There is more than one explanation where the word could come from. Well, it either meant something which we don't know about anymore, or it referred to a word, but because of a misunderstanding, it turned out as marcipan. Or it can be related to the place where it arrived to Europe, which is most likely Italy, Venice. One of the most significant part of the city is San Marco with its huge harbor. So the word "marcipan" can come from the latin "marzapane", referring to Marco from San Marco and pane, which means bread in Italian. Or it can also come from the word Martaban (today: Mottama) town in Myanmar, which traded with spices (any maybe marcipan?).

I love to look up the etymology of different words, even if I cannot find the ultimate truth, and origin of them. It still makes me think about the origin of a word, and why and how it was made up. It is one of the most amusing hobbies of all! But it does not make you be able to prepare marcipan, so lets see the recipe. It will taste different from the one you get in the supermarkets, but you cannot go anywhere right now.

Ingredients

Use as local ingredients as possible, and buy organic almonds. Use the sugar of your own country, if you can or buy fairtrade canesugar. You are also very welcome to use honey instead, and probably this is the original way of making marcipan. In the old days honey was way cheaper than sugar, which was a luxury product.

300 g almonds

250 g sugar (honey)

400 g water

Soak the almonds in cold water, while making the sugar syrup. It is up to you to peel them or not. There is no evidence that it is healthier with the peels. Definetly not, if it from conventional agriculture.

Dissolve the sugar in the water, boil up to a 120 degrees. Blend the almond, while pouring the hot sugar syrup over. Blend it for a short time.

You have made marcipan, well done! Cool it down, and use as you please. Store in airtight boxes.