Wednesday, April 29, 2015

  Oldest Pretzel: 250-Year-Old Pretzel sets world record (VIDEO)

Regensburg, Germany -- The world's oldest pretzel has been discovered by archaeologists in Germany; unearthed during a large excavation on the "Donaumarkt" in Regensburg, an area nearby the Danube which was destroyed in the 1950-60s, the charred pretzel fragments are believed to be 250 years old, thus setting the world record for the Oldest Pretzel, according to the World Record Academy .

  Photo: Even though they are 250 years old, the pretzel fragments are similar to today's product. "They look the same. The fragments are just a little bit smaller because of the carbonizing process," Codreanu-Windauer said. Photo: Thomas Stöckl/Bavarian State Department of Monument and Sites ( enlarge photo )

The Guinness World Records' record for the largest pretzel weighed 382 kg (842 lbs), measured 8.20 m (26 ft 10 in) in length, and 3.10 m (10 ft 2 in) in width and was made by Olaf Kluy and Manfred Keilwerth of Müller-Brot GmbH (both Germany) in Neufahrn, Germany, on 21 September 2008.

  Guinness World Records also recognized the world record for the longest line of M&M's pretzel candies lined up in 30 seconds; it is 42 M&M's, achieved by Silvio Sabba (Italy), in Pioltello, Milan, Italy, on 22 March 2013.

   Unearthed during a large excavation on the "Donaumarkt" in Regensburg, an area nearby the Danube which was destroyed in the 1950-60s, the charred pretzel fragments are believed to be 250 years old. They were recovered beneath a floor in a structure long known to be a bakery.

  "We found the remains of two pretzels, a piece of bread shaped like a croissant and three small bread rolls," Silvia Codreanu-Windauer, of the Bavarian State Department of Monuments and Sites, told Discovery News.

   Carbon dating showed the pastries were made between 1700 and 1800.
   Indeed, the archaeologists found written evidence that in 1753 a baker named Johann Georg Held was living at the site.

    It is believed pretzels were invented sometime between the 5th and 6th centuries by monks who twisted leftover strips of dough to look like arms crossed in prayer.

   Even though they are 250 years old, the pretzel fragments are similar to today's product.

   Related world records:
Oldest Hot Cross Bun: world record set by 189-year-old bun

Oldest Wedding Cake: 113-year-old wedding cake sets world record

Oldest tub of lard: 64-year-old tub of lard sets world record (HD Video)