bread? Go back to the uncontourable place: the Alsace! It is in Gertwiller that we take you, this small village with typical houses with doves, halfway between Colmar and Strasbourg . Two major manufacturers are still in Gertwiller today: the Lips and Fortwenger House, and their expertise is not dated yesterday.

Indeed, the gingerbread appears already in Alsace in the texts of the manuscript of the Strasbourg hospital in 1412: “ for the Christmas feast, you must give a large bread of spices or two little ones to each lepery patient. ” This is how the tradition of gingerbread is spread to Christmas.

The House of Spices Bread at Lips

To discover the wonders and secrets of the famous cake so coveted, head to the museum of the gingerbread of the Lips House! On the ground floor, plunge into the workshop of making spice bread, where many steps are still handmade.

But above all, you will have the chance to taste several kinds of this delicious cake! And even better: you can attend the manufacture but also the decoration of the famous cookies for Christmas!

Finally, on the upper floor of the museum is a remarkable collection of popular Alsatian art: furniture, ceramics, dishes and even cake molds dating from the 18th and 19th centuries.

The Palace of Spices Bread and Fortwenger Manufacturing

The Fortwenger workshops have been making spice bread in Alsace for nearly 250 years! This is how the creation of the Palais du pain d’épices shares this passion and craftsmanship, which is transmitted from generation to generation.

Push the door of the Palace of the Spice Bread, and let yourself be guided by the “Mannele”. This little gingerbread man will make you explore his gourmet universe through the museum pieces, where you will discover the origins and secrets of this famous cake.

After this fun trip, go to the manufacturing workshop or you will attend the production of these large decorated spice breads, not forgetting the final tasting!

Bread of spices around the world and events

From the East to the West and then throughout the world, the gingerbread has created its reputation. Although very popular in Germany and France, it is also found in other parts of the world, through gourmet events and traditions!

Świeto Piernika, or the festival of spice bread in Poland

Our dear gingerbread makes him talk about it Poland . Indeed, in the city of Toruń is organized, every year, a festival only for him. This festival, named Świeto Piernika , is intended to commemorate the tradition of making spice bread from the time.

If such an event is organized every year in honour of this honey cake, it is that the city of Toruń is somehow the “city of spice bread” of Poland. In addition to its museums, it welcomes one of the oldest confectionery companies in Poland and the world.

Of course, the gingerbread is made by respecting all a know-how, whose details remain a secret well kept by only a few people. What we know is that the paste of the famous cake must rest several months before the final preparation, such as good wine or cheese.

Thus, the festival of spice bread is a gourmet blend of traditions around the famous cake. Playful demonstrations of the stages of production, exhibitions, chess, live puppets and legends on the gingerbread... of what to immerse you in the fabulous universe of this ancestral delight.

Once upon a time... the gingerbread house

At the approach of Christmas, the craftsmen grocery bread and the families are active in making spice bread of all kinds. From traditional cake, to biscuits with various forms, to the famous little man of spice bread, all gourmets find their account.

But one of the forms that transports us the most in the magical world of Christmas is the little house in spice bread. Today globally known, it is found in many gourmet traditions of the end of the year.

The enchanting world of Hansel and Gretel

In Germany, families have a tradition of making a gingerbread house that is slowly erased by small, voluous hands, as Christmas approaches. They call it “ Hexenhaus “the “small house of the witch”, which originates from Hansel and Gretel’s tale.

Do you know this famous Grimm brothers tale? The gingerbread house plays an important role in it, because it is she who will attract the little children lost in the forest to the wicked witch... After all, which would not be marvelled by a man-sized house, entirely made of sweets and spice bread?

When the tale becomes reality

Speaking of a man-sized gingerbread house, let’s make a little jump across the Atlantic, direction San Francisco . Culinary competitions and workshops are organized near the parties in order to make the most beautiful bread houses of spices possible, all over the world. But in San Francisco, the Fermont hotel put the bar rather high, exactly 6.7 metres from the ground.

The tale becomes reality: a real house of spice bread with a human size, high of two floors and wide of 7 meters. It was made using thousands of spice bread bricks and more than one ton of candy and royal icing. Welcome to a gourmet and magical world, where it is even possible to dine!

The magical world of Christmas markets

We kept the best for the end. How to pass next to magic Christmas markets ? You will find our dear gingerbread in all its forms.

By evading their divine odors and shining their lights, Christmas markets settle in several cities around the world. France, Belgium , Germany, Switzerland , Sweden , Estonia , United States , Denmark , Russia ... so many countries that are mobilising to keep Christmas magic going through these famous markets.

But the one who makes the most talk about him, and even known as “ Christmas Capital “is the Christmas market in Strasbourg! We must admit that the capital of Alsace concentrates all the assets to be at the level of its reputation.

Dating from 1570, it is simply the oldest Christmas market in France. From the top of its 30 meters, its huge fir that rises on Kléber Square is one of the highest natural fir trees decorated in Europe. Around the impressive cathedral are divided several hundred chalets, where you can enjoy hot wine and spices in a world of the most gourmet.

Spices bread: our original and very old recipe!

If it is originally a simple honey bread, the recipe for spice bread has evolved over the centuries. Today it is composed of many spices that have been added over time: ginger, anis, clove, cinnamon... All serve to perfume pastry and give it its unique taste.

But the elders also lent the spices digestive virtues and the supernatural power to protect themselves against spirits.

If all this history and traditions gave you water to your mouth, we selected a recipe to make your own sweet delight! Original and very old, it is a recipe of alsatian spice bread in the form of cake, extremely simple to realize.

Ingredients

For 2 22 cm long cake molds:

• 350 g of flour
• 200 g of rye flour
• 2 pinch of fine salt
• 10 g chemical yeast
• 15 g powder cinnamon
• 5 g of soft ginger
• 2 g cardamom powder
• 4 g of ground anise
• 2 g of ground clover
• 2 g of musk
• 500 g of fir honey
• 200 g brown sugar (cassonade)
• 200 g fresh butter + 20 g for mussels
• 4 whole eggs

Preparation

• Mix flour, chemical yeast, spices and fine salt. Place the whole in a container;
• Melt the butter and honey together, on very soft fire. Add the sugar and beaten eggs in omelette. Then pour the mixture obtained at the centre of the fountain and mix intimately with a wooden spatula;
• You only have to pour the preparation in both mussels, well beurred beforehand;
• For cooking: cook in the oven at 180° (thermostat 6) for 30 minutes and then drop at 150° (thermostat 5) for 20 minutes. From the exit of the oven, demo on the grid.

Finally, enjoy it 24 hours later, it will only be better!