Birnenhonig facts for kids
| Alternative names | Sirop de Liège (Belgium), pear butter (North America) |
|---|---|
| Type | Spread |
| Place of origin | Switzerland |
| Main ingredients | Pears |
Birnenhonig (which means "pear honey" in German) is a sweet syrup made from pears. It comes from central Switzerland. In North America, people often call it Pear Butter. It is quite similar to a Belgian spread called sirop de Liège.
How is Birnenhonig Made?
Making Birnenhonig starts with fresh pears. First, the pears are boiled until they are soft. After boiling, the pears are pressed to get out all their juice. This pear juice is then heated for a long time, usually for six to seven hours. As it heats, the juice thickens and changes.
The final product is sweet and creamy. It has a dark brown color and is not see-through. People enjoy Birnenhonig as a spread on bread. It is also a key ingredient in a type of gingerbread called Luzerner Lebkuchen.
During a time when certain foods were hard to find, like during the Second World War, Birnenhonig was very useful. People would mix it with milk. This made a tasty drink that was a good replacement for milky coffee, which was scarce back then.
