Hagelslag
What is this mysterious Dutch staple you ask? Well you're in luck, because I'm going to tell you.
Hagelslag, pronounced 'Hog-al-Slog' in English, are sprinkles (typically chocolate) that one spreads on their toast. Cause why not? But sprinkles are only properly used on ice cream and cup cakes, right? Nee mijn vriend. You see, Hagelslag is a delicious Dutch treat that comes in a variety of flavors, not to exclude Anise Seed flavor (yuck).
Apparently this tasty treat has some deep historical roots. You see, according to the Amsterdam archives, Hagelslag has it's roots in a liquor manufacturing company founded in 1878 called Venco. In 1899 the brothers HB and BE Dieperink took over the factory. Around 1919, BE decided the brittle white grains with anise flavor might be suitable as a sandwich spread. He made his discovery - in his own words - on a bleak autumn day, while it hailed outside: the chocolate sprinkles were born and soon turned out to be a great success. They started supplying the spread to grocers. In the 1930s, chocolate sprinkles were invented by a company named Venz, and the product evolved into what it is today. Cool eh?
I know what you're thinking. It sounds like something a 4 year old would ask for breakfast at the kitchen table. But to my surprise, you can often see full grown adults enjoying a nice sprinkle filled toast in the morning. I can't knock Hagelslag. To be quite honest with you, it's pretty damn delicious. I do have to warn you though, if you decide to give Hagelslag a try, make sure you keep your sprinkles in a safe place. A clumsy person like me can easily manage to spill a box of sprinkles all over the kitchen floor one morning....
