Pretzel Facts – Positively Pennsylvania (2024)

FAQs

Why is Pennsylvania famous for pretzels? ›

German immigrants certainly brought pretzels with them when they began settling in Pennsylvania around 1710. In 1861, Julius Sturgis founded one of the first commercial pretzel bakeries in the town of Lititz in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Here are some fun facts about pretzels:

The pretzel is long considered a good-luck symbol due to its religious roots. Pretzels without salt are called baldies. More than $550 million worth of pretzels are sold in the United States annually. The average American consumes up to two pounds of pretzels in a year.

If you live in Pennsylvania, congratulations, you are part of the state that is home to 80% of the nation's pretzel production! And not only do we make them, but Pennsylvanians are also responsible for most of the consumption of pretzels!

Pretzels once stopped a war

In one particularly volatile footnote in the history of the pretzel, the salty snack once stopped Ottoman Turks from invading Vienna all the way back in 1510.

The Pennsylvania Dutch and Pretzels

Over time, the pretzel became a staple and an integral part of Pennsylvania's culture and economy. The state is now known as the pretzel capital of the world, with Pennsylvanians consuming a whopping 12 times more pretzels than the national average.

Philly Cheesesteaks

Without a doubt, Philly cheesesteaks are the most iconic Pennsylvania food. Their notoriety is spread across America and even the world. While there are many places in Philadelphia to get a cheesesteak, here are four places famous for their sandwiches: John's Roast Pork.

Pretzels can indeed be a part of a health-conscious diet. Their low-fat content, potential for high fiber, and versatility make them a snack worth considering. Choosing the right pretzel type and being mindful of portion sizes can satisfy your snack cravings without derailing your health goals.

So what makes a pretzel into a pretzel? The answer lies in a brief dip in an alkaline water bath before baking. This bath essentially gelatinizes the outside of the pretzel, preventing it from fully “springing” during baking (as bread does) and giving pretzels their signature chewy crust.

The pretzel was invented by European monks in the early Middle Ages, possibly in the 6th or 7th century. The monks used the pretzel's distinctive knot shape to represent the Holy Trinity, with the three holes in the pretzel symbolizing the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Putting a pretzel in a bag

If a cop in Philadelphia sees you with a pretzel in a bag, they most likely won't put you in handcuffs but they technically could. According to Need to Know Facts, this law was formed during prohibition due to alcohol also being found in the same bag as a pretzel.

What is the pretzel capital of PA? ›

Here in Reading & Berks County, Pennsylvania, we take our pretzels very seriously. We are, after all, the pretzel capital of the world!

Here in PA, we produce and eat more pretzels than anywhere else in the country. About 80% of all the pretzels made in the US are made right here, with 45 pretzel companies calling Pennsylvania home.

The Pretzel Bakery Revolution: 19th Century

Julius Sturgis, a visionary baker, founded the first commercial soft pretzel bakery in our back yard, Lititz, Pennsylvania, in 1861. Sturgis implemented modern equipment and techniques to meet the growing demand for soft pretzels.

According to some scholars and various sources, the most popular story is that the pretzel was made in 1610 AD by an Italian monk when he decided to make a special treat to help motivate his students to keep on learning.

During the season of Lent, early Catholic rules prohibited consumption of dairy, fats and meats, so pretzels — made with just flour, water and salt — fit nicely on the menu. It's believed early pretzels were soft, like those we treasure in Philly today.

Home to more than 40 pretzel companies, Pennsylvania is the nation's pretzel capital — we're responsible for 80% of the United States' pretzel production.

A year or two before the Civil War, a pretzel baker moved with his family from the Moravian Village, Lititz, to Reading, then a city of some 20,000 inhabitants. And today, just 88 years later, Reading is the pretzel capital of the world.

Pennsylvania's rolling patchworks of farm fields, bountiful apple orchards, and sprawling hardwood forests have shaped our cultural and industrial heritage. Pennsylvania is a hub for snack food and confectionaries, ranking second and first for number of employees in the United States, respectively.

Reading was one of the first localities where outlet shopping became a tourist industry. It has been known as "The Pretzel City" because numerous local pretzel bakeries are based in the city and its suburbs; currently, Bachman, Dieffenbach, Tom Sturgis, and Unique Pretzel bakeries call the Reading area home.