Since we’ve seen the first Sunday of Advent come and go, there’s no doubt that the gingerbread (pepparkakor in Swedish) season has begun for real. Lundagård gathered a panel of students to evaluate three popular variants of the cookie that was consumed in Sweden as far back as the 14th century.
Anna’s gingerbread cookies
Carl Bigsten, 22, studying to be a preschool teacher:
“A bit cardboard-y? But strong and resolute taste!”
Oskar Melander, 20, student of photography:
“This is a true classic. Nice shape and with the right amount of sweetness… They do get a bit boring and samey in the long run.”
Marcus Svensson, 21, studying linguistics:
“My God! Wonderful gingerbread cookies. The aroma reminds me of, like… Grandpa’s breath at the Christmas table in the Gothenburg archipelago during my childhood. Crisp as fresh snow, a taste sensation!”
ICA:s own gingerbread cookies
Oskar: “They’re good. A bit too sweet and not spicy enough I might argue. On the other hand, the color’s nice and they feel like good value for money.”
Marcus: “The right amount of crunchiness… Decent amount of taste. Mundane aroma. Rather dry.”
Carl: “A bit dull. Feels like an old gingerbread cookie in a black-and-white movie or something. I wouldn’t have sprung for these!”
Marcus: “Yeah, honestly, they bring to mind that awful Christmas song by Just D… ”Jul igen”!”
Göteborg kex’ gingerbread cookies
Marcus: “These feel expensive! Good and stout taste. The taste sort of lingers, maybe that will spoil my taste buds in the end?”
Oskar: “Really really good, without a doubt the best in this test. Exclusive taste, I’d wager they aren’t the cheapest make, exactly.”
Marcus: “I think this would work well in masking the vile taste of snaps.”
Carl: “Very good! Goes perfectly with the mulled wine. They taste like my uncle’s gingerbread cookies. Maybe nostalgia has something to do with my enjoyment of this brand. The best out of today’s samples in any case!”
Text: Dennis Jörnmark Callstam
Translation: Jesper Lodin
