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Another question. Why are "lebkuchen" described as "gingerbread" when none of the recipes I've seen
- Thread starter aajay
- Start date
aajay, here's a link from Nuremberg "registered" gingerbread....they use
the generic term "spices" but list them all and ginger & cardomon are both listed.
See "Variety and Accuracy" for specifics on registered gingerbread.
http://www.lebkuchen.nuernberg.de/englische_version/namen.html
the generic term "spices" but list them all and ginger & cardomon are both listed.
See "Variety and Accuracy" for specifics on registered gingerbread.
http://www.lebkuchen.nuernberg.de/englische_version/namen.html
richard-in-cincy
Well-known member
I think it was a marketing decision
by the people trying to sell Lebkuchen to non-Germans so they would at least have some idea what they were talking about if they didn't know what Lebkuchen was.
In reality, Lebkuchen is Lebkuchen. Gingerbread is "Ingwerbrot" in German and is what we know as gingerbread over here. We don't have a translated equivalent to Lebkuchen in the english speaking kitchen as we do for gingerbread.
The confusion is also wrapped around the sticky sweet doorknobs of that witch's house from the brothers Grimm. That house, the name which causes Marilyn to "Moe! Larry! Cheese!", is not "Gingerbread House" in German, but was translated that way in some versions of the fairy tales for English editions.
The various names in German are "Knusperhäuschen" (Little Crunchy/Crispy House), "Hexenhaus" (witch's house), and Lebkuchenhaus (Lebkuchen (literally, cake of life) House).
We call it Gingerbread House because the German equivalents aren't very warm and fuzzy to non-German speakers.
I had a discussion about this very topic with a Lebkuchen shopkeeper in Munich about 20 years ago. She was also perplexed why English speakers were referring to Lebkuchen as gingerbread. It was confusing to her since gingerbread was a completely different thing.
So to wind down the diatribe, while English speakers (and Germans talking to English speakers) will refer to German Lebkucken as "Gingerbread," it is not.
by the people trying to sell Lebkuchen to non-Germans so they would at least have some idea what they were talking about if they didn't know what Lebkuchen was.
In reality, Lebkuchen is Lebkuchen. Gingerbread is "Ingwerbrot" in German and is what we know as gingerbread over here. We don't have a translated equivalent to Lebkuchen in the english speaking kitchen as we do for gingerbread.
The confusion is also wrapped around the sticky sweet doorknobs of that witch's house from the brothers Grimm. That house, the name which causes Marilyn to "Moe! Larry! Cheese!", is not "Gingerbread House" in German, but was translated that way in some versions of the fairy tales for English editions.
The various names in German are "Knusperhäuschen" (Little Crunchy/Crispy House), "Hexenhaus" (witch's house), and Lebkuchenhaus (Lebkuchen (literally, cake of life) House).
We call it Gingerbread House because the German equivalents aren't very warm and fuzzy to non-German speakers.
I had a discussion about this very topic with a Lebkuchen shopkeeper in Munich about 20 years ago. She was also perplexed why English speakers were referring to Lebkuchen as gingerbread. It was confusing to her since gingerbread was a completely different thing.
So to wind down the diatribe, while English speakers (and Germans talking to English speakers) will refer to German Lebkucken as "Gingerbread," it is not.
Richard, Thank you so much. Cleared up my confusion. Just bought some authentic German
Lebkuchen at Trader Joes, the exact brand I was going to spend a small fortune in postage to buy on the internet. Making it is beyond me especially the wafers, (another small fortune).
Lebkuchen at Trader Joes, the exact brand I was going to spend a small fortune in postage to buy on the internet. Making it is beyond me especially the wafers, (another small fortune).
richard-in-cincy
Well-known member
Thanks for the tip about TJ's having
Lebkuchen. Is it Lebkuchen Schmidt brand? Yeah, the postage and "handling" (I always picture hoards of drones who put their hands all over the packages before they are packed) certainly is killer. We have a local place also selling it, but it's a drive. TJ's is much closer. Glad they're selling it too. If you see the "Punsch (punch) Lebkuchen" give it a try. That's my favorite kind. They give it a citrus/rum glaze that is out of this world.
Lebkuchen. Is it Lebkuchen Schmidt brand? Yeah, the postage and "handling" (I always picture hoards of drones who put their hands all over the packages before they are packed) certainly is killer. We have a local place also selling it, but it's a drive. TJ's is much closer. Glad they're selling it too. If you see the "Punsch (punch) Lebkuchen" give it a try. That's my favorite kind. They give it a citrus/rum glaze that is out of this world.