WC resident Thea Tammeleht is making people rethink their definition of the confection
What does one get when they ask an Estonian pharmacist to make a medicine? Marzipans, I'm told by Estonian expatriate, Thea Tammeleht as she takes me down memory lane to the time when marzipans came into being.
"There was a sick nobleman who once approached a pharmacist to prepare a medicine for him. Mart, the pharmacist's apprentice, did the needful and made the medicine by adding almonds and sugar. Mart's medicine, a delicacy in disguise, became popular across Europe and came to be known as marzipan in English," she gushes.
What started off as a pharmacist's need to cure a nobleman has turned into a thriving business for Tammeleht's family, who hails from Estonia, Scandinavia. "I have always been involved in the family's food and beverage business," says Tammeleht, who still uses traditional marzipan recipes, which passed down generations. "The recipe belongs to my mother's side of the family," she adds.
Marriage brought Tammeleht to Mumbai two-and-a-half years ago as "one of us needed to move. So, I decided to move to Mumbai to be with my husband who is an Indian," she announces. Armed with a masters degree in special education and counselling, she spent an entire year at home whiling away her time until her husband urged her to start making marzipans. "Thomas (her husband) suggested that this family delicacy could be shared with the world. Authentic gourmet marzipans made out of almonds did not exist in India and that was an evident opportunity. Being a risk-taker, I took up the challenge and it turned out well!"
In the last year, Tammeleht has opened a company in Europe and another one in India. Her marzipans are the kind that children might dream of—rich, sweet confections made of unstinting portions of almond and chocolate. All ingredients are imported except for sugar, which is available locally; the edible gold and silver are imported from Italy and chocolates from Belgium, confesses Tammeleht. Purely vegetarian, with no alcohol, the marzipans are gluten and trans-fat free.
Keeping in line with European traditions, gold (edible) has been used in the marzipans. Her current flavours include classic mamra almond, chocolate, strawberry, green apple, black currant, peanut butter, orange, mint, cherry, lychee, fig, chilli-mango, cinnamon and nutmeg. "Indian people need to be educated about marzipans. Here, it is made out of cashew nuts but my marzipans are made of almonds and are low on sugar as we stick to European standards."
The Estonians are renowned for their marzipans and the famed Estonian pharmacy is still functional. According to Tammeleht, it has turned into a popular tourist spot. "Every single tourist is taken to the place and is enlightened about its history and the origin of the marzipan."
All geared up for the festive season, Tammeleht will introduce two new flavours—rose cardamom and raspberry lemon—this Diwali. Until then, one needs to wait and watch how gourmet marzipans sublimely fit into the Indian palate.
Order your box of marzipans by logging on to www.marepan.com/ email info@nordickandiemagic.com/ phone +91 9699641112
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