A taste of Lubeck, the “wonderfully Willy Wonka-esque” German town that is famous for its marzipan
Sweet Side of Marzipan City: A taste of the "wonderfully Willy Wonka-esque" place in Germany that turned an almond treat into an art form Tamara Hinson immerses herself in marzipan culture in the city from LubeckHer marzipan brand Niederegger offers classes in marzipan making and tastingShe finds the Niederegger Museum to provide a fantastic insight into marzipan
Lubeck is famous for several things: its seven spiers and its former status as the capital of the Hanseatic League. And then there is the marzipan. More precisely Lubecker Marzipan, which is, like Champagne and Gouda, the list of foods with protected designation of geographical origin of the EU.
The jury out on his background; some believe it dates back to the 1400s, when poor harvests prompted bakers to use almonds to make a bread known as marci panis (Saint Mark's bread). Others point out that the almond-based sweets that once arrived from Asia on merchant sailing ships were adorned with the image of a ruler. And in Arabic, "mauthaban" means "seated king".
Almonds, most of which came from the Far East, weren't have never missed. in Lubeck, a UNESCO-listed town filled with old half-timbered merchant houses. Even the poor lived well here, due to the belief that philanthropy would facilitate the passage of wealthy traders to paradise.
Appropriately, one of the marzipan sculptures on display in Niederegger's flagship store (a sickly tribute to the world's oldest brand of marzipan) , depicts Lubeck's Holsten Gate, a Gothic tower dating from the 1400s. Today it houses a museum that explores Lübeck's Hanseatic history, and exhibits include collectible boxes once found outside the many guilds of the city.
Lubeck is famous for several things: its seven spiers and its former status as the capital of the Hanseatic League. And then there is the marzipan. More precisely Lubecker Marzipan, which is, like Champagne and Gouda, the list of foods with protected designation of geographical origin of the EU.
The jury out on his background; some believe it dates back to the 1400s, when poor harvests prompted bakers to use almonds to make a bread known as marci panis (Saint Mark's bread). Others point out that the almond-based sweets that once arrived from Asia on merchant sailing ships were adorned with the image of a ruler. And in Arabic, "mauthaban" means "seated king".
Almonds, most of which came from the Far East, weren't have never missed. in Lubeck, a UNESCO-listed town filled with old half-timbered merchant houses. Even the poor lived well here, due to the belief that philanthropy would facilitate the passage of wealthy traders to paradise.
Appropriately, one of the marzipan sculptures on display in Niederegger's flagship store (a sickly tribute to the world's oldest brand of marzipan) , depicts Lubeck's Holsten Gate, a Gothic tower dating from the 1400s. Today it houses a museum that explores Lübeck's Hanseatic history, and exhibits include collectible boxes once found outside the many guilds of the city.
What's Your Reaction?
