Ptasie mleczko
Encyclopedia
Ptasie mleczko ® Ptichye Moloko , ptashyne moloko , which translates literally as "bird milk" (an idiom meaning "an unobtainable delicacy" in Polish; could be considered to mean crop milk
in all these languages), is a soft chocolate-covered candy filled with soft meringue
(or milk soufflé
). It is one of the most recognized chocolate confectionery in Poland having exclusive rights in Poland for the name—other confectionery producers also make similar candies but named differently (eg. "Alpejskie Mleczko", Alpine milk). Nonetheless "Ptasie mleczko" is often used to refer similar candies with vanilla, cream, lemon or chocolate taste. The phrase "Ptasie Mleczko" is a registered trademark
in the EU, number 00334752291.
, Jan Wedel, owner of the E. Wedel Company
, developed the first Ptasie mleczko in 1936. Wedel's inspiration for the name of the confectionery came from his voyages to France, when he asked him self: "What could bring greater happiness to a man who already has everything?" Then he thought: "Maybe only bird milk.".
The origin of the name has been attributed by Berdy to old Slavic
folk tales, where the beautiful princess tests the ardor and resourcefulness of her suitor by sending him out into the wilderness to find and bring back the one fantastical luxury she does not have: bird's milk. The concept of avian milk in fact stretches back to ancient Greece, when Aristophanes
uses ὀρνίθων γάλα (Greek "ornithon gala", the milk of the birds) as a proverbial rarity (Ar. Vesp. 508). A similar expression lac gallinaceum (Latin
for "chicken's milk") was also later used by Petronius
(38.1) and Pliny the Elder
(Plin. Nat. pr. 24) as a term for a great rarity.
In Russia
, ptichye moloko was originally a type of candy introduced in 1967 in Vladivostok and in 1968 by the "Rot Front" factory in Moscow. It became a hit, and mass production was started in 1975 by the Krasny Oktyabr
("Red October") confectionery factory in Moscow
. In 1978, the popular candy was transformed into a cake in Moscow's Praga Restaurant. This was a light sponge cake filled with a souffle and topped with chocolate glaze. Due to the lack of intellectual property laws in Russia at the time, the recipe was quickly copied by other restaurants in Moscow, such as Moskva, Budapesht, and Ukraina. In the 1980s, a special factory for ptichye moloko cakes was built in the Novye Cheryomushky district
in the south of Moscow. Both the cake and the candy versions of ptichye moloko are widely available to this date in supermarkets and specialty stores in Moscow and other parts of Russia.
In Moldova
, Lapte de pasăre (also "bird's milk" in Romanian
) is the brand name of a similar candy made by the Bucuria Candy Factory. Despite the name, the candy is not to be confused with the Romanian
traditional dessert lapte de pasăre.
Crop milk
Crop milk is a secretion from the lining of the crop of parent birds that is regurgitated to young birds. They are found among all pigeons and doves where they are referred to as pigeon milk...
in all these languages), is a soft chocolate-covered candy filled with soft meringue
Meringue
Meringue is a type of dessert made from whipped egg whites and sugar, occasionally some recipes may call for adding an acid such as cream of tartar or a small amount of vinegar and a binding agent such as cornstarch found in icing sugar which may be added in addition to the corn starch which...
(or milk soufflé
Soufflé
A soufflé is a light baked cake made with egg yolks and beaten egg whites combined with various other ingredients and served as a savoury main dish or sweetened as a dessert...
). It is one of the most recognized chocolate confectionery in Poland having exclusive rights in Poland for the name—other confectionery producers also make similar candies but named differently (eg. "Alpejskie Mleczko", Alpine milk). Nonetheless "Ptasie mleczko" is often used to refer similar candies with vanilla, cream, lemon or chocolate taste. The phrase "Ptasie Mleczko" is a registered trademark
Trademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
in the EU, number 00334752291.
History and variations
In PolandPoland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Jan Wedel, owner of the E. Wedel Company
E.Wedel
E. Wedel is a famous Polish confectionery company, producing many varieties of high-quality chocolates, cakes, and snacks...
