Every April 26th is Pretzel Day, and it's a special day here because Philadelphia pretzels are so famous and special. But let's start from the beginning if you haven't tried them yet.
What is a pretzel?
In this post, I'll refer to the soft pretzel, which is baked fresh and ready to eat. There are also snack pretzels, which are factory-made and usually found in bags at stores or supermarkets.
I'd be lying if I said a classic pretzel is just like any other bread. It isn't.
The pretzel is made with a special dough so that it comes out golden and crispy on the surface and soft on the inside, and the special touch is that it has salt on the coating.
Philadelphia pretzels
The pretzel is very special to Philadelphia. It's said to have originated in Italy, but arrived in Pennsylvania in the 18th century, and the first pretzels baked on American soil were in Lititz, a small town in Lancaster.
As time passed, they arrived in the city, where they were quite popular, selling them from pushcarts and becoming one of the residents' favorite snacks. To this day, they maintain the tradition of eating them with mustard, of course, depending on their tastes.
Today, pretzels are a favorite snack option for parties or various other events; they are bought by the dozen and can disappear in minutes.
Another interesting note is that here in Philly, the pretzel has opted for the shape of the number 8, although the original shape is also maintained.
So don't forget to put it on your list in case you're walking through the city and see a pretzel shop. These days, there are many shops selling pretzels both inside and outside of Philadelphia. You can even find them at some food trucks, but make sure they're fresh and made that day. You can also find them at the Reading Terminal, where you can watch them being rolled and shaped. Best of all, they're freshly baked and delicious!
You might also find them in other states, but none like Pennsylvania. Try them and let us know. 🙂
Happy National Pretzel Day!
