This humble cookie is experiencing an (again) international breakthrough: speculoos is becoming the Christmas hit of 2021
When thousands of people sought comfort during lockdown in cooking, snacking and wholeheartedly embracing the idea that you might as well enjoy life, it led to a huge spike in making sweet creations and other comfort food at home. Some brands gratefully experienced a massive resurgence in popularity, and thanks to social media, these success stories could also cross borders more easily! Just like this seemingly simple cookie…
Here, a small speculoos biscuit with coffee was something you would often leave on the saucer next to your cappuccino or espresso. But corona created a craving for everything safe and familiar, and especially for mountains of sweets. That combined need turned out to be perfectly met by the Belgian brand Lotus, which has been producing the familiar little biscuits (which they refuse to call speculaas) for almost ninety years, as well as a whole range of related products such as filled speculoos biscuits. And they are becoming increasingly international!
Making the crossing
The Brits have embraced the biscuit too, writes the British newspaper The Guardian. Isolated on their island, they snacked away on speculoos biscuits (which they call Biscoff, from biscuit and coffee) as a spread on bread, in speculoos milkshakes, and in the espresso martini. And with Christmas slowly approaching, the Belgian producer is bracing itself for the coming season.
Going all out
The British are generally known for going ALL OUT at Christmas. I would know, because my in-laws are quintessentially British, and after Christmas days in London I always need a month or two to recover from what I put my stomach through in three days. And now that the Kingdom seems to be gripped by a love of speculoos, all signs point to this becoming X-mas ’21’s defining flavor (and scent)…
Supermarkets are ready
Aldi in Great Britain has already added a vegan speculoos cheesecake and a speculoos gin liqueur (um, yes please) to its range in preparation for the festive month. Lidl goes one step further with, besides a cheesecake, a mince tart and a tiramisu, while market leader Tesco is joining in with speculoos-filled tartelettes, sponge, and buttercream with speculaas spices. Bring it on!
I’m dreaming of a spiced Christmas
So I know exactly what the house will smell like this December when, on the other side of the North Sea, we unwrap our stockings while enjoying a glass of morning sherry. Lovely—I’m already looking forward to it…
Read also:
- Recipe: speculoos tiramisu so simple that anyone can make it
- Recipe: vegan sundae with spelt speculoos crumble, coconut yogurt and coco dulce de leche
- Vegans angry at The Great British Bake Off because of this ‘scandal’
Source: The Guardian
