When you are in a German festive fair and a sugary, nutty aroma catches your attention, have no doubts. It’s Gebrannte Mandeln calling you! Be it Oktoberfest, Christkindlmarkt, Weihnachtsmarkt or German Christmas Markets, this one delicacy surely lures our plates and palates.
What is Gebrannte Mandeln?
The Deutschland delicacy Gebrannte Mandeln refers to candied or caramelized, roasted almonds. The German word “Gebrannte” literally translates to “burnt”.
World Famous Candied, Roasted Nuts from Germany
Gebrannte Nüsse – Lecker und Gesund
In earlier days, only almonds were available in the roasted and candied form. Now-a-days, a wide variety of other nuts is available, like Haselnüsse or hazelnuts, Pinienkerne or pine nuts, Pecannüsse or pecans, macadamia, Nussbaum or walnuts, Cashewnüsse or cashew nuts, and Erdnüsse or peanuts.
P.S. The German phrase “Lecker und Gesund” means delicious and healthy.
Bavarian Nuts – Bounty of Bavaria
Bavaria is a region in Germany known for it’s culture, architecture, cuisine and festivals like the Oktoberfest. Gebrannte Mandeln is closely tied to Bavaria and it’s festive fairs. What Germany fondly calls Gebrannte Mandeln, the world knows it as the Bavarian Nuts.
Everyone’s Favorite at Christmas Market
At a German Christmas market, Gebrannte Mandeln or Bavarian Nuts are a common attraction. Gebrannte Nüsse are cooked in a traditional copper pot where they are mixed with sugar and water, stirred continuously until caramelized. A dash of cinnamon is added for the aroma. The nuts are freshly prepared at the stalls and packed in colorful, conical paper containers. Crunchy, crispy, warm and ready to binge. Nut packets are available in different sizes. The smallest one, weighing around 100 grams, costs about 5 Euros. You can either opt for a single variety of nuts in a packet or mixed.
A Bite of History
It is a Deutschland delicacy boasting of years of tradition. The earliest known record of Gebrannte Mandeln has been in the 17th century at the Munich Oktoberfest. According to some sources, there is a slight possibility that Gebrannte Mandeln might have originated in the Middle East. Since long, cooking nuts with sugar has been a popular practice in the Middle East. Traders and travellers might have brought the delicious practice to Europe.
One but Many Names
Gebrannte Nüsse are common in other parts of Europe as well. In Italy, they are called Addormentasuocere. The Spanish call them Garrapiñadas. In Denmark, Norway and Sweden, they are known as Brændte Mandler, Brente Mandler and Brända Mandlar respectively. There also exists a Middle Eastern sibling of the Gebrannte Mandeln – the Jordan Almond.
-X-
Read more articles from Eat-Wit Series here.
2,891 total views, 1 views today