Why "Bird's Milk" is so called: the history of the name and trademark. Why is "Bird's milk" called "bird's milk"

This dessert is surely adored by everyone who remembers the times of the Union. Fortunately, today's sweet tooth has the opportunity to taste "Bird's milk". Everything is perfect in this dessert: the most delicate soufflé, chocolate icing with an expressive taste, appetizing look, and in the case of a cake, also a soft biscuit. The name itself is associated not just with a treat, for many it is a symbol of the era.

But why is "Bird's milk" called "bird"? Surely this question at least once puzzled everyone.

The first swallows

Many people know that the Poles were the pioneers. It was in Poland, at the E. Wedel factory, back in 1936, that these sweets were first produced. The filling was similar in composition to marshmallows, but did not contain eggs.

Once the Minister of Light Industry of the USSR tried the Polish sweets "Ptichye Moloko". He liked them so much that the country's leadership set the task for confectioners to develop an analogue.

Origins of the name

When answering the question of why "Bird's milk" is called "bird's milk", it is worth looking even not at 1936, but at even earlier times. In medieval European folklore, a plot is very common in which an insidious beauty sends an unlucky boyfriend in search of bird's milk. Drawing analogies, we can mention the Slavic image of a fern flower and the fabulous “I don’t know what”. Of course, the cavalier had to either return with nothing, or disappear, because there is no bird's milk in nature. In any case, it definitely did not exist in medieval Europe.

But there are even more ancient references. They will also help us figure out why "Bird's milk" is called "bird's milk". The ancient Greeks believed that the birds of paradise nursed their babies with milk. If a person happens to try this delicacy, he will become invincible, strong and healthy, and will retain his youth for many years.

In Rus', there was a proverb saying that the rich man has everything except bird's milk. It was understood that some things (friendship, health, love) cannot be bought with money, no matter how rich a person is.

As you can see, in many cultures there were legends that birds can give milk. And everywhere it was associated with unearthly pleasure, blessings, treasure. No wonder Polish confectioners gave their creation this alluring name.

Since 1967, the production of sweets began in the USSR. It was decided to keep the unusual name. By that time, it had already gained fame and popular love. Why "Bird's milk" is called "bird's", the Soviet people may have wondered, but they were definitely not surprised. Apparently, the memory of generations worked: the dessert evoked persistent associations with an outlandish delicacy, a fabulous pleasure, a feast of taste.

The Polish manufacturers kept the manufacturing technology and composition of "Bird's Milk" a secret. Therefore, their Soviet colleagues had to work hard to create something similar to taste. The most interesting thing about this story is that the name misled Soviet technologists: they were sure that it was due to the presence of eggs in the candy filling. In fact, eggs have nothing to do with the name. But if they were not in Polish sweets, today they are present in many desserts of the same name.

Unique Component

But the confectioners did not set the task of completely repeating the recipe. On the contrary, they went their own way. The specialists of the factory in Vladivostok used not only their professionalism, but also the wealth of their native land. Instead of gelatin, it was decided to use agar-agar, extracted from Far Eastern algae. It was this factory that first launched the production of new items. The recipe has been registered.

The second factory was Rot Front. And after some time, other confectionery enterprises in all parts of the country, including the famous Red October, joined the implementation of the plan.

Today Vladivostok sweets "Ptichye Moloko" are considered the best. In a 300-gram box, the buyer will find sweets with three different flavors (chocolate, lemon and cream), which can be stored for no more than 15 days. They still contain useful agar-agar.

Legendary cake from the restaurant "Prague"

The success of the sweets inspired culinary specialists as well. Vladimir Guralnik forever inscribed his name in the history of sweets, because it was he who developed the recipe for the Bird's Milk cake in the early 80s. Conjuring over the ingredients, the master initially decided that he would also use agar-agar. The composition also included egg whites, powdered sugar, water. And the basis was an air biscuit.

The number of orders grew exponentially. If at the very beginning only visitors to the Moscow restaurant "Prague" could taste the delicacy, then after a few months the shop also worked to take away.

It was difficult to scare a Soviet person with a queue, and therefore the workers calmly lined up behind a secret cake, taking their places before dark. Eyewitnesses of those times recall that the tail of the queue often turned to the neighboring Stary Arbat. The recipe for the "Bird's Milk" cake has been officially approved. Violation of the recommended norms was prosecuted by law.

"Bird's milk" today

Sweets "Bird's milk" are produced today. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, not all manufacturers adhere to the original Far Eastern recipe. Expensive agar-agar is often replaced with gelatin; preservatives are used to extend the shelf life. But there is a plus in this: the price of some types of "Bird's milk" is very low. You can find both loose sweets and packaged in beautiful boxes.

No less popular are cakes, pastries, soufflé "Bird's Milk", which today many hostesses have learned to cook on their own.

21.05.2012 18:21

Almost every one of us at least once tried these delicious sweets with an unusual name and probably wondered why they are called that. Here, let's find out.

