Toruń gingerbread facts for kids
Gingerbreads of different shapes
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| Type | Biscuit |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Poland |
| Region or state | Toruń |
Toruń gingerbread is a super old and famous type of gingerbread from Poland. People have been making it in the city of Toruń since the Middle Ages, which was a very long time ago! It's known as pierniki toruńskie in Polish.
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The Sweet Story of Toruń Gingerbread
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People in Poland have always linked Toruń with gingerbread. This special craft started growing in the 13th century.
Why Toruń Was Perfect for Gingerbread
Toruń was a great place to make gingerbread because of its location. The area had excellent soil for growing wheat to make flour. Nearby villages also provided lots of honey.
The special spices needed for gingerbread came from far-off countries. These spices, mostly from India, traveled through places like the Black Sea and Lviv. They then went to the Holy Roman Empire and were brought by German trading companies. Some spices also arrived by sea at the port of Gdańsk.
Early Days and Famous Bakers
The first time Toruń gingerbread was mentioned was in 1380. It talked about a local baker named Niclos Czana. This gingerbread quickly became famous in Poland and other countries.
Toruń and the city of Nuremberg (which was famous for its own special cakes) both wanted to keep their recipes secret. But in 1556, they made a deal. Each city could then bake the other's special treats!
Growing the Gingerbread Business
Not just bakers made this tasty treat. In the 16th century, the Cistercian Order (a group of monks) near Toruń made a lot of money from gingerbread. They even sold it to other countries.
Later, in the 17th century, the well-known Grauer family started their gingerbread workshop. The city leaders supported this profitable business. They even lowered taxes on spice imports and exports for bakers. This helped the gingerbread trade grow even more.
Big Factories Take Over
In the 18th and 19th centuries, gingerbread baking slowed down in Toruń. By 1825, only three bakers were left. But then, big companies started making gingerbread in large amounts. This was part of a new way of doing business called capitalism.
The biggest factory was owned by Gustav Weese. His family's gingerbread tradition started in 1763 with Johann Weese. Gustav Traugott Weese took over a small workshop in 1824 and turned it into a huge company.
In 1875, a local newspaper wrote that Weese's gingerbread was even sold in Africa because it was so popular! It was also sent to places like Turkey, Japan, China, and Honolulu. By 1913, Gustav Weese (a descendant) built a factory that had over 500 workers.
In 1939, Gustav Weese sold his factory to a Polish company called "Społem." This company in Toruń is still open today. It is the oldest candy company in Poland and one of the oldest in the world!
Other important gingerbread companies included Hermann Thomas, started in 1857, and Jan Ruchniewicz, started in 1907. Ruchniewicz's company was known for gingerbread decorated with Toruń's city crest.
Toruń Gingerbread in Polish Culture
Pierniki Toruńskie are a symbol of Poland's national food. The city of Toruń has traditionally given them as gifts. They were given to Polish leaders, artists, and other important people. Even Polish kings received them!
Royal and Famous Gifts
Old baking molds still exist with faces of kings like Sigismund III Vasa and Władysław IV Vasa. There are also molds of Queen Cecilia Renata of Austria and the royal seal with the Polish eagle.
Many other famous people have received gingerbread gifts from Toruń. These include Marie Casimire Louise (a French princess), Napoleon Bonaparte (when he visited, the whole city lit up!), and famous Polish artists like Jan Matejko. Even Pope John Paul II received this special treat.
Legends and Sayings
For hundreds of years, pierniki have been linked to Toruń in Polish stories and proverbs. One legend says gingerbread was a gift from the Queen of the Bees to a young apprentice named Bogumił.
A poet in the 17th century wrote about the four best things in Poland: "The vodka of Gdańsk, Toruń gingerbread, the ladies of Kraków, and the Warsaw shoes." This shows how famous the gingerbread was!
The poet Ignacy Krasicki in the 18th century loved gingerbread very much. He even wrote about it in his famous poems.
Chopin's Sweet Connection
When the talented 15-year-old composer Frédéric Chopin visited a small village near Toruń, he stopped in the city. He stayed with his godfather, Fryderyk Florian Skarbek. Chopin tried the city's famous gingerbread and loved it so much! He wrote a letter to his friends about it and even sent some to Warsaw.
To honor this, Poland's biggest Toruń gingerbread maker, the Kopernik Confectionery Company, created a special heart-shaped gingerbread. It's called Scherzo and has Chopin's picture on the wrapper.
Toruń also has a yearly celebration for gingerbread called Święto Piernika, which means the Gingerbread Festival.
Current Producers
Today, there are two main companies that make Toruń gingerbread. One is the "Kopernik" S.A. factory. This company continues the tradition of the original company started by Johann Weese in 1763.
The other company is the Toruń Bakery. It was started by local bakers who wanted to keep the craft alive. They make fine gingerbread for restaurants, parties, and special events.
