Cuberdon
{{Short description|Cone-shaped Belgian candy}}
{{more citations needed|date=June 2015}}
File:Cuberdon_-_De_echte_Gentse_neuzen.jpg
A cuberdon is a cone-shaped Belgian candy and a popular local delicacy in Ghent. In Dutch it is also known as a {{lang|nl|neus}} ("nose"), {{lang|nl|Gentse neus}} ("Ghent nose"), or {{lang|nl|neuzeke}} ("little nose") for its likeness to a human nose. In French, cuberdons are also called {{lang|fr|chapeau-de-curé}} and {{lang|fr|chapeau-de-prêtre}} (priest's hat).
Cuberdons are traditionally made with gum arabic candy crust with a soft, raspberry-flavored filling. Their color is purple, though more recently differently colored and flavoured variants have been available as well.{{cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/belgiums-infamous-candy-war-is-a-series-of-increasingly-ridiculous-events/ |first1=Stefanie |last1=Staelens |first2=Jens |last2=van de Meulenhof |title=Belgium's Infamous Candy War Is a Series of Increasingly Ridiculous Events |via=Vice.com |date=15 July 2017 |access-date=21 May 2021}}
They are traditionally about 2.5cm (1 inch) wide and weigh approximately {{convert|10|to|18|g}}, although smaller versions are also produced. The outside is relatively hard, whereas the inside is gelatinous. In recent years, various derivative food products have been made, including cuberdon-flavored jenever, ice cream, dessert sauce, and cookies.
Cuberdons can only be preserved for about three weeks, after which period the inside begins to crystallize. This limited preservability is the reason why cuberdons are infrequently exported outside Belgium. The {{ill|Vlaams Centrum voor Agro-en Visserijmarketing|nl}} (VLAM), an agency of the Flemish Government, has recognized the cuberdon as an official regional product.
Origin
There are two hypotheses about its origins:
- A clergy member living in the city of Bruges created it—which might explain other names in use for the cuberdon such as "cleric's cap" ({{lang|fr|bonnet de curé}}) and "young nun's belly-button" ({{lang|fr|boudenne de nonnette}}).{{Cite web|url=http://www.lalibre.be/lifestyle/food/le-cuberdon-un-produit-entoure-de-mystere-52088d2935709164e12d00e7|title=Le cuberdon, un produit entouré de mystère|last=AFP|date=2013-08-12|website=www.lalibre.be|access-date=2016-03-20}}
- In 1873, pharmacist De Vynck in the city of Ghent discovered the recipe of the cuberdon by chance. In order to increase the shelf life of drugs at the time, many were packaged in the form of syrup. When the pharmacist examined a failed preparation after a few days, he found that it had formed a crust, while the core was still liquid. From this discovery came the idea to use such a technique to manufacture candy.