European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 17, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Christmas ideas Erma Gingerbread Bakers have ovens going full blast for Lebkuchen demand by Ron Jensen Nurnberg Bureau a form of Lebkuchen it the German Gingerbread has been found in an egyptian Tomb dating from 1,500 years before the birth of Christ for fresher be arc Ien come to Nurnberg. The franconian City has been the european Center for the tasty treat for centuries and has Lent its name to the product. Many germans want Only Nirnberger Lebkuchen.-. There Are currently five major manufacturers of Lebkuchen in the City. The largest in the world is ?. Otto Schmidt where during this Busy time Tif year 3 million round discs of Lebkuchen Are produced daily. Detle Fiddel an Export specialist at Schmidt said Nurnberg s claim As the Center of Lebkuchen production grew in the Middle Ages. The spices from faraway lands used in the Gingerbread preparation were brought to the ports of Italy. Nurnberg was in the Middle of eur peso it was a Good spot to begin this business said Rode. The City was also surrounded at the time by Miles and Miles of Forest. Within the forests were Many beekeepers who sold Honey to the Bakers for Lebkuchen. Kodel said Honey was a necessity at the time because sugar was a rare delicacy. The Schmidt factory just off autobahn 73 at 30 Zollkau Strasse in Southern a Firnberg is a Beehive of activity during this time of year. Over the centuries the Gingerbread has become a special Holiday treat. The usual work Force of 250 jumps to 1,000 starting in september. Production usually limited to one or perhaps two shifts most of the year goes to three shifts 24 hours a Day Many of the temporary workers Man telephones where up to 40,000 orders Are placed every Day from around the world. Ruddel said Schmidt Lebkuchen is exported to 80 countries. And tour buses come one after another to the factory. Visitors see a videotape in German telling the Story of the company and of Lebkuchen and they can buy the product at the factory store. They also have the Opportunity to see Rainer Huttinger make the treat the old fashioned Way with a rolling pin and a Stone oven. In the factory great vats of mix Are stirred by mechanical Blades and precisely measured dollops of unbaked dough Are squirted onto a moving conveyor that takes them through an oven where they Are baked in 10 minutes and coated with any of a variety of icings. The Schmidt Lebkuchen is found in commissaries across Europe and the United states Ruddel said. The commissary system is our biggest customer in the United states he said. The decorative tin boxes in which the Lebkuchen is sold Are nearly As famous As the treat inside. The scenes depicted on the boxes Are changed each year and usually include scenes from historic Nurnberg. Rodel said Many people collect the boxes. Rainer Huttinger shows How Lebkuchen is made the old fashioned Way. You can go into Many living rooms and find our boxes dating Back 20 years he said. V there is a bit of mystery surrounding Lebkuchen. Each manufacturer uses spices but none will reveal the percentage or the exact Type of spice used complicating this is the Guild to which a Lebkuchen Bakers belong. Despite this fraternity each is sworn hot to divulge his employer s recipe. The Guild has been around since the mid-17th Century when the Lebkuchen Bakers separated from the Normal Bakers Guild. Ruddel makes another pitch for the product. He said that a piece of Lebkuchen contains Only one Quarter of the calories that a similar sized piece of pie contains. Plus he said the natural ingredients Are healthy. It s not True he said that things that taste Good Are not Good for your  for More information Call 0911/89-6631. When calling from outside Germany dial your International Access number the country code 49 and drop the first Lebkuchen comes in Plain wrapper or in special decorative tins. Is photos by Ron Jensen 12 stripes Magazine november 17, 1994