Ever had pretzels, those delicious chocolate-dipped crunchy goodness that is a Sunday treat in many homes? I’m sure you have. And if you haven’t, you must’ve heard about it and maybe even craved it at some point. Whatever the case, pretzels are an amazing twisty treat that have been around for a long time. I know it’s easy to not think about how some of the things you eat were invented; but the fact that pretzels have been around for more than 800 years should be enough to get you curious.

So, what exactly is the story behind pretzels?

There is a myth within the culinary circle that pretzels (known as pretiolas) were created first in an Italian 7th century monastery, where they were given to kids as rewards (treats) for learning their prayer. While it is true that the amazing crunchy snack has some historical significance in the church- as some records show it was used for lent many years ago- there is no evidence to support the 7th century monastery story.

In fact, one notable document that gives a clue as to the origin of pretzels is the German Baker’s Guilds, which historians believe was between the 10th and 12th centuries. However, the most verifiable historical record that documents the creation of pretzels is the Hortus Deliciarum, a sort of medieval manuscript or encyclopedia written by Herrad of Landsberg. It showed that pretzels were created in the 12th century.

While there are no specific dates or timelines, no one can deny that pretzels were a part of European menus in the Middle Ages. And if you’re wondering why Pennsylvania is notable for pretzels, the answer is simple. German immigrants who came to America hundreds of years ago settled at Pennsylvania. It is also no wonder that the first commercial pretzel facility was set up in Pennsylvania by Julius Sturgis. His pretzels were hard- to keep them fresh over long distances and for several days in stores.

Today, there are multiple varieties of pretzels with several flavors to choose from. In fact, they are one of the most popular salty snacks in the US. That is when you see them as those good old soft breads. But pretzels are also amazing, sweet treats and are gaining some popularity in that category as well. Some restaurants, bakeries and cafés serve them with delicious toppings, making them a truly gourmet chocolate-covered snack.

How to enjoy pretzels today

You can have pretzels today as freshly baked snacks or as packaged bits and nuggets. As baked snacks, pretzel is available in flavors like original, cinnamon sugar, sweet almond, roasted garlic and parmesan, sour cream and onion, jalapeño, pepperoni, and raisins. Pretzels are served as nuggets in cinnamon sugar, pepperoni, cheese dog and jalapeño and cheese dog.

You can also get pretzels as packaged bits in buttermilk ranch, peanut butter, jalapeño, honey mustard, hot buffalo, and cheddar cheese.