The
overland trip between
Copenhagen, Denmark, and Stockholm, Sweden, can be quite a ride, unless you
have something to “sweeten” the journey a bit…literally.
Tucked
into the tiny town of Gränna, Sweden,
is a centuries old peppermint candy tradition—the village’s only claim to
fame. The polkagris,
or striped peppermint candy, has been made here for over 150 years. Polkagris literally
means “polka,” a popular dance of the day, and “pig” (you figure out the
connection).
Back
in 1859, a poor widow named Amalia
Ericksson began to make the peppermint confection to support her and her
daughter. Today Gränna’s
streets are lined with a dozen or so shops, where you can watch the candy
being made and purchase the finished product.
To make polkagris, sugar, water and vinegar
are mixed and heated to 150°C (302°F).
Red
coloring and peppermint flavoring are added to one part, and then the colored sugar
dough is added to the white sugar dough, and they are pulled and stretched and
kneaded and twisted until just the right consistency. Simple, right?
Join this blogger as she walks you
through the village with her narrative and photos. And watch a candy maker in action as
he makes authentic polkagris.
Candy store in Granna |
Although
peppermint sticks is its claim to fame, there is quite a
variety of flavors in this “candy heaven” town.
Gränna (population 2,500
or so) sits on the eastern shores
of Vättern,
the second largest inland lake in Sweden, on a busy highway that runs between
Gothenburg and Stockholm, which was good business for Amalia…and today’s candy
makers as well.
Located less than two miles from Gränna are the ruins of Brahehus Castle
built by Count Per Brahe between 1637 and 1650, but abandoned by 1680. In 1708, the castle was
destroyed by fire and never rebuilt.
From the ruins is a fantastic view of Lake Vättern and its island Visingsö.
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