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Photo from Bozzle.com website. |
16th Century - Historians believe it originated in the late 16th century in the Black Forest
Region (Der Schwarzwald in German) located in the state of Baden-Württemberg. The
name, Schwarzwald, evokes darkness and mystery coming from the romantic German concept of
Waldeinsamkeit or forest-loneliness. During this era, chocolate was first
integrated into cakes and cookies. This region is known for its sour cherries and Kirsch
or Kirschwasser (a double distilled, clear cherry brandy made from the sour Morello
cherry). Combine these cherries with the
German’s love of chocolate, and you have this wonderful chocolate confection with
cream and cherries. It is thought that the cake is named after this brandy.
1915 - Following history of
the Black Forest Cake from the
Cafe Schaefer web site:
Josef Keller (1887-1981) is the inventor of the Black Forest cherry cake. Keller
was the pastry chef in the Café “Ahrend” (today called Agner) in Bad Godesberg.
In the year 1915 he created for the first time what he called a “Schwarzwaelder
Kirsch”, or “Black Forest Cherry”.
After his time in the military,
Josef Keller established his own café in Radolfzell. August Schaefer learned the
trade as the apprentice to Josef Keller in Radolfzell from 1924 to 1927. After
many years of collaboration, Josef Keller gave August Schaefer his recipe book
which contained the original recipe. His son, Claus Schaefer, the current
Konditormeister of the Triberg Café Schaefer, inherited the book and the
original recipe and has thus been able to carry on making Josef Keller’s
original.
Today the recipe book and the original recipe
for the now world-famous “Schwarzwaelder Kirsch” can be found with August
Schaefer’s son, Claus Schaefer, the current head chef at Triberg’s
Konditorei Schaefer.
1930
- According to research carried out by Tübingen town archivist, Udo Rauch,
evidence is also pointing to master patissier, Erwin Hildenbrand, as having
invented the Black Forest gateau in the spring of 1930 at the Café Walz in
Tübingen. Before this he was working in
several places in the Black Forest.
1949 - The cake was rated the 13th best known cake in Germany.
