Q 01/05

Gingerbread is said to have reached Europe in 992 AD via a monk of what nationality?

A) Armenian

B) Irish

C) Byzantine Greek

D) Sicilian

Answer · why

A) Armenian

He settled in France and taught local Christians to bake it for seven years before his death.

Q 02/05

Which four flavourings does the standard definition of gingerbread list alongside its sweetener?

A) Ginger, cardamom, anise and pepper

B) Ginger, cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon

C) Ginger, allspice, mace and vanilla

D) Ginger, cinnamon, saffron and clove

Answer · why

B) Ginger, cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon

Nordic pepparkakor lean harder on cloves and cardamom, with ginger taking a back seat.

Q 03/05

Originally, the word 'gingerbread' referred to what?

A) Bread baked with ginger ale

B) A ginger-coloured loaf

C) Preserved ginger

D) Ginger imported from Bread Street in London

Answer · why

C) Preserved ginger

It came from Latin zingiber by way of Old French gingebras, and only later attached itself to the spiced cake.

Q 04/05

In 1444, nuns at Vadstena Abbey in Sweden baked gingerbread for what purpose?

A) To sell at the Christmas fair

B) To feed pilgrims

C) To decorate the altar

D) To ease indigestion

Answer · why

D) To ease indigestion

Ginger had a long reputation as a stomach settler, which is one reason the biscuit was first sold in pharmacies.

Q 05/05

What was a piece of gingerbread bought at a medieval English fair for a sweetheart called?

A) A fairing

B) A token

C) A posy

D) A comfit

Answer · why

A) A fairing

Fairs sold it in shapes stamped from wooden moulds, sometimes gilded, which is where the phrase 'the gilt off the gingerbread' comes from.