Passion and Marzipan

In his stories, the great novelist Boccaccio clearly describes the correlation between passion and marzipan. In those days, marzipan was topped with gold leaf to crown the sweet temptation. Today you can find it in grocery stores everywhere, shaped like fruit, around the holidays.

Marzipan is simply a mixture of sugar and almond paste!!! Heavenly

Typically, german children get a marzipan piggy with a gold coin in it's mouth for a good luck treat around the new year.  There is a Cafe in Bielefeld, that has a wall of marzipan, shaped into sweet little figures to suit the old and young. To this day, I have to go there and pick out a few memory laden treats. They NEVER make it home, in some cases...not even out of the cafe! Visit Knigge online to see the wall of marzipan. You can even order some online!!!

The first Europeans to indulge in marzipan rich peeps. It has been reported that Queen Elizabeth I of England, who lived from 1533 to 1603, was addicted to all things sweet...especially marzipan!

Later, at the French ‘Sun King’ Louis XIV’s sumptuous feasts, huge tables laden with marzipan were the order of the day. Marzipan reproductions of all sorts of fruits, poultry and game were created – anything you desired could be made.

Marzipan is particularly popular and prized in Lübeck. It's considered marzipan central. I have an aunt that lives there and she knows to bring copious amounts of marzipan when she comes to visit. The difference marzipan from there to the stuff from an grocery store here is the ratio of sugar to almond paste. The German stuff is about 90% almond paste to 10% sugar. The grocery store variety is about a 50/50 blend. Too sweet!!!! Yuckola

Keep your eyes peeled around the holidays this year and taste some passion!!!