Mozartkugel facts for kids
Fürst Original Mozartkugeln
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| Alternative names | Mozart-Bonbon |
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| Type | Confectionery |
| Place of origin | Austria, Germany |
| Main ingredients | pistachio, marzipan, nougat, dark chocolate |
A Mozartkugel (say "MOH-tsart-koo-gel") is a yummy, round candy from Austria. It's made with pistachio, marzipan (a sweet almond paste), and nougat (a chewy candy). All of this is covered in delicious dark chocolate.
This special candy was first called Mozart-Bonbon. It was created in 1890 by a candy maker named Paul Fürst in Salzburg, Austria. He named it after the famous composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Today, Fürst's family still makes the original Original Salzburger Mozartkugeln by hand. Many other companies also make similar Mozartkugel candies, often in factories.
Contents
The Story of Mozartkugeln
Paul Fürst was born in a town called Sierning in Austria. He grew up in Salzburg. When his father passed away, Paul lived with his uncle. His uncle owned a candy shop in Salzburg.
Paul Fürst learned how to make candies in big cities like Vienna, Budapest, and Paris. In 1884, he opened his own pastry shop in Salzburg. After trying many different recipes, he finally created the Mozart-Bonbon in 1890.
His new candy became very popular! Paul Fürst started a company to sell his Mozartkugeln. However, he didn't get a patent to protect his invention. This meant other candy shops in Salzburg soon started making similar candies.
How Are Mozartkugeln Made?
The original Mozartkugel recipe is quite special. First, a small ball is made from marzipan mixed with pistachio. This ball is then covered with a layer of nougat.
Next, this candy ball is put on a small wooden stick. It's then dipped into rich dark chocolate. The stick is placed upright so the chocolate can cool down and get hard.
Finally, the stick is carefully removed. The little hole left by the stick is filled with more chocolate. Then, the whole candy is wrapped in shiny tin foil. These delicious candies stay fresh for about eight weeks if kept at room temperature.
Who Can Call Them "Original"?
When other companies started making similar candies, Paul Fürst went to court. He wanted to protect his invention and make sure only his candies could be called "Original Mozartkugeln."
At first, the argument was only with other candy makers in Salzburg. But soon, companies from Germany also started making them. After many discussions, an agreement was reached. Other companies had to use different names for their Mozartkugeln.
For example, a company called Mirabell, near Salzburg, chose the name "Real Salzburg Mozartkugeln." A German company called Reber decided to use "Real Reber Mozartkugeln."
In 1996, there was another big argument. This time, it was between Fürst and a company owned by Nestlé. Nestlé wanted to sell "Original Austria Mozartkugeln." After a long legal battle, the court decided that only Fürst's candies could be called "Original Salzburg Mozartkugeln."
A Big Chocolate Fight!
In the late 1970s, there was another disagreement. This was between two big candy companies: Mirabell (now part of Mondelez International) and Reber. They argued over who could use the "Mozartkugel" name.
In 1981, a temporary agreement was made. It said that only Austrian companies could use the name "Mozartkugeln." But Reber, the German company, didn't agree. A special official in Brussels (where the European Union is) said that this agreement was not fair.
Because of this, Reber is allowed to use the name Genuine Reber Mozart-Kugeln. Notice the hyphen in the name!
There's another interesting rule: only Mirabell Mozartkugeln are allowed to be perfectly round. Other Mozartkugeln made in factories must have one flat side. Besides Mirabell and Reber, other companies that make Mozartkugeln include Hofbauer, Manner, and Halloren.
Fun Facts About Mozartkugeln
The Mozartkugel won a gold medal at a big fair in Paris in 1905. This shows how special they were, even back then!
In the winter of 2006, something funny happened in Salzburg. Eighty huge Mozartkugeln, each about 1.6 meters (over 5 feet) wide, were placed around the old town. Artists had designed them. One night, some vandals (people who damage things) took one of these giant Mozartkugeln. It had been bolted to the ground! They rolled it into the street, causing about 7000 euros worth of damage.
See also
In Spanish: Mozartkugel para niños
