Maltese bread facts for kids
Maltese bread oven
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| Type | Bread |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Malta |
| Region or state | Qormi |
Maltese bread (called Il-Ħobż tal-Malti in Maltese) is a special kind of bread from Malta. It has a crunchy crust and is usually baked in traditional wood ovens. This bread is made using a sourdough starter, which gives it a unique taste and texture.
People in Malta often eat this bread with olive oil. It's called Ħobż biż-żejt. To make it, they rub the bread with fresh tomatoes or tomato paste. Then, they drizzle it with olive oil. You can fill it with tasty ingredients like tuna, olives, capers, onion, a bean paste called bigilla, or a small cheese called ġbejna. Making this traditional bread is becoming less common today.
Qormi: The Bakers' Town
Qormi is a very important city for making bread in Malta. It has many bakeries. Long ago, when the Knights Hospitaller ruled Malta, Qormi was known as Casal Fornaro. This name means "the bakers' town."
Today, Qormi hosts a yearly festival called Lejl f'Casal Fornaro. This means "A Night at Casal Fornaro." It happens every year on the third Saturday of October. It celebrates the city's rich history of bread making.
Bread in Maltese Sayings
Bread is so important in Malta that it appears in many common sayings. These phrases show how vital bread is for daily life and survival.
- Ħobżu maħbuż (his bread is baked): This means someone is doing very well or is rich.
- Tilef ħobżu (he has lost his bread): This phrase means someone has lost their job.
- X'ħobż jiekol dan? (what bread does he consume?): People use this when they want to know about someone's personality.
- Jeħtieġu bħall-ħobż li jiekol (he needs it like his daily bread): This means someone really needs something very badly.
- Ħaga li fiha biċċa ħobż ġmielha (something which provides a lot of bread): This describes a project or activity that makes a lot of money.
- Ma fihiex ħobż (it procures no bread): This describes a project that does not make any money or profit.
See also
In Spanish: Pan maltés para niños
