Spiced bun facts for kids
| Type | Sweet roll |
|---|---|
| Main ingredients | Sweet roll, spices |
A spiced bun is a yummy sweet bun that has special spices mixed into it. These spices give the bun a unique and delicious flavor. Two famous kinds of spiced buns are the hot cross bun and the Jamaican spiced bun. People enjoy spiced buns as a treat or for breakfast.
Contents
What Spices Are In Spiced Buns?
Spiced buns get their special taste from different spices. Bakers add these spices when they are making the dough.
Some common spices used in spiced buns include:
- cinnamon
- mace (a spice from the nutmeg tree)
- nutmeg
- coriander
- allspice
- saffron
- mixed spice (this is a blend of different spices, often used in baking)
History of Spiced Buns
No one knows exactly where spiced buns first came from. They probably became popular in bakeries across Europe in the 1600s and 1700s. This was a time when many interesting spices from faraway lands became easier to find.
Today, you can find spiced buns in many places. You can buy them at local bakeries or in big supermarkets.
Different Kinds of Spiced Buns
There are many different types of spiced buns around the world. Each kind has its own special look and taste.
Hot Cross Buns
The hot cross bun is one of the most famous spiced buns. It has a cross on top, which is often made from icing or a flour paste. In England, there is a long tradition of eating hot cross buns. They are usually baked on Good Friday, which is a holiday before Easter. However, you can often buy them at other times of the year too.
Boston Buns
In countries like Australia and New Zealand, there is a larger spiced bun called the Boston bun. This bun is often topped with sweet coconut icing. It is a bigger version of a spiced bun, perfect for sharing or a big snack.
Jamaican Spiced Buns
The Jamaican spiced bun looks a bit like a small loaf of bread. It has a dark brown color and a rich, sweet taste. People in Jamaica often eat this bun with cheese. They also enjoy it with butter or simply with a glass of milk. This type of spiced bun is also popular in other Caribbean countries.
Bon Bread
Bon bread is another traditional spiced bread from the Caribbean. It is also known as pambón or black bread. This bread is popular in places like Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and the Colombian islands of San Andrés and Providencia.
Bon bread is a dark, spiced bread. It came from an English bread called gingerbread. The word "bon" comes from "bun," which is a type of English bun known for its dark color and ginger flavor. This bread has a history going back to the Middle Ages.
When African slaves were brought to the West Indies by the British, they learned the English gingerbread recipe. In the Caribbean, people used sugar cane molasses instead of ginger. This molasses is what gives bon bread its special dark color.
