Description
The Dresdner Christstollen PGI is a traditional German pie prepared with flour, whole milk, butter, sugar, candied fruit, raisins, almonds and spices, without artificial either aromas or additives.
Production Area
The production area of Dresdner Christstollen PGI covers the city of Dresden and some neighbouring areas in the Federal State of Saxony.
Production Method
only wheat floor of type 405 or 550 has to be used. The other dough ingredients have to be in proportional amounts depending on the flour amount. In particular, the butter has to be 50%, raisins 65%, candied oranges and lemons 20% and almonds 15%. The ingredients have to be processed by hand and the dough obtained is modelled in loafs which must rest on a top. Later they have to be pasted again in longer shapes and flattened. Then they are put in oven without using specific moulds. After cooking, the top is brushed with melted butter and then covered with a lot of icing sugar.
Appearance and Flavour
the shape of Dresdner Christstollen PGI recalls a bread loaf and its surface is uniformly covered with icing sugar. The dough is spongy, whilst candied raisins and fruits are scattered inside in a homogeneous manner. Its flavour and aroma are full and aromatic.
History
The historic roots of Dresden stollen date back to about 1400. Indeed, one of the first written documents of the product goes back to 1434, with a document on the Striezelmarkt, the city's Christmas market. In fact, the stollen originated as a Christmas cake that, at the beginning, was produced without butter and milk, as in 1450 their use was not allowed by the Catholic Church. Later this ban was revoked (in 1490 by Pope Innocent VIII) with the document which has become famous as the "letter of butter". The name christstollen appeared later, in about 1530. This cake has been always highly appreciated and was favoured by the Duke Augustus II the Strong who, in 1730, ordered its preparation for more than 20,000 guests (specialised bakers prepared a stollen weighing more than a ton). Since then the reputation and quality of this product have not changed, also thanks to the will to pass on the traditional production technique from generation to generation.
Gastronomy
Dresdner Christstollen PGI has to be stored wrapped in a linen cloth in a wooden container, in a dark and cool place. It can also be stored in its original packaging and put in a cupboard. In this way the product fragrance is preserved for different weeks. Its long lasting features suggest to not consume it immediately, but after two to four weeks from its preparation. The best way to slice it is starting from the centre and cutting with a special knife towards the ends: so the remaining slices can be stored in order to not become dry. It is a traditional cake, highly appreciated above all during Christmas feasts combined with a cup of tea or coffee at pleasure.
Marketing
The product is sold as Dresdner Christstollen PGI (Dresdner Stollen PGI or Dresdner Weihnachtsstollen PGI). It can be sold loose or packed in cardboard or tin boxes with a minimum weight of 500 gr (but the weight is traditionally 2 kg).
Distinctive Features
Dresdner Christstollen PGI is prepared only with high quality ingredients according to the traditional recipe, but every baker uses a "family secret" which has been passed on for centuries making this cake unique and inimitable.
