Danube River Cruise #43: Cesky Krumlov's Famous Honey Gingerbread

The logo of the Gingerbread store-with the bear mascot

Today's blog continues to explore the city of Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic. In this blog we'll tell you about the city's most famous baked good - Honey Gingerbread!
This city was part of our stops along the Viking Cruise on the Danube River.

CESKY'S HONEY GINGERBREAD - It's better known locally as the Old Bohemian gingerbread and is made in the Cesky Krumlov Original bakery, right outside of Cesky Krumlov Castle's gate (that goes over the moat where the bear lives). The original recipe dates back to the 16th century. It is hand pressed into wooden molds professionally carved from fine fruitwoods which had to be carefully chosen. The particular time and temperature of baking give the gingerbread its color.

A hand-frosted gingerbread owl

DELICIOUS BUT COSTLY -  I (Rob) of course bought a several pieces of the gingerbread, since I have a sweet tooth (Tom does not). It was delicious!  It was also expensive, and because prices are in Czech currency, you're not sure how much it costs. I found out that the U.S. dollar was worth 43 cents to every Czech "dollar." Not a good exchange rate!  So, small decorated pieces that were about 2 or 3" inches in diameter were about $10 U.S. dollars each. I will say that it was truly some of the best gingerbread I have ever tasted (and I've had a lot!).
 
 

The Cesky Krumlov Original bakery store

HISTORY OF THE GINGERBREAD - The first record of gingerbread production in the Czech countries was in 1335 when the products were sold. According to the website for the Cesky Krumlov Original bakery, the recipe adds flour, high quality honey and a wide range of important spices. Every gingerbread master kept his own recipe secret and handed it to his successor. About 90 various rare herbs and spices are known to the original Middle Ages recipes. Originally, the term gingerbread (from Latin zingiber via Old French gingebras) referred to preserved ginger or the German term Pfefferkuchen (pepper cake).

THE BAKERY WEBSITE: https://www.ceskykrumlovoriginal.com/ 

NEXT: RESTAURANT WITH A GREAT VIEW AND FLOODING HISTORY