The croissant, a quintessential French pastry, has a rich history that intertwines with cultural exchanges across Europe. Despite its strong association with France, its origins trace back to Austria.

Austrian Roots: The Kipferl

The croissant's ancestor is the kipferl, a crescent-shaped pastry dating back to at least the 13th century in Austria. Kipferls were typically denser and less flaky than modern croissants but maintained the distinctive crescent shape that would later characterize their French descendant.

A French Adoption

While the legend of the Ottoman siege of Vienna is often cited as the croissant's origin, historical evidence is scarce. The pastry's journey to France is more accurately attributed to Austrian immigrants and the influence of French bakers.

Marie Antoinette and August Zang

Marie Antoinette, the Austrian princess who married the French king in 1774, is often credited with introducing the kipferl to France. However, her direct influence is debatable. A more definitive figure is August Zang, an Austrian artillery officer who opened a Viennese bakery in Paris in 1839. His bakery popularized Viennese baked goods, including the kipferl, among Parisians.

The French Touch

French bakers adopted the kipferl and began experimenting with their own techniques, particularly puff pastry dough. This adaptation resulted in the lighter, layered pastry known today as the croissant. The earliest French recipe for the croissant appeared in print in the early 20th century.

Global Phenomenon

By the early 1900s, the croissant had become a fixture in French cafés and bakeries. Its popularity surged post-World War II, aligning with the global fascination with French culture and cuisine. The croissant's buttery flavor and delicate texture appealed to international tastes, leading to worldwide adoption.

Croissant Variations

Wownana croissants come in numerous variations:

Butter Croissant

Crispy, flaky and buttery croissant that melts in your mouth in every bite. And the best part? It's Vegan!

 

Almond croissant

Flaky croissant topped off with fragrant almond and sugar for that extra texture and crunchy goodness, and served with sweet almond cream inside.

Pistachio Croissant

Indulge in the perfect balance of homemade pistachio butter and premium pistachio nibs.

Savory Croissant

Scrambled Tofu Croissant

A flavors of a delicate, flaky vegan croissant stuffed with fragrant scrambled tofu and greens.

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