It is known that bird's milk does not exist. However, not so long ago this theory was refuted by scientists. According to their data, flamingos, pigeons, crossbills, and some penguins have it. Another thing is that it bears little resemblance to the cow's milk we are accustomed to, which we have in the refrigerator - its consistency is more like cottage cheese. Birds feed their young with them. It is believed that such milk is a rarity, so its cost is prohibitive.

But in ancient times they did not know about it. According to the legends, it was with such milk that the birds of paradise fed their chicks. In order to get rid of annoying lovers, the girls sent them in search of this unusual "product".

They went to the wild desert, where they died of thirst alone. Meanwhile, it was believed that whoever tried this rarest drink would become absolutely invulnerable to both weapons and any diseases. Since then, the phrase has come to mean something incredible, previously unseen and even impossible. With such an unusual term, it was decided to name the now so popular sweetness.

As for the sweets themselves, they were first produced in Poland in 1936. By the way, the recipe is the same as that of marshmallows, however, without the addition of eggs. In the 60s of the last century, they began to be produced in the USSR at the Rot-Front factory and they were very fond of consumers. After another ten years, it was decided to create a cake according to the same recipe, which had the same name. Connoisseurs say that at that time sweets were much tastier than now. Like it or not, we, alas, will not know.

If you are from the USSR, you remember the incomparable taste of "bird's milk" in the form of sweets or cake. The airy white mass melts in the mouth, the chocolate brings additional sweetness with a slight bitterness. It was magical. You are lucky if you find the same product made according to a complex recipe in compliance with all state standards. So where did this name come from, because it is known that birds do not have milk. To answer this question, you need to delve into the history of the product.

For the first time, sweets with such a filling appeared in Poland in 1936, and they were produced at the E. Wedel factory. They were made almost according to the same recipe as marshmallows, only without eggs. In 1960, similar sweets began to be produced at domestic factories. They made a splash, so the delicacy turned out to be unusual.

In 1978, the following significant tasty event took place - the confectioners of the Moscow restaurant "Prague", headed by Vladimir Guralnik, created the "Bird's Milk" cake according to a similar recipe. Of course, it was different from the candies of the same name, but it was just as good. It took more than 6 months to create the cake. Experimented with ingredients, volumes and temperatures. For example, gelatin was lured to agar-agar, a jelly-like product derived from red and brown algae. It is this exotic substance that makes the cake so lush and airy. By the way, the Bird's Milk cake is the only one for which, during the existence of the USSR, a patent was issued.

The name "Bird's milk" was invented in Poland, where the philosophers of ancient Greece were revered, in particular Aristophanes and his comedy "Birds", where happiness is promised in the form of milk "and not heifers, but birds."

There are also ancient legends where the birds of paradise fed their chicks with milk, and if a person is lucky enough to taste this milk, he will become invulnerable to any weapon and ailments. Perhaps it was this legend that formed the basis of the Russian proverb, which says: "The rich have everything, besides bird's milk."

And in European fairy tales, evil beauties sent their potential suitors for this same bird's milk. Naturally, the poor fellows had no chance to find this treasure, and they died in deserts or impenetrable forests.

The citizens of the Soviet Union had their own explanation, they believed that the cake or sweets were called “bird's milk” for their delicate taste, price and scarcity, because milk from birds is a rarity.

This dessert is remembered with nostalgia by people born in the USSR. Delicate airy soufflé melted in the mouth, chocolate gave a spicy bitterness and added sweetness. Sweets and a cake with a complex recipe made strictly according to GOST were considered a delicacy and were popular. But why are they called "Bird's Milk"? Where did the phrase come from, because birds do not give milk?

Originally from Poland

Today "Bird's milk" is associated with a treat that embodies an entire era. The name has a Polish origin, because it was Polish confectioners who came up with the popular dessert.

The first batch of airy marshmallows, generously covered with chocolate on four sides, was made in the workshops of the Wedel confectionery factory in Warsaw in 1936.

The production was owned by the hereditary confectioner Jan Wedel. He personally came up with sweets that would not be similar to any variety produced in Poland and other countries.

Nobody knows the exact composition of the unique delicacy until now. According to one version, culinary specialists used gelatin to shape the soufflé, and flavors were added to enhance the taste.

All the ingredients were whipped to the state of a “sponge”, after which rectangles of the filling were formed from it and filled with chocolate. The filling resembled marshmallows in taste and consistency, but was prepared without eggs.

The confectioner who created the culinary masterpiece decided that the world would recognize him as "Ptasie mleczko".

Unattainable but desirable

In one of the conversations, Jan Wendel said where the name came from. As he savored the taste and texture of the dessert, he wondered what does the person who has everything want? The answer came by itself - a person wants "Bird's milk", which in ancient ethnic groups and folklore means unattainable, but such desirable values, treasures that cannot be bought for any money.

The creator was prompted by the reaction of the tasters to such thoughts - the presentation of the new dessert delighted them. They unanimously rated its taste as divine.

