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It is that time of year again.\u00a0 The time of year when you head into a shop, spot the chocolate letter display and search for a chocolate letter that matches the first letter of your name.\u00a0 Infuriated that your letter is no longer available, you begin the process of coming up with a \u201cletter alternative\u201d \u2013 such as your favourite letter in the alphabet, \u201cA\u201d for \u201cAwesome\u201d or just any other qualifier that would allow you to purchase one of these Sinterklaas treats.<\/p>\n
According to the history books, the custom of edible letters goes back to Germanic times when new-born children were given a runic letter made of bread as a symbol of good fortune.\u00a0 Bread letters were also used in convent schools during the Middle Ages to teach the alphabet.\u00a0 Once a letter was mastered, the children were allowed to gobble it up.\u00a0 However, it wasn\u2019t until the 19th century that letters became associated with Sinterklaas.\u00a0 Not in the traditional chocolate variety that we love today but as a gift-tag alternative.\u00a0 St Nicholas presents were covered with a sheet and a bread letter was placed on top to show where each child\u2019s gifts were located.<\/p>\n
The production of chocolate letters began around 1900 but weren\u2019t readily available until the 1950s.\u00a0 Luckily now we can enjoy them and all their varieties with pleasure.\u00a0 Chocolate letters come in a variety of sizes and flavours.\u00a0 Milk chocolate, white chocolate, dark chocolate and chocolate with hazelnuts are the most popular, however others can be found.\u00a0 The letters also vary in decoration style, from a plain letter to letters covered in piped chocolate, nuts, fruit and even Zwarte Pieten decorations.<\/p>\n
The chocolate letters are available in the Netherlands from around October 1st until December 5th.\u00a0 Traditionally, once December 5th has passed any remaining letters (which are usually not many) are returned to the factory.\u00a0 However, it is now possible to find some of the stores selling the left-over\u2019s and broken letters at a discount.<\/p>\n
Each year there is always a discussion about which chocolate letters have the most chocolate in them.\u00a0 The idea being that a letter that is traditionally larger than another letter (for example an \u201cm\u201d versus a \u201cc\u201d) must contain more chocolate.\u00a0 The chocolate letter companies have stated that all letters are created equal and contain the same amount of chocolate.\u00a0 However, old habits die hard meaning that come the middle of the chocolate letter season, you\u2019ll be hard pushed to find the \u201clarger\u201d letters.<\/p>\n
So, how many chocolate letters have you devoured already this season?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
It is that time of year again.\u00a0 The time of year when you head into a shop, spot the chocolate letter display and search for a chocolate letter that matches the first letter of your name.\u00a0 Infuriated that your letter is no longer available, you begin the process of coming up with a \u201cletter alternative\u201d…<\/p>\n