TopMunch Review June 2017

• 5-7 Exotic and Hard-to-find Full-size treats
• A collection based on the local music, to listen to (TopMusic)
• A travelogue with travel tips and recommendations, for places to see (TopTravel)
• A language guide to help you pick up local phrases (TopPhrase)

Note: Their boxes are almost always full (packed to the brim) and typically weigh around 2+ pounds.

June Theme – Netherland

Our journey this month has brought us to the Netherlands, otherwise informally known as “Holland”. The four largest cities in the Netherlands include – amsterdam, Rotterdam, the Hague, and Utrecht. To delve into a bit of history, the Dutch East indies and Dutch West Indies spearheaded the Golden Age of the Dutch Empire, making it a major sea-faring and economic power in the 17th century.

Netherlands was the third country in the world to have an elected government, and it is the second largest exporter of food and agricultural products after the United States. In 2013, the United Nations World Happiness Report ranked the Netherlands as the seventh-happiest country in the world, reflecting its high quality of life. Some of the more accomplished Dutch artisans include – Rembrant, Vincent Van Gogh, and Johannes Vermeer….just to name a few.

Here’s a look at the items we received in the June box…..

Ruiter Banket Speculaas (Windmill Spiced Cookies)

Speculaas is a famous Dutch cookie, traditionally baked for the Holiday of Sinterklaas, celebrated in the Netherlands on the 5th of December. Speculaas cookies are thin, crunchy and lightly browned. The spices used in Speculaas are cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom and white pepper. Some of the other ingredients include white flour, brown sugar and butter.

Euro Patisserie Cheese Crispies

These cheese crisps are also known as “Smelik Kats Kantjes” and are made with high quality butter, gouda and edam cheese. Considering we are sending out a relatively sweet box, this savoury provides a unique balance in your palate, and keeps the mouth wanting more.

Van Delft Cafe Noir

Cafe Noir is a crunchy cookie topped with a sweet coffee flavoured glaze. This is a Dutch favourite that looks to have less sugar, and has a much stronger coffee flavour. Renowned Dutch bakers – Van Delft, who come with over 120 years of experience, baked this delicious cookie. Dip this cookie in your cup of hot joe or tea, and you will be faced with a delicious indulgence.

Gustaf’s Licorice Drops

Dutch people love their licorice, not the American version of the liquorice but a different kind of licorice very traditional to the Netherlands. This licorice is also called “salmiak” and is a variety of licorice flavoured by ammonium chloride giving it an astringent salty taste. This licorice is an acquired taste and the Dutch love feeding this to foreigners to film their reactions. The Dutch love their licorice so much so that they consume almost 4 pounds of it a year. Along with Dutch cheese and hagelslag (Dutch sprinkles), licorice is one of the items that over half of all Dutch vacation-goers won’t leave home without.

Casteleijn Syrup Wafers (Stroopwafel)

A Stroopwafel (syrup waffle) is a waffle made from two thin layers of baked dough with a caramel like syrup filling in the middle. It is very popular in the Netherlands, where they were first made in the city of Gouda. Casteleijn Patisserie Specialiteiten is a family business specialized in Dutch stroopwafels. To anyone who has lived in or visited Holland, Stroopwafels is one snack they will come across and might even bring back home.