One of the surprising things I discovered during my trip to Spain is Marzipan. A very sweet treat made from almonds, sugar, and rose water. Some options have honey, eggs, and milk. But, if you are lucky enough to find a vegan marzipan vendor, you are in for a treat.
I went to several different purveyors of Marzipan during my day trip to Toledo. And I heard several versions of the history of Marzipan. I admit to being curious, I love learning about the origin of all things culinary. So, as I always do, I did a little research.
Who invented Marzipan? I’ve heard that bakers in various cities in Italy and Germany invented the tasty treat. But the city of Toledo is holding tight to the story that their bakers are the inventors of the Marzipan that we enjoy today.
History tells us that the tasty treat was invented as a favorite dessert of King Alfonso VIII in the 12th century. And the current makers still follow that original recipe over 800 years later.
In fact, the first time we see the word “marzipan” is in a recipe book published in 1592 – “Los Cuatro Libros del Arte de la Confiteria” by the celebrated toledan Miguel de Baeza. And, in the early 17th century, the Guild of Toldedan Confectioners published its first set of ordinances, approved by Philip III, that specified how marzipan should be prepared.
The history of Marzipan goes even further back than that, with a reference to the “almond paste delicacy” eaten during Ramadan as an aphrodisiac which was found in “The Book of One Thousand and One Nights” also known as “The Arabian Nights.”
In addition to the aphrodisiac-like qualities, references to using sugar and almond flour to make an almond paste were found in documentation of the famine in an area of Spain as a result of the Battle of Las Navas de Tolesa in the early 13th century. The paste was believed to have saved many lives during this famine.
But whatever the history, Marzipan is enjoyed during celebratory times in countries around the Mediterranean. In particular, it is enjoyed at weddings and religious feasts in Greece, Italy, Cyprus, and Spain.
Toledo won the “Who Owns Marzipan” when the European Union declared that Toledo was the protected origin of Marzipan.
Well, whatever the origin, marzipan is a tasty treat that has been around for centuries and is still enjoyed the world over.
For more information about Marzipan, including some recipes, see:
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