Review: Papa Ben's Mandelbroyt

Papa Ben's Kitchen recently sent me every flavor of their Mandelbroyt to try. Mandelbroyt is a jewish bread that is twice baked, much like biscotti. Once you have a good recipe for the bread, you can add all sorts of other yummies, like blueberries or chocolate. In Yiddish, Mandel Broyt means Almond Bread. 


When I first received the five boxes of Mandelbroyt, one flavor in each box, I was eager to try them. After looking at the ingredients, I was very impressed. There were no ingredients that I cannot pronounce! Wehat flour, sugar, eggs, canola oil, blueberries, almonds, lemon zest, leavening, vanilla, salt...It sounds like a recipe from Grandma's kitchen! I did notice that each flavor contains malic and tartaric acids. I researched these ingredients and found that both are acids that are naturally occurring in both grapes and wine. Satisfied that Papa Ben's claims to use only natural ingredients were true, I called the family around and we opened each box, tasting each flavor and sharing our opinions. These are the five varieties that Papa Ben's Kitchen makes:

Original Family Recipe
Minty Dark Chocolate
Chocolate Espresso Bean
Lemon Blueberry w/Poppy Seeds
Spicy Chipotle w/Ginger & Dark Chocolate

The chocolate espresso was first to be opened. Well, it's chocolate after all! This variety tastes more like chocolate than espresso, and I do wish I could taste the espresso more, although it would taste wonderful with any coffee drink or just a glass of milk! 

The mint chocolate would also go well with coffee or milk and tastes much like the Thin Mints that Girl Scouts sell. You can definitely taste both the mint and the chocolate flavors in this variety.

The lemon poppyseed is very lemony! This one is a favorite for me and my daughter! It has little blueberries here and there that are a sweet, chewy surprise when you get to them. This flavor is great as a snack, but would also make a great side with hot tea. We ate these for breakfast this morning actually! I will definitely be ordering more of this flavor!

The chipotle worried me a little. I wasn't really eager to try this one. When I finally did, however, I was pleasantly surprised! It had a cinnamon flavor with a very subtle spicy after-taste.  I ate it with a glass of iced tea and truly enjoyed the the warm flavor. 

Finally, their is the Original Papa Ben's Mandelbroyt. This yummy recipe includes almonds and cherries and is just the tiniest bit sweet. If you like shortbread or vanilla wafers, you will love this variety. It's amazing because of it's simplicity.

I was intrigued by Papa Ben's story, as well. The short version is on the back of each 8 oz box and the longer version can be found on the Papa Ben's Kitchen website. In a nutshell, he learned to bake as a child, working alongside his father and using their stone oven. Ben later immigrated to the United States with his sister, both Holocaust survivors, and began baking his traditional recipes in a family bakery. Papa Ben, aka Ben Lesser, also founded the Zachor Holocaust Remembrance Foundation, which informs and educates on the Holocaust itself, remembrance of those involved, and tolerance of all people. He also sent me two of the Zachor Foundation's lapel pins. 

You can learn more about this fantastic company in the video below, showing Papa Ben's Kitchen featured on the Ricki Lake Show! And through January 30, 2013, you can win a five-pack of Papa Ben's Mandelbroyt for yourself! That's a box of each variety! Just click here to visit the Green Resolutions Giveaway Hop.