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Semla: A Swedish Delicacy with a Royal Tragedy
What is a Semla?
A semla is a special sweet bun from Sweden. It’s made with soft bread that has a little spice called cardamom. Inside, there’s a mix of almond paste and milk. On top, there’s whipped cream and a sprinkle of powdered sugar. People in Sweden love to eat semla before Lent, a time when some people choose to eat less or give up certain foods.
The King and the Semla
A long time ago, there was a king in Sweden named Adolf Fredrik. He loved food, especially semlas. There’s a famous story about him that happened on February 12, 1771. The night before he got very sick, he went to a big dance with the queen. He left early to rest because the next day he was going to eat something special – semlas the way they made them back then, with warm milk and cinnamon.
The next day, the queen didn’t feel well, so the king ate dinner alone. He started with oysters and then ate a lot of rich foods like sauerkraut, meat with turnips, lobster, caviar, smoked herring, and drank champagne. After eating all that, he still had room for his favorite, semlas. People say he ate a lot of them. Sadly, right after eating, he got very sick and died.
Did the Semla Cause the King's Death?
Some people think the king died because he ate too many semlas. But really, he probably had a stroke, which can happen if you eat too much rich food. But there’s no proof that the semlas were the real reason he died. Also, semlas back then were different from today. They weren’t as heavy because they didn’t have whipped cream or almond paste inside.
Semlas Today
Nowadays, people in Sweden still love semlas. They eat them before Lent starts, especially on Fat Tuesday. Semlas have changed over time and now they are even more delicious. The story of King Adolf Fredrik and his love for semlas shows how important this sweet bun is in Swedish history. Even though the story is a bit sad, it reminds people about enjoying food but not eating too much.
