Obwarzanek is a kind of circled bread sprinkled with various seeds, usually with poppy seeds, sesame seeds, or salt. Obwarzanek looks similar to a bagel but is thinner. The dough for the obwarzanek is divided into small pieces, formed into elongated cylinders, 2-3 of which are spirally twisted together to form a ring. The formed obwarzanki, with a diameter of several centimeters (12-17 cm), are left to rise again, then they are dipped in boiling water for a while. Obwarzać means par-boiling in Polish and that's where the name comes from. They are boiled until they float to the surface. Then, after draining, they are decorated with poppy seeds, salt, sesame, or other sprinkles and baked until browned, so that they acquire a light golden to light brown color. The obwarzanek must be no lighter than 80 and no heavier than 120 grams.

The first mention of the appearance of obwarzanek in Krakow comes from the 14th century, from the court of Władysław Jagiełło and Jadwiga. Information about the existence of such a product can be found in documents from March 2, 1394. Initially, only selected bakers could make this product and only during Lent. Over the years, it turned into a drawing of the names of people who could bake obwarzanki in a given period.

Since 2010 obwarzanek is registered as a Protected Geographical Indication, so, this baked product has to be made according to a specific recipe produced only within the borders of Krakow and the Krakow and Wieliczka County and only then can be called Obwarzanek krakowski. It can be sold without labels and packaging, from points of sale marked with the appropriate inscription. Real obwarzanki are sold from blue stands on almost every corner of Krakow's street. There are about 170-180 such stands in Krakow, and the average daily production of obwarzanki sold on the Krakow market on weekdays is almost 150,000. Traditionally baked obwarzanki can be recognized by the characteristic bottom on which there are longitudinal traces of the grill. 

In the vicinity of Stary Kleparz (about 10 minutes from the very center of the Main Square), there is Żywe Muzeum Obwarzanka, where everyone can try their best at making such a product. The workshops last about an hour, during which you will learn the history of obwarzanek and make your own one.

And You? Which one will you choose? Poppy seeds, sesame, salt, or maybe a different flavor?

Magnetic Tours