Honey cake with spices such as cinnamon, coriander or ginger, gingerbread is the pride of Alsatians. The star of the Christmas markets, it is eaten all year round and even has its own museum in the town of Gertwiller!
Honey cake with spices such as cinnamon, coriander or ginger, gingerbread is the pride of Alsatians. The star of the Christmas markets, it is eaten all year round and even has its own museum in the town of Gertwiller!
If traces of a honey bread are found among the ancient Egyptians or Greeks, the origin of the current recipe for our gingerbread is attributed to the Chinese. Mi-Kong, literally "honey bread" in Chinese, was in fact distributed as a war ration to the troops of the conqueror Genghis Khan.
The numerous conquests of the latter thus contributed to the export of the recipe to the Near and Middle East. It was then during the crusades in the Middle Ages that the cake was discovered and brought back by the Europeans, among whom it became very popular.
In Alsace, its manufacture became professionalized and whole guilds of "Lebküchler" (those who make gingerbread) were created.
In the village of Gertwiller you can visit the Gingerbread Palace. Decorated as if it were straight out of the tale of Hansel and Grëtel, the house that houses this museum plunges you into an enchanted universe.
You will be guided throughout the visit by the Mannele, the famous little gingerbread man, who will tell you all about the history and the secrets of making this speciality.
Touch, smell and taste, this playful visit will appeal to all your senses! Utensils, moulds and antique earthenware...: thanks to this incredible collection of staged objects, enhanced with videos and illustrations, gingerbread will no longer hold any secrets for you!
To end your visit in style, take a tour of the manufacturing workshops located next to the museum. You will be able to watch the artisans at work through large bay windows.
This original visit will delight your eyes and taste buds and will allow you to discover or rediscover the region's unmissable specialty!
To prepare your visit: http://www.lepalaisdupaindepices.com
Marie from Comme des Français
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And to continue your gustative discoveries we advise you:
- Another specialty of the Great East
- The most buttery of Breton cakes
- The label Estaminet Flamand
