Easy to find at your local tavern and on the shelf at any grocery store, pretzels are among the most popular snacks in the United States. As a matter of fact, recent sales of this salty staple are now reaching well into the billions. And while there’s certainly a lot of admiration for this tasty treat, there are also some interesting facts that are well worth sinking your teeth into.
Believe it or not, the pretzel began as a treat made by the monastery monks in Europe during the middle ages. Initially made in the shape of a cross as a treat for students to be successful in their lessons, the knot design eventually took over, as each hole was meant to symbolize the three aspects of the holy trinity. (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.)
Pretzels are loved in the United States, and they’ve actually been a part of our cultural lineage since the beginning. The pretzel first made its way across the Atlantic in the 1700s by way of German immigrants settling in Pennsylvania. The state in question has become synonymous with the pretzel, as it’s where many of them are baked and shipped out to different stores.
While the industrial revolution is one of the most notable periods of the 1800s, it took a while for the pretzel to benefit. The automated pretzel machine arrived in 1947, following the end of the second world war. While a fully-staffed bakery could once churn out 40 pretzels in a minute, the automated process more than tripled production to 240 a minute.
One of the most popular outlets for pretzels is a company known as Auntie Annes. Started in 1988 in Pennsylvania, the company's reach is worldwide, with 1,600 locations across the continental United States and branches in England, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia. Each country has its own unique flavor and takes on the tasty treat, ensuring the pretzel’s continuing popularity.
Many people enjoy their pretzels with a frosty glass of craft beer. This is why Boardwalk Food Co. took the initiative and now offers a variety of flavors that are inspired by the many craft beers that one finds at their local tavern. We specialize in unique offerings that can make any restaurant or tavern burst with taste and flavor. For a quote and list of our different flavors, pull up a barstool at boardwalkfoodco.com.
