Marzipan Easter eggs vanish as almond price surges

Pune: The Easter egg was a symbol shaped by faith, fasting and survival long before chocolate hens and egg hunts.In medieval Europe, eggs were forbidden during Lent — the 40-day period of abstinence before Easter. Households would boil or preserve them, then decorate and gift them on Easter Sunday to mark the end of restraint and the promise of new life. The egg itself became a powerful metaphor for resurrection, its sealed shell mirroring the tomb and its breaking signifying rebirth.German traditions introduced egg hunts and decorative practices by the 16th century. Meanwhile, marzipan — a sweet almond paste shaped into fruits and eggs — gained popularity across Europe, as a luxury confection tied to festive occasions. Chocolate eggs emerged much later in 19th century France and Britain, once cocoa processing made moulding possible.The traditions travelled to India through British colonial networks, taking root in cantonment towns like Pune. In Camp and surrounding areas, colonial bakeries began producing marzipan eggs using ground almonds, sugar and egg white, kneaded into a smooth paste and shaped by hand, often dyed in soft pastel colours.Yusuf Mirdehghan, co-owner of the 94-year-old Husseny Bakery in Camp, told TOI: "Almonds have become very expensive over the last five years. We stopped making marzipan Easter eggs in 2022 and only sell chocolate eggs, which is high in demand. Hardly anyone wants marzipan varieties. Churches and establishments that distribute Easter eggs want cheaper items. People prefer them for gifting."The economics are hard to ignore. Almond price has climbed steadily from around Rs500-Rs700 per kg in 2020 to Rs900-Rs1,100 per kg in early 2026 — with premium varieties going far higher. What was once festive indulgence has become a costly gamble for small bakeries, specially with demand not supporting the production.Reflecting a broader shift among legacy establishments, Astaad from City Bakery said, "We have stopped selling Easter eggs all together. Bakeries have either moved entirely to chocolate or stepped away from the tradition. Even newer, high-end bakeries that once experimented with marzipan have quietly discontinued it, this year."Customers have noticed the change. "I went looking for marzipan eggs like I used to buy every year, but I could not find them anywhere. All I saw were colourful chocolate eggs," said Sheila D'Souza, a resident of Camp.Now, Easter eggs in Pune are less about ritual and more about reinvention. What began as a symbol of restraint and rebirth has become a story of changing tastes, rising costs and a city that is quietly trading almond paste for chocolate sheen.