Krembo- Explaining an Israeli winter tradition

Picture a mound of marshmallow fluff placed on a cookie and covered in hardened chocolate. Each one is individually wrapped. The Krembo, an Israeli winter treat about the size of a fist is sweet through and through.

Translated as "cream-in-it," the Krembo was created in Denmark over 200 years ago as a homemade treat, and has been mass produced in Israel since the 1940s. It comes in two flavors-- the ever popular and traditional flavor vanilla, and the newer mocha. Smaller manufacturers tried introducing  other flavors like banana and strawberry but they didn't really catch on.

I know when people consider it to be winter because Krembo start appearing in stores. It's over 90 degrees right now in Jerusalem, but Krembo are in the stores. Never sold in the summer, they are winter treats through and through. According to some researchers, they can even be considered a pop-cultural item and a national icon and are a comfort food for Israelis abroad who can find them.

The Krembo in popular culture can be seen in the translated version of Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone, when Dumbledore's favorite sweet was translated not as sherbet lemon, but as a Krembo instead. It also shows up often in Israeli movies and cult fiction. In 2007 it was made into an ice cream flavor, breaking the tradition of Krembo only in the winter, in place of ice cream.

With three main, components -- cookie, marshmallow fluff and chocolate – the only question which remains is "How do you eat it? Cookie, cream or chocolate first?"

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