Stock Photo - Production of ´Stramberske usi´ ´Stramberk Ears´ _ cone_shaped gingerbread cookies with a bloodstained history at a medieval town of Stramberk, Czech Republic The history of Stramberk Ears dates back to Tartars invasion of the region in 1241 Legend has it that during one of the attacks, the locals took refuge on a hill above Stramberk, surrounded by the enemy But mother nature took pity on them A heavy rainstorm struck and a lake just above the Tartar camp filled up to the brink The intrepid Stramberk people dug through the dam and flooded out the camp In its ruins they discovered bags full of human ears The Tartars had cut them off their Christian victims to prove to their Khan how many people they had slain Ever since that day, people in Stramberk bake ear_shaped biscuits to commemorate the event Stramberske usi is now a registered trademark and can be produced exclusively in the town of Stramberk A genuine Stramberk ear should be light brown, firm but not brittle and should have a balanced taste CTK Photo/Rene Fluger