What is the name of the country where salty sweets are eaten? Finnish exotic delicacies. facts about Malmo and Sweden that amazed me

The first sweets appeared almost 3 thousand years ago in Ancient Egypt and still remain a favorite treat for many people. Especially for those with a sweet tooth, we have collected the most interesting facts about this delicacy.

To make the first candies, the ancient Egyptians used honey and dates, the ancient Romans - nuts, honey and poppy seeds, the Arabs - almonds and figs, the Russians - molasses, honey and maple syrup. At that time they did not yet know how to produce sugar.

In the sixteenth century, Europe was gripped by a real chocolate addiction. But there were people who attributed witchcraft properties to chocolate and were afraid to even touch it.

Research by German psychologists has shown that people who prefer candies with coconut filling are creative individuals. With nut - shy, with cherry - determined and persistent, with strawberry - incorrigible romantics.

In Russia in the 19th century, sweets were served at parties only in the richest houses. Since there were no Russian confectionery factories at that time. The chocolates were made to order for each evening.

The most popular sweets in Switzerland and Germany are pralines. These are candies filled with roasted nuts and sugar. This type of candy was invented by Jean Neuaus in 1663.

At the international culinary show, the Master Food company took first place with a box of chocolates weighing more than 800 kg. The box was about 2.5 meters long and 1.5 meters wide.

Workers at the Gummi Bear Factory made the world's largest candy, weighing 633 kg. The sweet was made in the idea of ​​a bear, 1.68 m high. A special mold was ordered to prepare the candy. The weight was four tons.

Chupa Chups are the only candies that have been in zero gravity. In 1995, the cosmonauts of the Mir station asked for candy to be sent to them. On Earth, the Mission Control Center decided that the safest candy in zero gravity would be lollipops.

Malmo (Sweden). A story about a trip to Scandinavia, my personal impressions of the province of Skåne, plus interesting facts about life in Sweden.

The first thing I remember from our spring trip to Sweden was these plywood trees that “grew” at Sturup airport, rising to the ceiling with gray circles of felt “leaves”.

When I saw them, I immediately thought: “Wow, how cool!” And then I started taking pictures of them 100,500 times to post this photo on my VKontakte group and write that the third largest city in Sweden is not at all as gloomy as I thought. I walked forward, and photographs of famous people born in the province of Skåne smiled at me from the walls: Måns Selmerlöw, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, some opera singer with painted eyes (whom I immediately nicknamed Conchita’s grandfather).

At some point I even thought: “Maybe it’s not as expensive as I thought”? But all hopes for an adequate price level were dashed near the machine of the bus company Flygbussarna, which sold tickets from the airport to the city at a price of 105 Swedish crowns (which is almost 10.5 euros for a minute). Just think about it: 21 euros for a “round trip”! And this despite the fact that a round-trip flight from Vilnius cost us either 18 or 19 euros. I knew there was a problem here. And I even imagined the approximate price level of this same bus carrier. But, paying 85 rubles (850,000 old!) for two bus tickets (round trip), I still felt my heart creaking. At that moment I just physically felt pain.

“Okay, God bless him,” I thought. But from that moment on, Sweden began to quickly and steadily turn into Sweden (that gloomy country that I pictured in my mind when I went to these parts). The felt trees were left behind, and outside the window, instead of the smiling faces of the airport, depressing landscapes began to spread with lonely houses along the roads and a heavy leaden sky that hung overhead like a smooth canvas, like a concrete ceiling in one huge closed basement. Gray. Cold. It's chilly... Looking at all this, I imagined myself as a character in Stieg Larsson's books (someone like Mikael Blomkvist), and then as the author of Millennium himself. It must be very difficult when you live in such a country not to write about ritual murders, dark secrets and men who hate women. At this moment, looking out the window of the bus, I wouldn’t even be surprised if a girl in a leather jacket and a piercing on the floor of her face rushed next to us on a motorcycle... What kind of Carlson and Pippi long stocking are they? This country is much more suitable for Lisbeth Salander. I felt it. And with every moment the confidence in my rightness only grew stronger in my soul.

