[CH] torte
Dr. Anna BUCSICS (bucsics@ping.at)
Tue, 12 Jan 1999 20:56:25 +0100
"Torte" is just a German word for cake. Probably comes from the Latin
verb "tortere", meaning 1) to toast 2) to bake and 3) to burn and 4) to
ardently love, all of which may apply to cakes or to tortes. Another
possible origin might be "torquere", meaning (1) to spin (a torte is
usually round), 2) to throw, and also some other things which make it
the root of the word "torture". This might aslo apply to some cakes as
well as tortes.
A "torte" is generally compacter than an American cake. The varieties
are endless: Sacher torte (chocholate), Linzer torte (made with almonds,
more like cookie dough), Topfentorte (Austrian cheesecake), and so on...
Hope this helps,
A. Bucsics in torte-infested Vienna