Krembo facts for kids
A Krembo with its marshmallow cream filling showing.
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| Course | Snack |
|---|---|
| Place of origin |  Denmark |
| Created by | Strauss |
| Main ingredients | Chocolate, filling such as marshmallow cream, marzipan or buttercream, biscuit or cookie similar to shortbread |
| Variations | white chocolate, dark chocolate, halva, nougat, meringue, marzipan, buttercream |
| 115 kcal (481 kJ) | |
Krembo is a popular chocolate-covered marshmallow snack from Israel. The name is a mix of the Hebrew words for "cream" (krem) and "in it" (bo), so it literally means "cream-in-it."
This tasty treat has three main parts. It starts with a round biscuit base. On top of the biscuit is a big swirl of fluffy marshmallow cream. The whole thing is then covered in a thin layer of chocolate and wrapped in colorful foil.
Contents
History of the Krembo
The idea for the Krembo originally came from Denmark. In the early 1900s, Ashkenazi Jews moved to the area that is now Israel. They brought many of their favorite foods with them, including a homemade version of this marshmallow treat.
The first company to make and sell Krembo was the Whitman Company. They gave the snack its famous name. In 1967, they added a mocha-flavored version. Later, in 1979, a large food company called Strauss bought the Whitman Company. Today, Strauss makes most of the Krembos sold in Israel.
Over the years, other companies tried to sell different flavors like banana and strawberry. However, these new flavors didn't become as popular as the classic vanilla and mocha.
In 2005, Strauss began selling Krembos in the United States and Canada. They are sold in special supermarkets that carry kosher foods, which follow Jewish dietary rules.
A Popular Seasonal Snack
Krembos are a special treat that you can only buy in the winter, from October to February. This is because Israel has long, hot summers. The delicate marshmallow and chocolate would melt in the heat.
Even though they are only sold for a few months, Krembos are extremely popular. Over 50 million are sold each year in Israel. That's an average of about nine Krembos for every person in the country!
What's Inside a Krembo?
An average Krembo weighs about 25 grams and has 115 calories. It is made of three main ingredients:
- The biscuit base makes up about 17% of the treat.
- The fluffy marshmallow cream is the biggest part, at 53%.
- The chocolate coating makes up the final 30%.
Krembo and Jewish Traditions
For those who follow Jewish law, called Halacha, there is a fun debate about the "correct" way to eat a Krembo. Before eating, a special blessing is said over the main part of the food.
With a Krembo, people can't agree on what the main part is. Is it the biscuit on the bottom? Or is it the marshmallow cream and chocolate on top? Because there is no single answer, some people say a separate blessing for both the biscuit and the cream to be sure.
See also
- Klik
- Chanukah gelt
- Chocolate-coated marshmallow treats