, developed the first Ptasie mleczko in 1936. Wedel's inspiration for the name of the confectionery came from his voyages to France, when he asked him self: "What could bring greater happiness to a man who already has everything?" Then he thought: "Maybe only bird milk.".
The origin of the name has been attributed by Berdy to old Slavic
Slavic peoples
The Slavic people are an Indo-European panethnicity living in Eastern Europe, Southeast Europe, North Asia and Central Asia. The term Slavic represents a broad ethno-linguistic group of people, who speak languages belonging to the Slavic language family and share, to varying degrees, certain...
folk tales, where the beautiful princess tests the ardor and resourcefulness of her suitor by sending him out into the wilderness to find and bring back the one fantastical luxury she does not have: bird's milk. The concept of avian milk in fact stretches back to ancient Greece, when Aristophanes
Aristophanes
Aristophanes , son of Philippus, of the deme Cydathenaus, was a comic playwright of ancient Athens. Eleven of his forty plays survive virtually complete...
uses ὀρνίθων γάλα (Greek "ornithon gala", the milk of the birds) as a proverbial rarity (Ar. Vesp. 508). A similar expression lac gallinaceum (Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
for "chicken's milk") was also later used by Petronius
Petronius
Gaius Petronius Arbiter was a Roman courtier during the reign of Nero. He is generally believed to be the author of the Satyricon, a satirical novel believed to have been written during the Neronian age.-Life:...
(38.1) and Pliny the Elder
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus , better known as Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian...
(Plin. Nat. pr. 24) as a term for a great rarity.
In Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, ptichye moloko was originally a type of candy introduced in 1967 in Vladivostok and in 1968 by the "Rot Front" factory in Moscow. It became a hit, and mass production was started in 1975 by the Krasny Oktyabr
Krasny Oktyabr Open Joint-Stock Company
Moskovskaya Konditerskaya Fabrika Krasny Oktyabr Open Joint-Stock Company is a Russian confectionery manufacturer and a member of Obyedinyonnye Kontserny holding company. Krasny Oktyabr was founded by Theodor Ferdinand von Einem.- Alyonka :...
("Red October") confectionery factory in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. In 1978, the popular candy was transformed into a cake in Moscow's Praga Restaurant. This was a light sponge cake filled with a souffle and topped with chocolate glaze. Due to the lack of intellectual property laws in Russia at the time, the recipe was quickly copied by other restaurants in Moscow, such as Moskva, Budapesht, and Ukraina. In the 1980s, a special factory for ptichye moloko cakes was built in the Novye Cheryomushky district
Cheryomushki District
Cheryomushki is a district of South-Western Administrative Okrug of Moscow, Russia. District's population: The district is delimited by Nakhimovsky Prospekt , Obrucheva Street , Sevastopolsky Prospekt , Profsoyuznaya Street, and Vlasova Street . The district is mostly residential, with an...
in the south of Moscow. Both the cake and the candy versions of ptichye moloko are widely available to this date in supermarkets and specialty stores in Moscow and other parts of Russia.
In Moldova
Moldova
Moldova , officially the Republic of Moldova is a landlocked state in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the West and Ukraine to the North, East and South. It declared itself an independent state with the same boundaries as the preceding Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1991, as part...
, Lapte de pasăre (also "bird's milk" in Romanian
Romanian language
Romanian Romanian Romanian (or Daco-Romanian; obsolete spellings Rumanian, Roumanian; self-designation: română, limba română ("the Romanian language") or românește (lit. "in Romanian") is a Romance language spoken by around 24 to 28 million people, primarily in Romania and Moldova...
) is the brand name of a similar candy made by the Bucuria Candy Factory. Despite the name, the candy is not to be confused with the Romanian
Romanian cuisine
Romanian cuisine is a diverse blend of different dishes from several traditions with which it has come into contact, but it also maintains its own character...
traditional dessert lapte de pasăre.
External links
- A Russian Fairy Tale Cake: Story and recipe on Russia Beyond the Headlines, 25 October 2007.