Pretzels
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Wikipedia-Article "Pretzels"
- This article is about the baked snack, for other uses, see Pretzel (disambiguation).
A pretzel is a baked snack that is ordinarily twisted into a unique knot-like shape. The pretzel is usually made from wheat flour with yeast; the dough is briefly dipped in lye water before baking, and usually salted.
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History
Sources differ as to the time and place of the pretzel's origin. Many sources say it originated in southern Germany (where it remains very popular and is known as Brezel); others say it comes from the region of Alsace on the border between France and Germany. Some say it originated in Medieval times, others that it dates back to Ancient Rome or even Celtic times. One documented account taken from the book 'History of Science and Technology' (au: Bryan Bunch with Alexander Hellemans) has it that-(610ad) "An italian monk invents prezels as a reward to children who learn their prayers. He calls the strips of baked dough, folded to resemble arms crossing the breast, prestiola ("little reward").
There are also several stories about the origin of the pretzel shape. One legend holds that a baker accused of larceny was offered the opportunity to cancel his sentence if he could make a piece of bread through which the sun could be seen thrice; the ingenious baker twisted his dough into a pretzel before baking. Another common story says that the shape represents the position of arms of a monk in prayer and that the three holes represent the Christian Holy Trinity. A sign with three rings was an old symbol to mark a bakery in Germany, but sources differ as to whether the signs were made to imitate the pretzel or the pretzel was made to imitate the signs. According to some sources, the bagel originated as a variation on the pretzel. However, stories told of the pretzel are likely apocryphal, and the actual origin of the pretzel seems to be a mystery.
Varieties
The main varieties of pretzel are soft and hard. The soft is more traditional, and is best eaten fresh baked and still hot. It is more common in Germany, although Philadelphia is famous for its soft pretzels, too. The hard pretzel is more common in the United States, as it can be packaged and stored. The hard variety in Germany that is shaped like a stick are called Salzstangen, and decidedly not Brezel. Pretzels are often consumed in the United States as a "beer snack," but it is not uncommon to encounter the chocolate-covered variety eaten for dessert, especially around Christmas time. In German-speaking Switzerland, sandwiches may be ordered substituting a thick soft pretzel sliced horizontally for the bun.
Pretzels can be found in a variety of shapes and sizes. Many hard pretzels are about 3–4 inches (8–10 cm) wide and 2–3 inches (5–8 cm) tall. However, some companies sell mini-pretzels about a quarter that size. Traditional soft pretzels are about the size of a hand. In addition, a so-called super pretzel, or a breadstick twisted into a pretzel shape, has appeared on the market. Hard pretzels are also frequently sold as straight-shaped "pretzel sticks".
The annual United States pretzel industry is worth over $550 million. The average American consumes about 1.75 pounds (0.79 kg) of pretzels per year. Southeastern Pennsylvania, with its large ethnic German population,is considered the birthplace of the American pretzel industry and many pretzel bakers are still located in the area. The average Philadelphian consumes about 12 times more pretzels than the national average.[1]
Trivia
U.S. President George W. Bush famously choked on a pretzel in January 2002 while watching an NFL football game, briefly fainting and losing consciousness.
The pretzel is the school mascot for New Berlin High School in New Berlin, Illinois and Freeport High School in Freeport, Illinois.
Pretzel has also come to be used as a colloquial term for a difficult body position or a contortionist.