St. Lucia Saffron Buns Recipe, Swedish Lussekatter Rolls (2024)

FAQs

Why is it called lussekatter? ›

Why is it called Lussekatter? It is thought that the buns were originally modeled after a sleeping cat (the S-shape being the curled up tail), believed to ward off the devil.

Saffron Buns - x3 Packets - Rowes Cornish Bakers.

If visiting Sweden in December, you will see curled saffron buns everywhere you go. These are lussekatter and they're not just for eating; they were once believed to ward off the devil. These traditional treats are associated with Luciadagen (“Lucia Day”).

In the 19^th century in western Sweden, young women on the large farms would dress as an angel with a wreath of candles in their hair and serve the breakfast before sunrise. It is thought this is where the origin of lussekatter, the saffron buns, came to be.

St. Lucia is celebrated throughout the world, and honored by many cultures. In Sweden, Lucia symbolizes the coming end of the long winter nights and the return of light to the world.

Lussekatter signify that Christmas is just around the corner and are some of the most fun pastries to make. Children and grown ups both love these fluffy, gorgeously yellow yeasty buns that have a slight sweetness, yet a nice savory character from the saffron.

Kashmiri saffron, also known as Kashmiri Kesar or Kashmir Saffron, is highly regarded for its exceptional quality and is considered among the finest saffron varieties in the world. It is cultivated in the Kashmir region of India, where the climate and soil conditions create an ideal environment for saffron production.

It is also used a lot in medicine. But saffron is also very expensive. It can cost $5,000 per pound. That is more expensive than gold.

They can be eaten on their own, or more often, split in half and smothered with butter on one side. They contain dried fruit like currants, raisins, mixed peel and sultanas, similar to tea cakes, and echo similar buns created across Scandinavia such as the lussekatt which is traditionally eaten during Advent.

A saffron bun, Cornish tea treat bun or revel bun, is a rich, spiced yeast-leavened sweet bun that is flavoured with saffron and contains dried fruit including currants and raisins similar to a teacake. The main ingredients are plain flour, butter, yeast, caster sugar, currants and sultanas.

Why is saffron cheap in Sweden? ›

Buying saffron in Sweden

If you are visiting Sweden it is worth bringing some saffran (saffron) back with you, as it is much cheaper there because the turnover is much greater. Saffron is normally sold ready ground in Sweden.

Cinnamon has been used as a flavouring in cooking for a long time. History books tell us that Gustav Vasa was a big fan and ambassador of cinnamon and he made sure that the Swedes had access to this delicious spice.

The nation's best-known species is the gorgeous but endangered Saint Lucia amazon parrot. Other species of conservation concern include the pencil cedar, staghorn coral and Saint Lucia racer. The racer, confined to the nine-hectare island of Maria Major, is thought to be the world's most threatened snake.

Legend states that French sailors were shipwrecked on the island on 13 December, the feast day of St. Lucy, and therefore named the island in her honour. A globe in the Vatican from 1520 shows the island as Sancta Lucia, indicating that the island was instead named by early Spanish explorers.

One of the most exotic Swedish traditions is Lucia, celebrated on 13 December. Lucia arrives in the morning, with her handmaidens and star boys; in white robes, carry candles and sing Lucia songs. The tradition has its roots far back in history.

The national tree of Saint Lucia is Calabash, where as the national plant is Bamboo.

Etymology. Saint Lucia was named after Saint Lucy of Syracuse (AD 283 – 304). Saint Lucia is one of two sovereign states in the world named after a woman and is the only one named after a human woman (Ireland is named after a goddess).

Burst the Bamboo

This local tradition involves filling the hollow end of a bamboo cane with rags that have been soaked in kerosene. Once they are lit, the bamboo canes burst and pop loudly, just like a firecracker would.

This cultural event is one of the two Flower Festivals – “La Rose” and “La Marguerite” held annually in observance of Saint Lucia's rich cultural memory, history and heritage. These two Flower festivals depict a historical rivalry among communities whose members sing the virtues of their flowers.