Makowiec is definitely the most Polish of Polish cakes. But whatever the volume of poppy seed stuffed into it, makowiec is a very traditional food in Poland, and is a must during Easter and Christmas.

Matured gingerbread, known as Old Polish gingerbread, is a traditional Christmas cake. In many homes, it’s a festive table staple. The secret to its flavour and consistency is its aging process.

First, Polish tourists buy them as souvenirs for their families, thus propagating them throughout Poland. Orders now come from different places, which tells me that people like sękacz. The so-called ...