Woolies SA are under fire for adding a Halaal sticker to their packaging for hot cross buns.
Christians across South Africa have taken offence to this and the comments are predictably flying back and forth on the article on News24.
Woolies has come back by apologising for the upset and said it would release separate buns in future – non-Halaal certified hot cross buns and Halaal certified spiced buns.
Either way, there’s a reason why they’re around and we thought it’d be fun to share a few “did you know fun facts”.
“Hot cross buns, Hot cross buns,
One a penny, two a penny,
Hot cross buns.”
Fun facts about the buns…
According to Wikipedia, sharing a hot cross bun with someone else is supposed to ensure friendship throughout the coming year. Ever heard this saying, “Half for you and half for me, between us two shall goodwill be”.
One superstition is that hot cross buns or loaves baked on Good Friday would never go mouldy, and were hung in homes as good luck charms. There’s a décor trend for you!
Now this one is a bit odd – but buns were believed to have medicinal purposes if they were finely grated and mixed with water. Sound appetising to you?
This is my best, and I think I’ll have to try it myself, but did you know that in Australia they make the buns with chocolate chips instead of currants. Chocolate? In a hot cross bun? I’m game!
We’ll be celebrating public holidays next week, so what better way to
spend the time than by gorging on these rich, fruity, spicy rolls. I
love topping my hot cross buns with peanut butter and banana with an extra
dousing of cinnamon. Some people enjoy them simply covered in a thick slab of salted butter or a grating of
cheese or jam.
What do you think of the furore surrounding these rich little dough cakes?