When we found ourselves in the city, Malmö greeted us with a premonition of imminent rain and the amazing emptiness of the Gothic streets. Sunday. 10 a.m. And besides Tanya and me, there was only the wind, kicking fallen bicycles along the roads. We made our way to our apartment and walked there. I will write more about the apartment we lived in during this trip in a separate article. For now, I’ll just say that at the first moment, after I crossed the threshold of the house, she seemed so amazingly white to me that I can’t even find words to describe it. A white table, a white bed, white walls and a white frame of a large mirror on the wall - even the books on the shelves were white. Against the background of the gray world that began outside the window, she seemed like a character from a parallel universe. And again, she immediately struck me as somehow strikingly Swedish.

Stylish. Minimalist. And everything is in eco style. Natural wood and several bright designer details. This is exactly how I imagined an ordinary Swedish apartment. And the “familiarity” of everything around constantly made me think that I had already been to this place before. Maybe a very long time ago. Maybe in dreams or in some other life. At times, in my soul, too, it’s just such a dull and gray “Sweden” that reigns. All that remains is to create a bright room there and there will be complete order. However, okay... That’s not about that now. This is a travel blog after all.

How did we get here?

From the first chords, Sweden seemed to me a gloomy and rainy country. This is true. But, perhaps, I still shouldn’t exaggerate things so much. They usually write about Malmö that it is a city where “there is also something to see.” And I actually completely agree with this. As a rule, most tourists use this place as an intermediate point on the way to Copenhagen (which is only 38 kilometers away from here). You can even get to the capital of Denmark directly from Sturup Airport. You just fly to Malmö, leave the airport and take the same Flygbussarna bus straight to Denmark. Considering that low-cost airlines fly to Malmo from Warsaw and Vilnius, this turns out to be a fairly popular route.

Therefore, in our case there was nothing unusual either. We caught cheap tickets from Vilnius and decided to fly. In principle, even before my trip to Malmo, I already had a pretty clear idea of ​​what this city is like. There are only two important attractions here - the twisted Turning Torso skyscraper and a long engineering and technical miracle called the Öresund Bridge, which grows straight out of the sea and leads exactly to the same Copenhagen that I already wrote about above.

In addition to the two main stars, Malmö also has many old mansions, unusual monuments, pointed churches in the Gothic style and simply colorful streets. In terms of tourist interest, this is, of course, not Vienna. But there really is something to see in Malmo. But I will write in more detail about the main attractions of the capital of the province of Skåne in my next article. In the meantime, I’ll tell you about how this city surprised me.

12 facts about Malmo and Sweden that amazed me

• Everything is very expensive in Sweden. Yes, I know, I already wrote about this. But I really wanted to add a couple more lines on this topic. Cucumbers for 5 euros (kg), bread for 2.5, potatoes for 1-2 euros per kilogram... Just count it in our money and you will understand what I’m talking about.

Please note: 2.5 euros (25 CZK) is the promotional price!

On the other hand, to be objective, by the third day of our stay in Sweden, Tanya and I somehow got used to finding more or less adequate prices in Swedish stores. We even found one very stylish restaurant in the “all you can eat” style. You pay 10 euros (99 CZK) and eat until you can. Drinks (like coffee, forfeits and juice) are included in the price only until 15-00. The restaurant itself is pictured below.

Unfortunately, there are no pictures of the interior, but believe me, the establishment is very stylish with good food and service.

• By the way, a buffet in Sweden is called “Buffet”. This kind of lunch format is generally common in Malmö. When you walk around the city, you constantly come across signs like “Buffet for 90 CZK”, “Buffet for 70 CZK” and so on. If you find yourself there, pay attention to them if you plan to eat something else during your trip.
• Money in Sweden is exchanged with a commission.

Exchangers of the “No Commission” type are also found. But the course there is somehow seditious. Therefore, if you are traveling to Scandinavia, just take your bank card with you. It's more convenient and profitable.

