Krembo: Fun Facts About Israel’s Favorite Winter Treat

Krembo Wasn’t Invented in Israel
Many people think Krembo is an Israeli creation, but it actually came from Denmark about 200 years ago. It arrived in Israel around 40 years ago, thanks to some dedicated pastry chefs.

Israelis Really Love Krembo
Israel is one of the top Krembo-loving countries. About 450 are made every minute, and around 300,000 are sold every day during the season usually from September until Passover. Strauss makes the most, selling about 53 million a year. Feldman makes over 20 million, with some exported abroad.

What’s in a Krembo?
The main ingredient is sugar, followed by glucose, water, and sometimes dextrose. It also contains egg whites, stabilizers, flavorings, and sometimes food coloring.

Favorite Flavors
Vanilla is the most popular flavor, followed by mocha. Other flavors like orange, strawberry, and banana haven’t been as successful. Israelis love their classic vanilla and mocha best.

Still Wrapped by Hand
Krembos are delicate, so machines can’t wrap them without squishing them. That’s why some are still wrapped by hand even today. Skilled workers can wrap one in just two seconds!

New Packaging
Since 2018, Krembo has also been sold in eight-packs without the shiny aluminum wrappers. This helps save on materials, time, and labor.

Fun Ways to Eat Krembo
You can freeze Krembo for a cold treat, microwave it for about 15 seconds to enjoy it warm, or even crush it into ice cream. This last method comes from Denmark, where the treat was first made.

Fancy Krembo Versions
Some restaurants offer gourmet versions with layers of cream, nuts, or nougat, on top of a crispy base. These fancy desserts are usually served with fruits, butter, or coffee.

Best Storage Temperature
To keep Krembo fresh and tasty, store it at around 15°C (59°F).

Krembo on a Plane? Not a Good Idea
If you take a Krembo on a flight, it might shrink. That’s because the air inside escapes due to the pressure changes in the airplane.

How Is Krembo Made?
It starts with two tanks, one with a hot sugar mix and the other with egg whites. The two are combined with air to make a thick foam, which is piped onto a cookie base. Then it’s covered in chocolate and cooled in a special tunnel until the coating hardens.

What Blessing Do You Say Over Krembo?
Krembo is tricky because it has both cookie and cream. The cookie normally gets the blessing "Mezonot," while the cream and chocolate are "Shehakol." Most rabbis say to bless "Shehakol" because the cream is the main part. If you eat the cookie by itself afterward, you say "Mezonot" separately. Some suggest saying both blessings one after the other. The final blessing is "Borei Nefashot."

What Does “Krembo” Mean in English?
In English, it’s called a “chocolate-coated marshmallow treat.”
In the past, it had names in Europe that are no longer used because they were considered offensive. Today in Germany, it’s called “Schokokuss” (chocolate kiss), and in Austria, “Schwedenbomben” (Swedish bomb).