「tortell de Reis」：加泰隆尼亞國王節傳統

巴塞隆納糕點協會預計本週末在加泰隆尼亞地區將售出超過 100 萬個手工“tortells de Reis”，與去年的銷售數字相當。

Artisanal bakers in Barcelona are gearing up for a busy weekend as they prepare to sell over one million 'tortells de Reis' across Catalonia.

巴塞隆納的手工麵包師們正準備迎接一個忙碌的周末，他們準備在加泰隆尼亞出售超過一百萬個「tortells de Reis」。

Preparations began on Thursday for the traditional Kings' Day cakes, which are typically baked on the evening of January 5 or the morning of January 6 to ensure maximum freshness.

傳統國王節蛋糕的準備工作於週四開始，通常在 1 月 5 日晚上或 1 月 6 日早上烘烤，以確保最大程度的新鮮度。

At the La Palma bakery in Sabadell, bakers will be working through the night to sell the cakes as fresh as possible.

在薩瓦德爾的拉帕爾馬麵包店，麵包師傅們將徹夜工作，盡可能新鮮地出售蛋糕。

The traditional marzipan cake with candied fruit remains the favorite among consumers, followed by cream or truffle-filled variations.

傳統的蜜餞杏仁糖蛋糕仍然是消費者的最愛，其次是奶油或鬆露夾心蛋糕。

Prices for these traditional cakes range from €20 to €50.

這些傳統蛋糕的價格從 20 歐元到 50 歐元不等。

"It's a day that never fails. Family gatherings, gift-giving, and the joy of sharing a 'tortell,'" said Carles Boix, a baker at La Palma.

拉帕爾馬的麵包師卡爾斯·博瓦 (Carles Boix) 表示：“這是永遠不會失敗的一天。家庭聚會、贈送禮物以及分享‘玉米餅’的樂趣。”

Amid growing competition from industrially produced cakes, bakers are keen to highlight the value of using top-quality ingredients in their creations.

在工業生產蛋糕的競爭日益激烈的情況下，麵包師熱衷於強調在其創作中使用優質原料的價值。

"An artisanal 'tortell' cake uses fresh, perishable ingredients like eggs, butter, and milk, so it should be baked fresh and eaten in two days maximum," explained Boix.

「手工『tortell』蛋糕使用雞蛋、黃油和牛奶等新鮮、易腐爛的原料，因此應該新鮮烘焙並最多在兩天內食用，」博瓦解釋道。

Another distinguishing feature is the use of quality candied fruit, made by boiling real fruit with sugar and water, compared to industrial cakes that often use pumpkin as a cheaper substitute.

另一個顯著特徵是使用優質蜜餞，將真正的水果與糖和水一起煮沸而成，而工業蛋糕通常使用南瓜作為更便宜的替代品。

Crafting an artisanal 'tortell de Reis' involves around six to eight hours of work.

製作手工“tortell de Reis”大約需要六到八個小時的工作。

Bakers begin by making a brioche dough with natural starter, strong flour, fresh yeast, eggs, and butter. Once ready, the dough is filled with marzipan and hidden trinkets, a figurine of a king and a bean, before the cakes are rolled, shaped, and decorated.

麵包師傅先用天然發酵劑、強力麵粉、新鮮酵母、雞蛋和奶油製作奶油蛋捲麵團。準備好後，麵團中會填滿杏仁蛋白軟糖和隱藏的小飾品，即國王和豆子的雕像，然後將蛋糕捲起、成型和裝飾。

At La Palma, baking only begins late on January 5 to ensure cakes are freshly baked for delivery.

在 La Palma，烘焙工作僅在 1 月 5 日晚些時候開始，以確保蛋糕是新鮮出爐並交付的。

The 'tortell de Reis' traces its roots to Roman winter festivals, where cakes with figs, dates, and honey were served.

「tortell de Reis」的起源可以追溯到羅馬冬季節日，人們會享用無花果、棗子和蜂蜜製成的蛋糕。

The inclusion of a bean, symbolizing prosperity and fertility, emerged in the 3rd century. By the 18th century, a French chef added a gold coin to surprise King Louis XV, starting the tradition of hiding trinkets.

象徵繁榮和生育力的豆子出現於公元三世紀。到了 18 世紀，一位法國廚師添加了一枚金幣來給國王路易十五一個驚喜，開啟了隱藏小飾品的傳統。

In Catalonia, the 'tortell de Reis' tradition only took off in the early 20th century, but its popularity has since grown, especially among children eager to discover the hidden treasures inside the cake.

在加泰隆尼亞，「tortell de Reis」傳統在 20 世紀初才興起，但此後其受歡迎程度不斷增長，尤其是在渴望發現蛋糕內隱藏寶藏的孩子們中。