#5: Gingerbread

Gingerbread refers to baked goods which are traditionally flavoured with ginger, and sometimes nutmeg or cinnamon, with sweetened honey or sugar. It can vary from a soft and moist loaf cake to a compact and crunchy ginger biscuit. They can be moulded into different shapes, such as people, houses, candy canes or Christmas trees.

During the 13th century, gingerbread was brought to Sweden by German immigrants. In Vadstena Abbey, Swedish nuns were known to bake gingerbread to ease indigestion. They were also known to paint them as window decorations. Gingerbread was often sold in monasteries, pharmacies, and town square farmers' markets. In Medieval England gingerbread was thought to have medicinal properties.

During Christmas time, gingerbread was known to be given out between families, making it believed to be one of the earliest biscuits/cakes to be associated with the festive season of Christmas.