• The money itself in Sweden is very cool.

photo from sony_es website – LiveJournal

To tell the truth, I have never seen such money anywhere and ever. Is this what is usually painted on standard banknotes? Buildings or some former rulers. And here on the money there is a picture of Astrid Lindgren (in the company of her Pippi Longstocking), Ingmar Bergman, Greta Garbo and some other famous natives of Sweden.

• By the way, about famous natives... Did you know what exactly this Scandinavian country has, according to statistics, the highest concentration of European pop stars per capita.

Just think, a country with the same population as our Belarus has produced such groups as Abba, Roxette, Ace of Base, The Cardigans, Aqua... Add to this Lauryn, Arasha, Bosson, Doctor Alban, Robin and you will understand. what I'm talking about. Even if these names don’t mean anything to you now, you have 100 percent heard their songs. For example, do you know a singer like Danny Saucedo? No? I didn’t remember him right away either. And like this?

10 years ago, his song “If only you” thundered throughout all Belarusian discos. I even immediately remembered one more of his songs (“Tokyo”). In fact, the list of Swedish performers whom even we in Belarus know from at least one or two songs can go on for a very long time. Therefore, it is not at all surprising to me that Swedish performers regularly make it to the top of the best at Eurovision.

• One more “by the way”: The Eurovision Song Contest 2013 took place in Malmö. And Mons Selmerlöw himself was born in a town called Lund, 25 kilometers from the capital of the province of Skåne. If you are in these parts, be sure to visit this Swedish town of 100,000 people. There is a huge ancient cathedral and one of the oldest universities in Scandinavia.

Lund itself looks like a set from Harry Potter (even the station looks like platform 9 and ¾). You can cover these same 25 kilometers by train in just 10 minutes. All you need is to buy a 24-hour pass for 65 kroner, which includes all transport in the province of Skåne.

What else is worth writing about Malmö?

• This seaside town is quite cool and windy. But the Swedes themselves are so used to this that you regularly see people with ice cream or in short shorts on the streets. Well, look - it’s raining, the thermometer is +5, and she’s running around calmly.

No, to lie under a blanket and watch Friends. Or this mademoiselle?

This one is generally D.U.R.A. (call Arthur).

Or here's another one...

Wearing shorts at +5 is clinical. Although local oddities, of course, are not limited to this. And here's an example...

• Salty sweets are very popular in Sweden.. At least in any store the shelves are literally littered with them. This is not one particular type of candy. There are dozens of them here - from a variety of companies and manufacturers.

I even really liked the chocolate with saltine crackers inside. But the candy... Ugh... I wanted to tear out my tongue. Such sweets should be placed at home in vases on the table, like traps for robbers. Well, how can you describe the taste of salty sweets?.. Hmm... Take an ordinary barberry, roll it in salt... That's it. This is how they taste. If you don't have barberries, you can just try sugar and salt. Basically the same thing. Rare disgusting. At first I wanted to act them out in a group. And then I didn’t dare. The winner of the competition would 100 percent unfollow me after that. Maybe he even filed a lawsuit.

• There are shops on literally every corner in MalmöH&M. They really are everywhere. I only found out later that this company was founded in Sweden.
• Malmö is considered one of the most “emigrant” cities in Europe.

According to statistics, more than 40 percent of the city are visitors. Going here, I expected to see crowds of Arabs and Africans on the streets (like in Vienna or in the seedy Belgian Charleroi). But in reality everything turned out differently. Most of the emigrants are citizens of neighboring Denmark (where the legislation is stricter on many issues). Plus Asians and people from the countries of the former Yugoslavia (the same Ibrahimovic as an example). In general, if you don’t read Wikipedia before this trip, you might not notice the emigrant city at all. As for me, the city is like a city.

