Brezn

Tim Doody When one thinks of German or Bavarian food, brats and kraut immediately come to mind. Not many people are aware, though, that the brezn or pretzel originated in Bavaria, too. This tasty treat has been around for almost 200 years. Baker Anton Nepomuk actually invented the brezn by mistake in 1839. One morning, instead of brushing his sweet pretzels with his usual sugar water, he accidently used the counter cleaner. Thank goodness it was only a sodium hydroxide solution called natronlauge. The end result was a unique, brown crusted brezn with a soft center that the customers loved. Brezn also have a different looking shape--like a set of crossed arms. Some theories attribute the shape to early monasteries, saying the design resembles a praying monk. Wherever the brezn shape originated, it continues to be formed by hand and takes years to perfect. Though once perfected, it actually takes less than a minute to set-up. This wonderful food can be bought almost anywhere in Germany and Bavaria.