They say pretzels were first invented in 620 AD by Italian Monks; who twisted the dough and looped it around to represent arms giving a hug as a reward for good behavior to children in the monastery. There is no written proof to back this story, but pretzels are most certainly a European invention and are best known in the German culture.

The secret to making a pretzel is by giving it a bath in liquid diluted lye before baking it. Lye is a highly concentrated alkaline solution that gives the pretzels its unique taste and dark brown color. Lye is not harmful in small diluted quantities, but can cause severe burns to skin in contact with pure lye. Not all pretzel makers use lye, but a true pretzel is made with lye. Baking soda can also be used, but does not give it that true pretzel taste.

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