Sommer Organic Christmas Biscuits

Which Christmas biscuits are you most looking forward to? Gingerbread, vanilla crescents, coconut macaroons, cinnamon stars or speculoos? In Central and Northern Europe, these treats are traditionally only available in the pre-Christmas period. In Belgium and the Netherlands, the spicy shortbread cookies are baked all year round. When and where the speculoos was invented is not known. In addition to Belgium and Holland also Westphalia and the Rhineland come into question. If one speaks of speculoos, spice speculoos is generally meant. Its typical taste is due to a blend of cinnamon, cardamom and clove. However, these spices were almost priceless in Europe for a long time. Only with the construction of fast sailing ships large quantities of spices could be brought from the New World to the Netherlands from the 17th century on. The first spice speculoos was probably also baked during this time. Nevertheless, it took until the mid-20th century until also ordinary citizens could enjoy the exotic biscuits. In addition to spice speculoos there's two other versions: the slightly less spicy almond speculoos with a bottom of almonds and butter speculoos with a particularly high butter content in the dough.

Speculoos are biscuits with a picture stamped on before baking. In the Middle Ages, exciting stories were told by candlelight on cold winter nights. If you could afford it, you could serve biscuits with shaped or punched motifs. Today, there are two preparation techniques for the production of the typical speculoos reliefs. The motifs can either be imprinted into the rolled out dough with a speculoos roller or can be traditionally pressed into a carved wooden form. This ornamentation technique was already known in antiquity. In the Middle Ages artistically gifted monks began to carve religious motifs for different biscuits. The speculoos owes those monks also its inseparable connection with the Christmas season. Originally, the illustrated sides of the speculoos featured episodes from the life of Nicholas of Myra. He had given away his inheritance to the poor and had become a legend through his charity work during his lifetime. Even today, he is still one of the most popular saints. However, the depictions of Nicholas have changed significantly in recent decades. Responsible for this is the advertising campaign of an American lemonade manufacturer from the 1930s. Its bearded Santa Claus in a red and white coat became so popular throughout the world that it almost completely replaced the traditional Nicholas depictions in many countries.

Nobody knows exactly how speculoos got its name. One theory is that the name derives from the Latin ”speculum“ (mirror), because the motifs were carved mirror-inverted into the wooden mold. Some assume the origin also in the name ”episcorpus speculator“, which can be translated as bishop. In any case, ”Speculaas“ was a common name for St. Nicholas in the Netherlands. On December 6, it was common to give away Nicholas pictures. That's why this day is not only known as St. Nicholas Day, but also as Speculoos Day in the Netherlands. In the meantime, speculoos is no longer available only with Nicholas motifs, but also with many other illustrations and even completely smooth.

The Organic Spelt Speculoos by the company Sommer from the southern Hessian Hochtaunuskreis owes its wonderful taste to fresh demeter butter, demeter spelt flour, demeter raw cane sugar and a well-balanced blend of traditional speculoos spices. The Organic Spelt Hazelnut Biscuits are refined with hazelnuts, coriander, lemon oil and real bourbon vanilla. The tender Organic Spelt Vanilla Crescents should not be missing on any Christmas plate either. The aroma of the delicious Organic Spelt Shortbread Biscuits is rounded off with hazelnuts and real bourbon vanilla. Sommer Organic Spelt Cinnamon Biscuits with the incomparable taste of almonds, Ceylon cinnamon, ginger and orange oil also fit well into the winter time. The Organic Spelt Stollen Cookies are delicious stollen type spelt butter biscuits. Short days at wintry temperatures are perfect for cuddling and for snacking on sweet baked goods. Enjoy the Advent days with demeter Christmas Biscuits by Sommer made of best organic spelt and Christmas spices.