Powidl
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Powidl (or Powidel, from Czech povidla) is a plum stew. Unlike jam or marmelade, and unlike the German Pflaumenmus (plum puree), powidl is prepared without additional sweeteners or gelling agents.
Powidl is cooked for several hours, in order to achieve the necessary sweetness and consistency. The plums used should be harvested as late as possible, ideally after the first frosts, in order to ensure they contain enough sugar.
In Austria and Bohemia, powidl is the basis for Buchtels, koláč, powidl cake and Germknödel, but it is also used as a sandwich spread. Powidl will keep for a long time, especially if kept in traditional crockery.
Traditionally, large amounts of powidl to be used as a winter store and natural sweetener were prepared in late autumn during a communal event. Since constantly stirring the stew was exhausting work, people took turns, and did easier work in between turns. The Czech term povidla is plural only, and is derived from povídat, which means to tell stories.
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Translated from the corresponding article in the German Wikipedia, retrieved February 4, 2005.
