Dispute Erupts Over Origin of Mozartkugeln
A debate is brewing in Austria over the true origins of the famed Mozartkugeln, or Mozart balls, chocolate pralines. Historian Gerhard Ammerer, researching aโ book on the confection, has presented evidence challenging the long-heldโ belief that Paul Fรผrst first created the sweet.
Currently, โonlyโ Fรผrstโ confectionery โin Salzburg isโ permitted to use the name “Original Salzburger Mozartkugeln,” adn continues to produce the pralines by hand using what they claim is the original recipe. The confectioneryโ maintains that Paul Fรผrst invented theโฃ Mozart ball in 1890, naming it in honour of composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
However, Ammerer โขclaims to have discovered an advertisement in the febuary 3, 1881, edition of Die โฃPresse for a confectionerโ named R. Baumann, whose business โฃwas a precursor โขto today’s Holzermayr โฃconfectioneries. “According to Ammerer, it is therefore necessary to reconsider the โคcurrent legend of the inventor,” the article states.
The โHolzermayr family,โค upon learning of the advertisement, indicated they are considering legal action and consulting with a trademark expert. Martin Fรผrst, the current ownerโ of Fรผrst confectionery, stands by his ancestor’s claim, asserting that he created the original version,โฃ which was later copied.
This isn’t the first legal challenge surrounding the mozartkugeln. In 2017, the Austrian Supreme โCourt ruled against another company for offering a product in packagingโฃ too similar to that of Fรผrst confectionery.
Mozartkugeln are spherical chocolates comprised of pistachio marzipan and nougat, coated in chocolate. Whileโ the original, handmade Mozartkugeln are produced exclusively by Fรผrst, numerous โฃindustrially produced versions are sold globally, โtypically wrapped in silver or gold foil featuring a portrait of Mozart.