Homemade Gingerbread Beyond Christmas: Success Story of Līčupes Saldumi
A mother-daughter duo from Mazozoli parish runs "Līčupes saldumi" for four years, baking gingerbread year-round using family recipes and creative designs.
Anta and her mother Māra, home producers from Mazozoli parish, have been running the brand "Līčupes saldumi" for four years, making gingerbread not only for Christmas but throughout the year. Their products are based on an old family recipe inherited from Anta's great-aunt. The company name comes from the Līčupe stream flowing near their home.
Anta has been involved in gingerbread baking since childhood, as her mother and aunts practiced it. After studying journalism at Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, she tried different paths—sewing, makeup, manicure—but always returned to gingerbread. She believes people should do what they are best at and can manage their own time.
The gingerbreads are known for elaborate decorations, but Anta emphasizes that taste comes first. While visual appeal matters, if a cookie is only pretty but not tasty, customers won't return. Popular designs include shapes of cold soup ingredients and herring under a fur coat, an idea born on a warm spring day when they craved cold soup.
Ideas come from various sources, including client requests and children's trends. Anta's five-year-old son Jānis is actively involved, suggesting new designs and helping at fairs. Last Christmas, they created a logo for an IT company using six separate gingerbread pieces that formed a single winter landscape; they had to make 30 sets, which was challenging but rewarding.
Social media is crucial for reaching customers, where they share news and fair participation. January offers a slight break after the holiday rush, but Anta admits that when working for yourself, you cannot fully disconnect even in thoughts. Family involvement is key; errands often turn into shared outings like cinema or cafes.
Anta's motto: "If you do nothing, you will have nothing." Her advice to her younger self would be not to be afraid of anything, as all problems and tasks are solvable. This determination, love for the craft, and family recipe make "Līčupes saldumi" gingerbread special.
