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The pretzel occurs as baked snack that is ordinarily twisted into the unique knot-like shape. A pretzel is commonly mass produced from either wheat flour with yeast; a dough is briefly dipped inside lye water before baking hot, & normally (though non universally) salted.
History
Sources differ when to the instance & place of the pretzel's origin. Several sources say it originated inside southern Germany (where it remains super popular & is referred to as Brezel); others say it comes from a French region of Alsace on the border between France and Germany. When a Alsace (Elsass inside German) is populated per equivalent tribe when a described bordering Southern German vicinity, is German within origin, was German until 1945 prior to existence annexed by France & retains a truly German character (accent: elsässer-dütsch), a opinion that the Bretzel stand French origins loses its grounding. A bit of say it originated inside Medieval times, others that it dates back to Ancient Rome or even Celtic times. 1 documented account taken from either a book 'History of Science & Technology' (au: Bryan Bunch by using Alexander Hellemans) has it that-(610ad) "An italian monk invents prezels as a reward to children who learn their prayers. He calls the strips of baked dough, folded to resemble arms crossing the breast, prestiola ("little reward").
There are also several stories about the origin of the pretzel shape. One legend holds that a baker accused of larceny was offered the opportunity to cancel his sentence if he could make a bread through which the sun could be seen thrice; the ingenious baker twisted his dough into a pretzel before baking. Another common story says that the shape represents the position of arms of a monk in prayer and that the three holes represent the Christian Holy Trinity. A sign with three rings was an old symbol to mark a bakery in Germany, but sources differ as to whether the signs were made to imitate the pretzel or the pretzel was made to imitate the signs. According to some sources, the bagel originated as a variation on the pretzel. However, stories told of the pretzel are likely apocryphal, and the actual origin of the pretzel seems to be a mystery.
Varieties
The main varieties of pretzel are soft and hard. The soft is more traditional, and is best eaten fresh baked and still hot. It is more common in Germany. The hard pretzel is more common in the United States, as it can be packaged and stored. The hard variety in Germany that is shaped like a stick are called Salzstangen, and decidedly not Brezel. Pretzels are often consumed in the United States as a "beer snack", but it is not uncommon to encounter the chocolate-covered variety eaten for dessert, especially around Christmas time. In German speaking Switzerland, sandwiches may be ordered substituting a thick soft pretzel sliced horizontally for the bun.
Pretzels are traditionally about the size of a standard cookie. However, some companies sell mini-pretzels about a fourth that size. Traditional soft pretzels are about the size of a hand. In addition, a so-called super pretzel, or a breadstick twisted into a pretzel shape, has appeared on the market. The annual United States pretzel industry is worth over $180 million.
Trivia
U.S. President George W. Bush famously choked on a pretzel in January 2002 while watching an NFL football game, briefly fainting and losing consciousness.
Pretzel has also come to be used as a colloquial term for a difficult body position or a contortionist.
October 11 is National Pretzel Giving Day. Share your favorite pretzel with friends to promote the underappreciated snack food. "Part the Love, Give a Pretzel"
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