Pretzel
- This article is about the baked snack, for other uses, see Pretzel (disambiguation).
A pretzel is a baked snack that is ordinarily twisted into a unique knot-like shape. The pretzel is usually made from wheat flour with yeast; the dough is briefly dipped in lye water before baking, and usually salted.
History
Sources differ as to the time and place of the pretzel's origin. Many sources say it originated in southern Germany (where it remains very popular and is known as Brezel); others say it comes from the region of Alsace on the border between France and Germany. Some say it originated in medieval times, others that it dates back to ancient Rome or even Celtic times. One documented account taken from the book History of Science and Technology (au: Bryan Bunch with Alexander Hellemans) has it that in 610 A.D. "An italian monk invents prezels as a reward to children who learn their prayers. He calls the strips of baked dough, folded to resemble arms crossing the breast, prestiola ("little reward"). Telephone books and other historical records from the early 1900's show that the Pretzel was often referred to as the "Bretzel" in the U.S. at that time.
There are also several stories about the origin of the pretzel shape. One legend holds that a baker accused of larceny was offered the opportunity to cancel his sentence if he could make a piece of bread through which the sun could be seen thrice; the ingenious baker twisted his dough into a pretzel before baking. Another common story says that the shape represents the position of arms of a monk in prayer and that the three holes represent the Christian Holy Trinity. A sign with three rings was an old symbol to mark a bakery in Germany, but sources differ as to whether the signs were made to imitate the pretzel or the pretzel was made to imitate the signs. According to some sources, the bagel originated as a variation on the pretzel. However, stories told of the pretzel are likely apocryphal, and the actual origin of the pretzel seems to be a mystery
Varieties
There are both soft and hard pretzels. Soft pretzels are more traditional. They are best eaten fresh-baked and hot. They are common in Germany; the city of Philadelphia in the United States is also famous for its soft pretzels. In German-speaking Switzerland, thick soft pretzels sliced horizontally are sometimes used to make sandwiches.
Hard pretzels are more common than soft pretzels in most of the United States, as they can be mass-produced, packaged and stored. In Germany, hard stick-shaped pretzels are known as Salzstangen, not Brezel. In the United States, hard pretzels are often consumed as a "beer snack." Chocolate-covered hard pretzels are also popular, especially around Christmastime.
Pretzels can be found in a variety of shapes and sizes. Many hard pretzels are about 3–4 inches (8–10 cm) wide and 2–3 inches (5–8 cm) tall. However, some companies sell mini-pretzels about a quarter that size. Traditional soft pretzels are about the size of a hand. Hard pretzels are also frequently sold as straight "pretzel sticks."
Hard pretzels are also available with a sweet candy coating of chocolate, strawberry and other flavors. A popular variation is "yogurt-covered pretzels", with a coating based on yogurt. Some consumers consider them a healthy snack because of this, but the coating can also contain added fats and sugars.
The annual United States pretzel industry is worth over $550 million. The average American consumes about 1.75 pounds (0.79 kg) of pretzels per year. Southeastern Pennsylvania, with its large ethnic German population, is considered the birthplace of the American pretzel industry and many pretzel bakers are still located in the area. The average Philadelphian consumes about twelve times more pretzels than the national average.[1]
Trivia
- U.S. President George W. Bush famously choked on a pretzel in January 2002 while watching an NFL football game, briefly fainting and losing consciousness.
- The pretzel is the school mascot for New Berlin High School in New Berlin, Illinois and Freeport High School in Freeport, Illinois.
- Pretzel has also come to be used as a colloquial term for a difficult body position for a contortionist.
- The Sturgis Pretzel House was the first pretzel bakery in the United States.
- Annual consumption of pretzels in the U.S. is 2 pounds per person per year. In the mid-Atlantic states, it's 4 pounds — and in Philadelphia, it's more than 10 pounds.
References
- "Bush makes light of pretzel scare". BBC News Online. 2002-01-14.
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