It's the almondy-ness. The sweetness. The squishiness! And also the chocolate.
I think it's not only Marzipan itself which is marvelous, but it's also ... well ... everything. The history of Marzipan, the nature around us - full of almond trees and honeybees, the Christmas holidays, or alcohol-free Stollen cake around a steaming cup of hot cocoa.
And of course, it's about all the other things which are equally marvelous like facts about hibernation, the life of bears, or marzipan-like (yet not edible) stones!
Marzipan is a confection, typically made of sugar or honey and ground almonds. It often contains additional ingredients such as egg white, lemon juice, glycerol, wheat flour, or cornstarch. Its color varies from very pale to dark brown. Well, as you might already know, marzipan is often used as a cake covering or as decoration on cakes and pastries. The different marzipan forms are rolled out, flat strips or eggs, cut into small cubes, and molded into various shapes. In Europe, it is common to be shaped like fruits or animals.
Its origin dates back to the Middle Ages in Persia (modern-day Iran) and the Middle East, where it was used as a medicine. The Arabs brought it to Spain during the 8th century, and with that, marzipan quickly became popular around Europe.
Originally, Marzipan was made from ground almonds mixed with rosewater and sugar, often turned into sweets for children. In fact, in some languages spoken in Europe, Marzipan is called "marcipán," which comes from the Greek word "mandorla," meaning almond. The Spanish created marzipan as we know it today and perfected it 200 years ago.
The first marzipan production started in Valencia. Since the 19th century, the center of European marzipan production has been Niederegger in Germany, which exported their products to France, Russia, and even Africa.
Nowadays, other popular manufacturers of Marzipan originate from Europe, such as Olo in Switzerland.
Marzipan fruits
One of the most popular forms of marzipan is that in the shape of fruits. This tradition originated during the Renaissance when sugar was still a luxury good that rich people could only afford. At that time, real fruit was often replaced by marzipan fruit.
Today, even though its price has become more affordable, fruit marzipan is still a luxury and popular treat during Christmas.
In Germany and Switzerland, it is very common to make various types of Marzipan fruits from almond paste mixed with different colors and flavors. Among them are small fruits such as grapes or strawberries or even larger ones like peaches or pineapples. In Germany, the traditional fruit-shaped marzipan items are called "Pflaumenkuchen," which literally means "plum cake."
Marzipan pigs and lambs
Another popular form of Marzipan is that of tiny animals, such as pigs and lambs. This tradition is because many people living during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance were Christian. Because of that, they made frequent references to Biblical stories in everyday life.
For instance, since Jesus was born during springtime in a stable with farm animals around him, Marzipan in the form of pigs and lambs is often given as a gift in some countries during Christmas or Easter.
Decorative fruits and animals
Besides "realistic" marzipan fruit and animal shapes, you can also find many creative and decorative forms in many countries. They look like cake decorations or like works of art! For example:
In Germany, one common item is the "Rosenmädchen," which literally means "rose girls," but it is a decoration shaped like a girl with a bowl containing roses.
In Italy, there's the "Befana," which is a marzipan cake shaped like an old woman holding a broom and sweets. You can find it in many other European countries as well under different names such as the "Matrioschka" in Russia or the "Perkeo" in Germany.
There's the "pastourelle," a marzipan cake decorated with various fruits and flowers in France.
Another decorative item is the "Steinhäger girl" in Germany, a marzipan decoration shaped like a little girl with a steinhäger bottle.
The Swiss city of Basel has its own traditional form of marzipan decoration called "Mäggiywürfeli," which is shaped like a rooster.
But not all European countries have such creative and decorative items for Christmas. In Russia, for example, marzipan fruit items are top-rated, but people rarely make decorative marzipan.
When the Spanish brought marzipan to Mexico, they were surprised because it didn't have any particular Christmas tradition. It was mostly used to decorate cakes and pastries, but it remains relatively unknown as a traditional Christmas treat in most Latin American countries such as Mexico, Colombia, or Chile.
However, since Mexico has a strong tradition of candy-making and marzipan can be flavored in many different ways (such as orange, coconut, cinnamon, etc.), marzipan in Latin America is gradually becoming more popular during Christmas.
Today Marzipan is eaten at Christmas in all countries around the world.
Marzipan balls
Marzipan balls are a delicious Christmas treat! You can find them in many European countries such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. They're mostly covered in chocolate, but you can also find them in other colors such as red, green, or white.
They are made from marzipan mixed with some powdered sugar and food coloring. The dough is then rolled into little balls, which are then covered in chocolate.
The recipe for marzipan balls is very similar to that of marzipan fruit, but usually, it doesn't contain any egg white or almond essence.
Marzipan decorative carrotsAs mentioned before, many Westerners often eat marzipan fruits and vegetables around Christmas. But if you think about it, most of these items are yellow - because most people associate them with carrots!
Why do so many Westerners decorate their holiday cakes with little orange carrots? Is it because this vegetable reminds them of Santa's reindeer?
The answer is no, and there's a fascinating explanation:
It all started in the Middle Ages when Western countries were still mainly Christian. There was a popular belief that vegetables such as carrots or turnips would help you see evil spirits around you during wintertime. Those vegetables quickly became associated with Christmas time because people believed that they helped protect against evil spirits during that period.
This association has survived until today, and most Westerners still associate these vegetables with Christmas. So if you see a little orange carrot on a cake, don't be surprised!
Marzipan is a traditional food for Christmas in many countries around the world. It doesn't matter what you're celebrating. You can eat it any time between these dates.
So this year, I invite you to try marzipan at your next Christmas dinner!
Thanks for reading! If you liked this article, please share it on Facebook or Twitter!
