The Sweet Origins of Marzipan
Discover Tallinn’s Historic Sweet Tradition
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Marzipan, a delicious blend of almonds and sugar, is either adored or despised—I’m in the “adore” camp (despite the calories)!
Although it’s hard to pin the origins of marzipan to a single country, with the Middle East, the Far East, and Germany as competition, legend ties marzipan to Tallinn’s Town Hall Pharmacy, where it was first crafted as a medicinal treat in the 15th century. This pharmacy, one of the world’s oldest, still proudly sells its traditional marzipan.
Kohvik MaiasMokk, one of the oldest cafés in Tallinn, hosts a Marzipan Room that celebrates this sweet treat, preserving it as a symbol of the city's rich heritage.
You can find out more about Tallinn and the old Town Hall Pharmacy in this Medium article of mine:
A Medieval Marvel: Tallinn’s Historic Centre
Are you with me in the “adore” camp? Let me know in the comment section.
Tallinn Town Hall Pharmacy (Raeapteek) is indeed the oldest pharmacy in Europe that has been continuously operating at the same location since it opened in 1422.
In 2022, it celebrated its 600th anniversary, and to mark this significant milestone, Estonian Post issued a special stamp to honor its rich history -- https://pood.omniva.ee/en/other-stamps/3638-town-hall-pharmacy-600.html