"Mini Content" Spice Cake/Pain Depices Story
When it comes to French winter sweets, pain d'epices is the first thing that comes to mind!
This spicy sweet has long been loved as a symbol of winter, and for the French, the aroma of spices such as cinnamon and cardamom signals the arrival of winter.
But did you know that Pan d'Epices comes all the way from a country not far from France?
Pain d'épices originally originated in the 10th century as a type of bread called "mikin," which was popular in China and was filled with honey and herbs. It is said that this nutritious bread was brought to Europe by Mongol soldiers who visited China. Once brought to Europe, "mikin" was transformed into a new sweet for the nobility by adding spices such as ginger, cardamom, and cinnamon, which were still very rare at the time. Pain d'épices was a sign of wealth.
By the way…
The human-shaped pandépices are not Chinese or French, but a British culture. It is said to have originated when Queen Elizabeth I invented them as a way to show respect to guests.
Pain d'epis is apparently one of the healthiest sweets. It is low in fat because it does not contain butter or salad oil, and the spices make it easy to digest. It is not too sweet, but it fills you up, so it helps prevent overeating and is a healthy dessert.
The French style is to take advantage of the fact that it is not very sweet and spread goat cheese or foie gras on slightly warmed pain d'épice.
