A pretzel is a bread pastry of Medieval European, probably Italian and German origin, that has the shape of a three looped knot or twisted braid. Pretzels are either soft or hard. Hard pretzels have evolved into a variety of shapes from knotted loops to straight "pretzel sticks" (called "Salzstangen" in German, Ropi in Hungarian). The pretzel dough is made from wheat flour, water, sugar and yeast, sprinkled with coarse salt. Pretzels are typically salted and glazed with lye. Pretzels can be found in a variety of shapes and sizes. Traditional soft pretzels are about the size of a hand. Most hard pretzels are only 2-3 mm thick. Hard pretzels which are 0.8-1.5 cm thick are called Bavarian pretzels.
In the United States pretzels are a popular snack, the state of Pennsylvania being the center of pretzel history and production. One U. S. pretzel variety is "yogurt-covered pretzels" (or "ghost-face"), with a thin coating of yogurt. Hard pretzels are also available with a sweet candy coating of chocolate, strawberry and other flavors. Chocolate-covered hard pretzels are very popular, especially around Christmas time. Other varieties include pretzels dipped in mustard.
German Brezel
Pretzel sticks
In Germany pretzels are common in Southern Germany (Swabia and Bavaria), and Switzerland, where they are often sliced horizontally,buttered and sold as "Butterbrezel". In Bavaria they eat pretzels for breakfast, with Weisswurst sausage. In Hungary they are called "perec". Big soft salty unglazed pretzels arrive every morning to the bakery shops together with the freshly baked bread, and are sold fresh in almost every bakery shop. They are popular pastries, consumed between meals, eaten alone or together with yoghurt or milk. Tiny hard glazed pretzels and pretzel sticks are sold in packages as snacks
In the United States pretzels are a popular snack, the state of Pennsylvania being the center of pretzel history and production. One U. S. pretzel variety is "yogurt-covered pretzels" (or "ghost-face"), with a thin coating of yogurt. Hard pretzels are also available with a sweet candy coating of chocolate, strawberry and other flavors. Chocolate-covered hard pretzels are very popular, especially around Christmas time. Other varieties include pretzels dipped in mustard.
German Brezel
Pretzel sticks
In Germany pretzels are common in Southern Germany (Swabia and Bavaria), and Switzerland, where they are often sliced horizontally,buttered and sold as "Butterbrezel". In Bavaria they eat pretzels for breakfast, with Weisswurst sausage. In Hungary they are called "perec". Big soft salty unglazed pretzels arrive every morning to the bakery shops together with the freshly baked bread, and are sold fresh in almost every bakery shop. They are popular pastries, consumed between meals, eaten alone or together with yoghurt or milk. Tiny hard glazed pretzels and pretzel sticks are sold in packages as snacks
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