• Everyone in Sweden speaks excellent English.. From teenagers to elderly grandmothers. Yes, I know, in many countries in Europe this is the picture. But I needed to write about it. I would like to see something similar in our country too.
• I was also very surprised that many establishments in Malmö were open for 6 hours. Including many cafes and shops. Most establishments in the city are closed until 10 am. After six – the same picture. By the way, I once read before this trip that in many companies and enterprises in Sweden, a 6-hour working day was recently officially introduced (with the same salary retained). Swedish scientists have calculated that almost no employee can maintain concentration for 8 or even more so 12 hours. Its effectiveness is seriously reduced during late working hours. As a result, the result of the work of a person working 6 hours and his colleague working 8 hours remains almost identical. But in everything else there are solid advantages. People who work 6 hours are more energetic and have more time for their personal lives and a variety of hobbies. They feel happier and more successful. Therefore, everyone remains in the black. Especially the creative machine of Sweden (see point 5). Knowing that many Swedes work 6 hours a day, it’s hard to wonder why they have so many famous singers, directors and writers. I just can’t imagine that our hard worker, after spending 9 hours at the factory, then went to his friends to play the guitar. Well, for the soul.

Endgame

The first day in Malmo was rainy, dull and gray. Empty streets, puddles under your feet and a leaden sky above your head. I came to this country, and somehow I immediately wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible. I even wondered why I signed up for this trip in the first place.

Tanya and I were hiding from the rain under the canopy of some local hotel and, quarreling, still could not decide where to move next. I thought: “Yes... We arrived just like that.” Rain, puddles and the main town hall of the city, covered with an iron lattice of scaffolding. And in the category for the worst trip this year, the Oscar goes to... I was already thinking of saying “the city of Malmö.” But in the days that followed, Sweden began to change again right before my eyes. And the last day of our small Scandinavian tour turned out to be absolutely wonderful.

First, we ate our fill of sushi, then we walked along the beach next to a real flock of white swans, and in the evening we spontaneously decided to spend a few more hours in nearby Lund. And this small ancient town generally made a very pleasant impression on me. When you fall into the amber light of its forged lanterns, it immediately seems that you are in some kind of good old fairy tale. And the imagination itself begins to populate the nearby houses with eccentric wizards and nimble brownies.

The town of Lund. 25 kilometers from Malmö.

I didn’t even immediately notice when the perception of these houses, squares and streets changed so dramatically in my soul. On the first day I saw Stieg Larsson's Sweden. And on the last day I saw Anderssen and Rowling's Sweden. Yes, I know, they both have a very distant connection with Sweden. But it seemed to me then and now that this country would be perfect for their heroes, more than anyone else. If you see fog, it means there are dementors nearby. You see swans and you immediately want to weave chain mail out of nettles for them, without saying a word.

You know, Sweden has become the 17th country on my personal travel list. Yes, this is not a very big number, but, one way or another, I still have something to compare with. Therefore, remembering Malmö and Lund, I wanted to write just one more thing: before this trip, I had never encountered such atmospheric, inspiring and (I would even say) cinematic countries on my way. Just walking along the streets of Sweden, looking at its empty fields, gray sky and timid sun, which plays with reflections on the waves of the cold sea, it is very easy to imagine yourself as a writer or film director. It’s easy to come up with new characters and fit them into the fabric of this cold, but at the same time endlessly charming and picturesque world.

You see a stone by the road and imagine the trolls hiding behind it in their tiny holes. You see an old mansion and immediately imagine an abandoned clinic for the mentally ill and deserted corridors that keep the most unimaginable secrets. Sweden is a country with dozens of different styles and genres.

She is cool. And looking at all this, it becomes clear why this country gave the world Ingmar Bergman and Stieg Larsson, Astrid Lindgren and Greta Garbo. She inspires. It fills you and immediately draws its own special images in your mind. It's like frost that creates patterns on glass. I love the magic of the south. But for some reason it always seemed to me that my own soul and my own energy belonged to the north. After all, the north remembers.

If one day I finally found the strength to create something greater than this blog, I would like to create it here - among the withered grass and windy beaches. After all, the north is not only cold and rainy. The North is a special magic. And just to experience all this for yourself, it’s worth going to Malmö. After all, Sweden is like a fairy tale – cold, but magical; mystical, but infinitely soulful.

