Although Poland embraces its nickname of "potato land", there's another gastronomic delight hidden in the picturesque city of Poznań that the locals are perhaps even more protective of.
And not just them, either: the rogal świętomarciński - or St. Martin's croissant - became an EU-protected food in 2008, just over 100 years after it came into existence.
The pastry is named after the saint who pivoted from Roman soldier to holy man after encountering a beggar on the road and feeling called to slice his own cloak in half to share with him.
Centuries later, the sweet treat bearing his name was created in 1891, when a local baker left St. Martin's church after a sermon about charity and felt similarly called upon to concoct a food that could be shared with the poor.
Much like any other thriving city, Poznań is dotted with bakeries serving their takes on the traditional French croissant, spanning from the flaky, buttery classic version to luscious creation filled with pistachio crema, wild strawberries and chocolate and banana.
But if you're expecting the St. Martin's croissant to look exactly like them, you'll be disappointed. To get a true taste for the delicacy, you'll have to hunt down one of the few bakeries with an official certificate, naming them as one of the spots allowed to sell authentic St. Martin's croissants.
Chief among the rules of making the Polish croissants is that they must be made with real butter and the pastry folded 81 times, with a wait time of 30-35 minutes between each layer to let the layers rise.
A rich filling of white poppy seeds, raisins, orange peel, walnuts, biscuit crumbs, egg yolks, and almond essence is spread between each layer, before the pastry is bent into a horseshoe shape. Once baked, it must weigh between 150g and 250g to be considered a true St. Martin's croissant, and topped with a slathering of sugar icing and chopped nuts.
Hefty, indulgent and warmly spiced, it makes complete sense why the croissant is eaten on St. Martin's Day in early winter.
If you want to have a go at making your own, visit the Poznań Croissant Museum, located just off the dazzling Medieval market square in the city centre and housed in a newly restored 600-year-old building.
Watch our interview with the master bakers of the museum above.
