Bun

Terminology

In England, Scotland and Wales, a bun is considered a type of sweet cake, understood as very rich, spiced and studded with fruit in Scotland, seen in the example of the currant bun. In the US, a roll is understood as a bread roll, particularly one that holds a burger, and is cut horizontally. Chinese baozi, with savory or sweet fillings, are often referred to as "buns" in English.

Composition

Buns are usually made from a dough of flour, milk, yeast and small amounts of sugar and/or butter. Sweet bun dough is distinguished from bread dough by the addition of sugar, butter and sometimes egg. Common sweet varieties contain small fruit or nuts, topped with icing or caramel, and filled with jam or cream. Many types of bun are brushed with egg yolk to produce a golden appearance.

History

The etymology of the word bun is unclear. The Oxford English Dictionary pins the earliest known use to 1371 in the Assize of Bread and Ale, a law of Medieval Europe in the form "bunne" where they identify the meaning as "doubtful", understood from the context simply to refer to a type of "loaf or cake". As of the 14th century in Japan, steamed buns stuffed with vegetables or the sweet yōkan were eaten by Buddhists. By the 16th century in Europe, spiced buns, commonly served with sweetened wines or ale were consumed as part of funeral customs.

References

References

1. {{Oed
2. {{Cite Cambridge Dictionaries. bun
3. Mason, Laura. (2014). "[[The Oxford Companion to Food]]". [[Oxford University Press]].
4. Dodge, Jim. (2015). "The Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets". [[Oxford University Press]].
5. Rath, Eric C. (2015). "The Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets". [[Oxford University Press]].
6. Levi, Jane. (2015). "The Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets". [[Oxford University Press]].