The history of mankind's love for sweets began about three thousand years ago. The first confectionery products appeared in Ancient Egypt. The prototypes of modern sweets were made from boiled honey with the addition of dates. It was customary to throw sweets into the crowd during the ceremonial departures of the pharaohs.
The recipes for the first sweets were not very diverse; residents of Ancient Greece and the countries of the Middle East enjoyed similar confectionery products. At that time, people did not know how to produce sugar; the basis of all sweets was honey with the addition of dried apricots, nuts, sesame seeds, poppy seeds and spices.

The first candies appeared in Europe

At the dawn of our era, brown sugar, made from cane, was imported to Europe from India. Subsequently, the sweet product was supplanted by a cheaper American analogue, which led to the rapid development of confectionery production in the countries of the Old World.
Sweets in a form more familiar to us appeared in Italy in the 16th century. Confectioners in this European country melted lump sugar over a fire, mixed the resulting mass with fruit and berry syrups and poured it into various forms. The predecessors of modern caramel in medieval Italy were sold only in, as it was believed that the sweets had healing properties. Interestingly, initially only adults could buy the tasty medicine.

The first chocolates appeared in...Europe!

The first chocolate dessert, which is a mixture of grated nuts, candied honey, lumps of cocoa, doused with melted sugar, was made by the Duke of Plessis ─ Praline. This is in 1671 in Belgium, where the nobleman served as the French ambassador. There were still 186 years left until the advent of real chocolates.
Belgian pharmacist John Neuhaus worked on an invention for coughs in 1857. Quite by accident, he managed to obtain a product that today is called “chocolate candies.” Since 1912, the son of a pharmacist introduced them into mass sale. The real excitement began after the pharmacist’s wife came up with the idea of ​​wrapping sweets in golden wrappers.
The candy owes its name to the same pharmacists. The Latin word confectum was used as a term by medieval pharmacists. In ancient times, this was the name given to processed fruits prepared for further use for medicinal purposes.

Black candies with an unusual, salty taste are one of the Finnish delicacies that is little known in Russia. These candies are called licorice or salmiak.

Black candies licorice and salmiak are two different products. Liquorice is of plant origin, and salmiak is of chemical origin. Confusion is caused by their external similarity and the fact that these tastes are often mixed. Few of those who try black candies for the first time are delighted. It's very unusual. However, it is absolutely certain that over time, many people begin to appreciate their original taste.

Liquorice

In Finland, salmiak is produced by Halva and Fazer. Photo: lofaesofa

Liquorice does not cause appetite to the uninitiated. True Finnish licorice is deep black in color. Do you want to put a black electrical cord in your mouth? This is the so-called “meter licorice”, which is often sold at various fairs. Licorice cord is cut into pieces and sold in elegant bags.

There are seven enterprises in Finland producing a wide variety of licorice products: Pepe bars with chocolate, salmiak, lemon and traditional fillings, Laku-Pekka bars. Bright white and pink licorice, although made in Finland, is called English. As a souvenir from Finland, you can bring licorice cake for a woman, licorice ice cream for children, and licorice vodka for a man.

What is licorice made of?

Licorice delicacy is a rather complex product in composition. It consists of wheat flour, water, sugar, syrup, charcoal; depending on the variety, flavorings, dyes, preservatives and, most importantly, licorice are added.

Liquorice is not only candy, but also a plant, which is called that in Finnish lakritsi. In Russian it is licorice. The same licorice, which is sold in Russian pharmacies and is included in many chest and expectorant preparations, is a general tonic. Licorice is not a rare plant; it grows wild in the south of Russia, the Caucasus, Ukraine, Siberia, and Asia. This is a herbaceous plant of the legume family, the root of which is boiled and this sweet mass is used in the confectionery industry.

Helpful or Harmful?

