Sweets are a common part of our life, we often buy and eat them. People who remember the days before the revolution in Czechoslovakia and had a sweet tooth may remember the four main chocolate factories that produced chocolate in the socialist country at the time. In Bratislava it was the Figaro chocolate factory, in Prague Orion, in Děčín Diana and in Olomouc Zora. These brands are still important to many of us as a memory of the sweet moments of the past, and their products can still be found in stores today. Among them is soy suk, which used to be considered a sweet for the poor, but today we can consider it a real national treasure.
Read also
Iconic root vegetable sauce: A luxurious tenderloin is perfect for festive occasions
History of the Zora brand
During the socialist era, the well-known Zora chocolate factory prospered in the city of Olomouc, which was founded as early as November 25, 1898. It was originally called the First Joint Moravian Confectionery and Chocolate Factory in Olomouc, a registered limited liability company. Despite the ambitious name, it started in relatively modest circumstances, which is also evidenced by the fact that its first establishment was located in in rented premises Citizens’ Savings Bank on Dolní náměstí, in the very historic core of the city.
Due to the growing demand for chocolate products, capacities were expanded in 1908, which resulted in a change of name to the Akciova factory for confectionery and chocolate in Olomouc and the transfer of production to newer and larger premises in Hodolany. With the new location came the need for an image change. It led to renaming it Zora, which was derived from the name Teresa. The aim was to improve brand identification and memorability.
An interesting fact is that although today the Olomouc-based Zora company is mostly known for its chocolate products, in its early stages chocolate sweets were in the minority. In periods of economic crisis, such as the period of the world wars, the company had to expand the production spectrum to include other products, for example jams, marmalades, biscuits and wafersto survive. Even after the situation improved, Zora maintained an expanded production portfolio.
Just before the Second World War, Zora became one of the main players on the confectionery market in Czechoslovakia with almost a thousand employees. After the war, when the company was transformed into a national enterprise, there was a reduction in the production range, which previously contained over 650 different products.
Soy sauce arose from a lack of raw materials
In 1959, Zora Olomouc faced the challenge of a lack of raw materials, to which it responded with innovation and presented Soy cuts, a revolutionary product in the world of sweets that did not need chocolate. This product opened up new possibilities even in more demanding times and confirmed the innovative spirit of the company.
CHOCOLATELAND
Production of confectionery from soy
Soy has been used to make sweet products since ancient times The Chinese, who used this technique several centuries BC. The peculiarity is that the first soy processing factory operated in the city of Kolín already in the middle of the 19th century. However, this method was not revolutionary, as the inhabitants of the Far East, including China, used soy and also peas to make sweets since ancient times.
Soy cuts, which are produced in the Zora factory in Olomouc, have gained an important position on the Czech market. It is used for their production ground soy, which makes up to 30% of their composition. Other components include wafer crumbs, flour, sugar, various syrups and oils.
Over the years, the soy sauce recipe has undergone several modifications
Some of the sugar was replaced with glucose syrups, palm oil and a number of flavors were added. The composition of the product, as indicated on the packaging, includes sugar, 30% soy flakesglucose-fructose syrup, palm oil, glucose syrup, whey powder, wheat flour, various flavors, table salt and low-fat cocoa powder.
Kinder milk cut
Kinder milk cut is loved by both children and adults. If you want to enjoy this sponge cake with milk cream in larger quantities and cheaper than from the store, bake a milk slice at home. We have a tip for a recipe that even a beginner can easily handle.
Kinder milk cut
Punch cuts
Bake delicious punch cuts with us, a dessert we remember from childhood and can still be found in almost every pastry shop. Although the preparation may seem a little more difficult at first glance, you will be surprised that it is quite easy. You will then be rewarded with an excellent dessert like from a pastry shop.
Punch cuts
Today, soy cuts no longer contain gluten
In addition, there was a reduction in the sugar content and an increase in the proportion of fiber and protein, which was recognized by the Food Chamber of Slovakia. This institution awarded soybean cuts in the Reformulation of the Year category, which recognizes products with improved recipe.
How are soy cuts made?
Soy slices have maintained their place in the market despite strong competition from Western sweets. Their production is not very complicated: all the ingredients are they mix together, knead and shape into an endless row, from which individual portions ready for packaging are then cut.
The interesting thing is that this product, which is celebrating this year 65 years since its creation, was a pioneer in the field of catering. Nowadays, when a healthy and balanced diet is the trend, soy slices seem to be an almost ideal choice, although the presence of sugar reduces their health benefits. The nutritional value of soy slices is 420 kcal or 1759 kJ per 100 grams, which is about a quarter less energy compared to chocolate sweets.
Buy it
The sweetness of the poor, as soybean cuts were called under socialism, remained popular even after the revolutionary period. Many assumed that with the fall of the Iron Curtain, when our market was filled with all kinds of chocolates and luxury confections, soy slices would gradually disappear from popularity. On the contrary, these cuts became one of the best-selling products of the given plant, and the interest in them led to the expansion of production to other places in the Czech Republic.
One of manufacturing plant we can find it in Česká Třebová at the company Čoko klasik družstvo, and a similar product under the name Soy bar Enjoy is also offered by the chain Penny from the manufacturer CHOCOLAND or the chain Billa, which produces its Clever Soy bar.
How to make soy sauce at home?
If you have a taste for homemade soy sauce, the preparation is simple and fast.
- Start with 200 grams Okarywhich is soy meal commonly available in stores, or you can use coarse soy flour.
- You will also need 200 grams unfilled cookies. Grind them into small pieces.
- Mix all the ingredients together with one can condensed milk Salko type.
- Add 100 grams of solidified fat.
- Add 2 tbsp rum.
- Work everything into a firm dough and shape it roller.
Sources: Design Olomouc, Nestlé
