Maiasmokk facts for kids
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Maiasmokk is a very old and famous café in Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia. Its name means 'sweet tooth' in Estonian. This cafe has been open since 1864, making it the oldest cafe still running in Estonia! Inside, you can also find a cool museum all about marzipan. Today, the cafe is owned by a company called Kalev.
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What Makes Maiasmokk Special?
The Cafe
Maiasmokk is known for its yummy treats. The cafe offers fresh pastries, pies, and cakes. They also make delicious candies by hand. You can enjoy a variety of hot coffees here too. The cafe has two floors for visitors.
The Marzipan Museum
Besides the cafe, there is a special room called the Kalev Marzipan Museum Room. It shows the history of marzipan. You can see about 200 marzipan figures there. These figures were made using molds that are over 100 years old! You can also watch a marzipan artist paint these sweet creations. Sometimes, there are talks about marzipan as well.
A Look Back: Maiasmokk's History
Maiasmokk is the oldest cafe still open in Estonia. Its story began on August 11, 1806. That's when a sugar baker named Lorenz Cavietzel got the land. He opened the first sugar bakery there. But the cafe we see today was built later, in 1864.
In 1864, a confectioner named Georg Stude bought the property. He rebuilt it, and the cafe has been open ever since. In the late 1800s, Maiasmokk became famous for its marzipan. Even the Russian Imperial family bought marzipan from them!
Before World War I, the cafe won many important awards. In 1941, the company became owned by the government. But the cafe kept running during the Soviet occupation of Estonia.
After Estonia became independent again in 1997, the cafe became a private business. In 2004, the Kalev company bought most of its shares. Today, Maiasmokk is part of the Kalev company. In 2006, the Estonian Post Office even made a special stamp. It celebrated the cafe's 200th birthday! In 2010, Kalev also bought the building where the cafe is located.
