Around The World In 8 Tea Cookies
At its most basic, a cookie is a baked finger food that is flat and sweet, but different variations across the world come in all shapes, sizes, flavours, and textures. From Brazilian Sequilhos to the Anzac biscuit from down under, here are some of the most delicious and iconic cookies that the world has to offer.
1. Sequilhos – Brazil
Sequilhos are very light Brazilian biscuits made with cornflour (making them gluten-free) and are easily found both in home kitchens and in bakeries throughout Brazil. The delicious cookies melt in your mouth when you eat them, and when sweetened with condensed milk, have a taste that is reminiscent of ice cream.
2. Coyota – Mexico
The flour-based Coyotas of Mexico are empanada-like cookies that are large, flat, and traditionally filled with panela – a Mexican brown sugar made of molasses. The tasty treat was originally introduced to Mexico around 500 years ago when the Spaniards brought wheat, sugar, and goat's milk into the country.
3. Maple leaf cream cookie – Canada
Maple leaf cream cookies are a delicious Canadian sandwich cookie that oozes a cream filling that is flavoured with maple syrup. The cookies are shaped like a maple leaf, a national symbol of Canada, and were taken by Canadian astronaut Dave Williams and his NASA crew members to the international space station in 2007.
4. Stroopwafel – Netherlands
The sticky, sweet, and delicious stroopwafel – literally meaning 'syrup waffle' – is made from two thin layers of baked dough with a caramel syrup filling in the middle and is traditionally enjoyed with hot tea in the Netherlands. It was first made in Gouda during the late 18th century by a baker using leftovers from the bakery, such as breadcrumbs, which were sweetened with syrup.
5. Paprenjak – Croatia
Paprenjak are a tasty traditional biscuit made in Croatia, containing a unique mix of honey and – as a surprise twist – black pepper. The origins of paprenjak are unclear but they are known to have existed in the 16th century during the Renaissance. Traditionally, Croatians made it throughout the year, although lately it is a family tradition in many homes to make paprenjak for Christmas.
6. Pryaniki – Russia
Pryaniki – literally meaning “well-spiced” in Russian – are cookies made with an irresistible combination of honey, brown sugar, and gingerbread spices, filled with a rich plum jam, and finished with a simple glaze. The first pryaniki in Russia – called “honey bread” at that time – appeared around the IX century and were based on rye flour mixed with honey and berry juice. The exotic spices were introduced to flavour the taste when Russia started to trade with India and the Middle East.
7. Hato Sabure – Japan
Hato Sabure – meaning “dove” – is a very popular Japanese cookie named after Kamakura’s famous shrines. The cookies are very simple because at the time the primary ingredient, butter, was extremely hard to get a hold of in Japan and, to accentuate the light butter flavour, few additional ingredients are added. The cookies were introduced to Japan by a store called Teshimaya, which still makes them today – since the Meiji period in 1868 when western goods started to flow into Japan.
8. Anzac – Australia and New Zealand
Anzac biscuits are delicious sweet biscuits that are popular in Australia and New Zealand, made using rolled oats, flour, sugar, butter, and golden syrup. Desiccated coconut is also sometimes added. The biscuits have long been associated with the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) established in World War I, and were sent by wives and women's groups to soldiers abroad because the ingredients do not spoil easily and the biscuits kept well during naval transportation.
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