I immediately recall the comedy "Birds", written by the ancient Greek philosopher Aristophanes, and promising happiness in the form of birds' milk.

Ancient legends also tell about the birds of paradise that fed their chicks. Legends say that a person who has tasted such milk will never get sick, will receive protection from any weapon, and will retain youth and energy. And in Rus' there is a similar proverb: "The rich have everything, besides bird's milk."

Plunging into history and folklore, you understand why sweets with an unforgettable taste are called "Bird's Milk". You can't imagine a better and more accurate name.

Consumers in the USSR owe the original and unusual dessert to the then Minister of Food Industry, who paid a working visit to Czechoslovakia and tried the novelty at one of the diplomatic receptions. It happened in 1967.

When the official arrived in the Union a few days later, the first thing he did was to gather technologists from leading confectionery industries in Moscow. A significant meeting with them took place in the workshops of the capital's Rot-Front factory.

The minister briefly spoke about the original sweets that he was lucky to try in Czechoslovakia, and ordered to develop his own recipe, close to the original.

The task of accurately reproducing the original dessert was not there, because the Poles kept the recipe a secret. It took six months to create something similar. Oddly enough, but it was the name that confused Soviet confectioners. They believed that eggs were present in the filling. The result was not a delicate weightless soufflé, but a heavy viscous mass.

Anna Chulkova became a pioneer in the Soviet confectionery field. At that time, she held the position of chief technologist of a factory in Vladivostok. The team under her leadership developed the technology that became the basis for the production of the dessert.

Unique Ingredient

The main problem was the viscous mass - this was mentioned above. Technologists experimented with soufflé by adding gelatin to it, but the result was far from ideal.

Then the experts decided to replace gelatin with agar-agar, which was extracted from red and brown Far Eastern algae, and to abandon eggs. The experiment was a success - the soufflé turned out to be tender, airy, light.

The confectionery factory in Vladivostok was the first to start producing new sweets. The next to introduce them into the assortment were the capital's production "Rot Front", and soon the famous "Red October" and other workshops joined.

So in 1967 "Bird's milk" appeared in all grocery stores in the country. Soviet consumers may have wondered why the candies were called that, but weren't surprised.

Then and now, the sweet delicacy from Vladivostok is considered the best - quite deservedly so. Inside boxes weighing 0.3 kg, buyers will find sweets with three different flavors: cream, lemon, chocolate. For their manufacture, natural ingredients are used, so the shelf life is short - only 15 days. As before, the composition includes useful agar-agar.

Legendary Cake

Customers appreciated sweets for their exquisite taste and for the fact that it was problematic to get a scarce product. Demand and popularity inspired Moscow chefs and confectioners to create the Bird's Milk cake in the early 80s. Professionals from the famous metropolitan restaurant "Prague" worked on it. The team was led by Vladimir Guralnik.

Why the cake is called that is not difficult to guess - by that time, candies of the same name were firmly associated with a favorite delicacy, a feast of taste and rarity, so the success of the new product was ensured.

The basis of the cake was an air sponge cake based on egg whites, powdered sugar and water. For the soufflé, Guralnik also used agar-agar. The filling was plentifully poured with chocolate, and on top of the cake was decorated with a cute bird - also made of chocolate. The described combination of ingredients is considered a classic.

For the first time, sweets with such a filling appeared in Poland in 1936, and they were produced at the E. Wedel factory.

They were made almost according to the same recipe as marshmallows, only without eggs. In 1960, similar sweets began to be produced at domestic factories. They made a splash, so the delicacy turned out to be unusual.

In 1978, the following significant tasty event took place - the confectioners of the Moscow restaurant "Prague", headed by Vladimir Guralnik, created the "Bird's Milk" cake according to a similar recipe. Of course, it was different from the candies of the same name, but it was just as good. It took more than 6 months to create the cake. Experimented with ingredients, volumes and temperatures. For example, gelatin was lured to agar-agar, a jelly-like product derived from red and brown algae. It is this exotic substance that makes the cake so lush and airy. By the way, the Bird's Milk cake is the only one for which, during the existence of the USSR, a patent was issued.

The name "Bird's milk" was invented in Poland, where the philosophers of ancient Greece were revered, in particular Aristophanes and his comedy "Birds", where happiness is promised in the form of milk "and not heifers, but birds."

There are also ancient legends where the birds of paradise fed their chicks with milk, and if a person is lucky enough to taste this milk, he will become invulnerable to any weapon and ailments. Perhaps it was this legend that formed the basis of the Russian proverb, which says: "The rich have everything, besides bird's milk."

And in European fairy tales, evil beauties sent their potential suitors for this same bird's milk. Naturally, the poor fellows had no chance to find this treasure, and they died in deserts or impenetrable forests.

The citizens of the Soviet Union had their own explanation, they believed that the cake or sweets were called “bird's milk” for their delicate taste, price and scarcity, because milk from birds is a rarity.