All of the peoples of antiquity made sweetmeats of honey before they had sugar. The Chinese, the Indians, the people of the Middle East, the Egyptians and then the Greeks and Romans used it to coat fruits, flowers, and the seeds or stems of plants, to preserve them for use as an ingredient in the kind of confectionery still made in those countries today. It seems that after the barbarian invasions Europe forgot them for a while, except at certain wealthy courts where Eastern products were eaten. At the height of the Middle Ages, sweetmeats reapppeared, on the tables of the wealthy at first. In fact the confectionery of the time began as a marriage of spices and sugar, and was intended to have a therapeutic or at least preventative function, as an aid to digestive troubles due to the excessive intake of food which was neither very fresh nor very well balanced. Guests were in the habit of carrying these sweetments, in little comfit-boxes, to their rooms to be taken at night.
Sweets on Maple update… Christmas may not be here yet, but our Christmas stock has started to arrive. Exciting new gift ideas… chocolate kittens and puppies, Italian chocolates, Truffles, new Mozart Maripan Balls (pictured) and a good range of German Ritter Sport Chocolates, marzipan and yoghurt chocolate.
Hampers and gift baskets in a range of sizes are always available. You can even choose your own sweets and chocolates and we’ll make up a basket for you.
Shelley
Sweets on Maple
39 Maple St, Maleny Ph 5494 2118
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