Pain d'épices facts for kids
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| Type | Cake or quick bread |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | France |
| Region or state | Reims and Alsace |
| Associated national cuisine | French cuisine |
| Main ingredients | |
| Ingredients generally used | |
| Similar dishes | |
Pain d'épices (pronounced "pan day-peace") is a delicious French cake or quick bread. Its name means "spice bread" in French. This tasty treat is made with rye flour, honey, and different spices. In the Alsace region of France, people often add a pinch of cinnamon to their pain d'épices. It's a bit like gingerbread but with its own special French twist!
Contents
The History of Pain d'épices
Pain d'épices has a long and interesting history in France. It was first made in the city of Reims. A pastry chef from Bourges created the original recipe. This sweet bread became very popular when King Charles VII and his partner, Agnès Sorel, enjoyed it.
Spice Bread Makers
In 1571, the people who made pain d'épices in Reims formed their own special group. They were separate from other cooks. Later, in 1596, the pain d'épices makers in Paris also got their own group. This shows how important and popular this bread was becoming!
A New Home in Dijon
Sadly, the pain d'épices industry in Reims was greatly affected by World War I. Because of this, the city of Dijon became the new main place for making pain d'épices. Today, pain d'épices is known as a special food from Dijon.
How Pain d'épices is Made
The way pain d'épices is made has changed over time.
Traditional Method
Originally, pain d'épices was a type of sourdough bread. It didn't use extra ingredients to make it rise. The dough was left in a wooden container in a cool place for many months. During this time, the honey and rye flour would ferment, which helped the bread develop its flavor. Once ready, the dough was baked in loaf molds.
Modern Baking
Today, most pain d'épices recipes use baking soda or baking powder to help the bread rise. These ingredients were invented in the 1800s. They make the baking process much faster!
Pure Honey Pain d'épices
Some pain d'épices is still made the traditional way, using only honey for sweetness. In France, honey sellers often sell these loaves. There's even a special name, pain d'épices pur miel, which means "pure honey spice bread." This name is only used for pain d'épices that are sweetened only with honey.
See also
In Spanish: Pain d'épices para niños
