The memories and experiences associated with the festive season are special and get more precious with each passing year. Some are drawn from our own traditions while others are borrowed. Nevertheless, they all serve the same purpose – strengthening family bonds. And, nothing reinforces this than the Christmas season with its Santa colours, when ovens work overtime yielding yummy treats.
I particularly enjoy the ritual of bringing out the special containers to store these Christmas goodies. Remember the tin containers that once held cookies and other choice delicacies? Somehow, I think the cookie canister looks even more fetching than a porcelain cookie jar.
These canisters became popular in the 1800s. Tin being non-corrosive, was used to coat steel and other metals for better utility value. This is the reason why we associate the word ‘tins’ not with just the metal but as an object to store food. Touted as non-toxic, it was and is the perfect material to store freshly baked biscuits, fruit cakes, stollen, rose cookies, kal kals and lots more. Since tin could also be safely painted, manufacturers came up with designs and patterns to suit every occasion. The shapes too started to vary from the traditional circular tins to cylindrical, rectangular and square. And they were all much sought after for the home pantry. From pretty floral patterns to bold geometrics, tin containers cater to different tastes. The attractive designs and utility value are the reason we often succumb and buy them, even today. From the practical point of view, a well-coated tin canister lasts for ages and the cost does not put a hole in the wallet either. They are air tight, yet safe enough for the little hands that may try to pry them open.
Tin containers are also rather light. This is the reason Mrs. Weiler, our cookie angel from Herzogenaurach, sends us her unique handmade morsels, in a tin box, year after year, in December. It guarantees the safe transportation of the cookies and negates the need to use plastic. However, it must be noted that one cannot store hot liquids or foods with a high acidic content. If the coating is not of good quality, the edges rust. If this happens, the tins are no longer safe to store foodstuff.
Many bakers package their ware in tin containers, and these are reusable. The side boards in the dining area or in the pantry look so cheerful with these containers perched on them. The sight of these colourful tins stacked up or balanced one on top of another in malls and airports is very comforting and old world. The Chumbak brand has the most fun and quirky tin boxes. A cousin once gifted us these boxes and we’ve been hooked ever since.
These madly colourful containers are available at The Natural Store on Avanashi Road. I now look forward to sending goodies back to friends in these so very Indian and kitschy boxes. I have washed and dried these tins in preparation for my year ending baking ritual. This is another task that makes a house a home.
For, inside these cookie tins are invisible crumbs of laughter and stories of the insatiable cookie monsters! Age in no way lessens the beauty of these tin canisters. In fact, a slightly dented tin is like a gnarled old tree that holds within it a million stories. Precious and priceless. What are you waiting for? It’s time to get those tins out and start baking.
(Read more about food on Shanthini’s website >www.pinklemontreerecipes.com )
