By the end of the 19th century in Russia there had been opened many places with national cuisines. English, German, French, Italian, and even Oriental cuisines were popular, especially in large cities and in the capital. The home table also included dishes of foreign origin. One of them can be considered a traditional European Christmas treat — sugared almonds.

This candy has a long history, going all the way back to the old East. It is said that one of the French kings was poisoned by sugared almonds. But nowadays, they are a harmless snack, often with cinnamon added, and eaten warm. Sugared almonds are still a popular winter treat in Europe, especially in Germany, Poland, and the Baltics.

In Russia, it was more common to make nuts in honey, so in the 19th century sugared almonds seemed fashionable. Until the October Revolution, this delicacy was considered a desirable and tasty gift. It was wrapped in beautiful paper — "funtick" — and hung on the Christmas tree for children, or given in beautiful boxes — bonbonnières. It’s not hard to make it yourself. Watch the video tutorial for the recipe from the book "The Science of Cooking and the Art of Devouring" by the Italian author Pelegrino Artusi.