Salmiak combines sweet and salty taste. Photo: migi328

The healing properties of licorice have been known for a long time, but like many medicines, it also has negative side effects. It retains sodium ions and removes potassium ions, and this leads to the accumulation of water in the body and, as a result, an increase in blood pressure. Moderation is the main principle of gourmets, isn’t it?

Salmiak

This is an even more unique product. Finns proudly call it a national delicacy. This product amazingly combines sweet and salty tastes, causing strong taste impressions.

Salmiak is produced in Finland by Halva and Fazer. It is consumed in some European countries, such as France, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Holland, but most of the salmiak produced in the world is eaten in Finland. It was banned from sale in the States because of the additive E 153, although it is just activated (pharmacy, charcoal) carbon.

History of salmiak

Most of the world's salmiak is eaten in Finland, but it is also consumed in other Scandinavian countries and even in Germany. Photo: sachigra

The history of Finnish salmiak goes back to the 19th century. The production pioneer was, of course, Karl Fazer in 1897. Small black diamond-shaped plastics are traditional salmiak. Finns often replace the word rhombus with the word salmiakki. When Russians say “A military man has three diamonds on his collar,” Finns say “three salmiaks.”

For more than a hundred years, the range of sweets had to be diversified. You can buy salmiak in the store: “Pirate money” are small coins; “Salmiak alphabet” – diamonds with letters; as well as candies in the shape of fish, skulls or cars. There is also ice cream and salmiak-flavored liqueur.

Salmiak formula

From Russian classics we know that society ladies, dressed in corsets, were brought out of a fainting state with the help of “smelling salts” - ammonia. NH4Cl-ammonium chloride (this is the chemical formula of ammonia) is the secret of the Finnish salmiakki. This ammonia gives the characteristic aroma to which salt and sugar are added.

The taste of salmiak depends on the ammonium chloride content. Previously, its content should not exceed 7%. But 2010 became significant in the history of salmiak - the restriction was lifted. What does the remaining 93% contain? Main part: starch, gelatin, salt, charcoal, which determines the traditional color; sometimes aromatic substances are added, such as menthol.

Finns are often warned that salmiak increases blood pressure. In Russia, doctors prescribe ammonia as a diuretic, i.e. reducing pressure. It turns out that this is not a contradiction, it’s just that when preparing delicacies from salmiak, salt and licorice are very often added to seven percent ammonium chloride. They delay the removal of water from the body.

Salmiak friends unite

Salmiak is a Finnish culture. In 1997, Suomen Salmiakkiyhdistys, “an association of salmiak lovers,” was created. Every year they organize two important events: in January they name the best product of the year containing ammonium chloride, and in the summer they hold a traditional Salmiak picnic. The Salmiakki-Finlandia 2016 prize went to Gammelstads Super Salty Salmiakkola black caramels.

Text: Ekaterina Nilova

Black candies with a spicy anise flavor are both a delicacy and a medicine made from licorice. Find out what they are made from and the most popular types - in five facts.

1

Lactic candies are viscous, gummy-like treats or medicines made from licorice. The plant root extract is used for medicinal purposes for diseases of the upper respiratory tract, gastritis and ulcers, allergic dermatitis, diabetes and even impotence. In cooking, licorice (licorice) is used in the manufacture of marinades, compotes, jelly, salting fish and flavoring hot drinks.

2

In some countries, such as the UK, licorice is preferred sweet; in Scandinavian countries and Holland it is usually eaten salty.

3

The licorice plant is a plant in the legume family that is similar to flowering beans. Its large, woody roots contain a sweet component called glycyrrhizin. The roots are soaked, peeled, boiled and extracted, which is then poured into molds where it hardens. It is then processed into licorice caramel, which can be hard or gum-like, sweet or very salty.

4

Drop is a Danish word that refers to hundreds of varieties of licorice sweets that come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Their use is practically a national trait.

5

Eternal favorites can be called Boerderij drops(in the form of animal figures), Katjes(cat-shaped candies) and salted licorice candies Haring. They are produced in the form of small fish and covered with salt on top.