Persipan facts for kids
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This Dominostein has a layer of persipan at the top
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| Alternative names | Parzipan |
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| Place of origin | Germany |
| Main ingredients | Apricot or peach kernels, sugar |
Persipan (sometimes called Parzipan) is a sweet ingredient used in baking and making candies. It gets its name from Persicus, which is the Latin word for peach, and marzipan.
Persipan is very similar to marzipan, but there's one big difference: marzipan is made from almonds, while persipan is made from the kernels (or seeds) found inside apricot or peach pits.
What is Persipan Made Of?
Persipan is usually made from 40% ground kernels and 60% sugar. The kernels from apricots and peaches naturally have a strong bitter taste. This bitterness comes from a substance called amygdalin. Before these kernels can be used for food, they must be specially treated to remove this bitter taste and make them safe to eat.
Originally, persipan was often cheaper than marzipan because apricot and peach kernels were not used for much else. Persipan also has a slightly different taste compared to marzipan.
How is it Different from Marzipan?
To help tell the difference between persipan and marzipan, persipan often has a tiny bit of starch added to it (about 0.5%). This allows people to easily test for its presence using an iodine test. If starch is present, it will react with iodine and change color, confirming it's persipan.
How is Persipan Used?
Persipan is mostly used in confectionery, which means it's an ingredient in sweet foods and candies. It's often used in place of marzipan in many recipes. You'll find it in pastry and other sweet treats, like the traditional German Christmas bread called Stollen.
It's rare for people to eat persipan by itself. Instead, it's usually mixed into other foods to add flavor and texture. In recent years, more and more bakers and candy makers have started using persipan.
