Monday, 26 November 2012

NUREMBERGER LEBKUCHEN HISTORY




At the end of summer, you smell the aroma of various spices in Nuremberg, Germany. The baking of Lebkuchen (Gingerbread biscuit) has started.

Lebkuchen have been invented by monks in Franconia, Germany in 13th century. 

They first started with honey-cakes because honey from the surrounding pine forest was available. Also honey was in those days the only sweetener. The beeskeepers were famous for the quality of honey. But it didn't stay that way because Nuremberg was on the trade route from south to north. Therefore, spices like salt, glover, cinnamon, ginger, orange peel, lemon peel, cardamom and hazelnuts (which came also from the forest) were soon used. The Lebkuchen as we know it today was invented.





These spices has been inspected and certified by the town-spice-controls since 1441. Only the very highest quality came into the town trade and then sold on to the bakers. The Lebkuchen is produced from a great number of spices, which each were most carefully weight.

Lebkuchen were not baked in homes in 15th century but by bakers belonging to the Government Guilt.

Kaiser Friedrich III held a Reichstag in 1487 in Nuremberg. He handed out 4000 Lebkuchen to the children bearing his portrait.

Commercial production of the Lebkuchen in Nuremberg began in the 14th century.  

In 1643 the league of Lebkuchen Bakers was created. In 1645 a strict guideline was issued to enable commercial bakers produce always a high quality. If the quality was not met they were not allowed to sell. Therefore, over the centuries the Lebkuchen became well known all over the world.


Since 1808 they established a variety of Nuremberg Lebkuchen baked with no flour and high quality ingredient. It is called Elisen Lebkuchen. It is not certain where the name Elisen came from. Some reference are made to the daughter of a baker, other references are to the wife of a magrave. This assured the finest Lebkuchen product by members of the Guilt. 

Since 1996 the Nuremberger Lebkuchen is a Product Designations of Origin and must be produced only within the boundaries of the city.


For home baking follows  the full recipe on Elisen Lebkuchen. You surely will enjoy it. Nothing like traditional home baking.

MERRY CHRISTMAS



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