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Tell us about your business

TeaGschwendner is a world leader in high quality loose leaf teas, based on EU standards, and US location owned and operated by local tea sommelier.

What inspired you to get involved as a vendor at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2021?

We love the Christmas season, and our Christmas collection reflects the family holiday tradition of Christkindlmarkets

What products will you be selling at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2021 and why did you choose them?

Of course the Christmas collection along with the most wanted Tea Advent Calendar

Anything else you’d like to share?

Only .002 % of worldwide tea supply is good enough to be included in our collection

Tell us about your business:

We have been in business since 2015, but have only started Kringle and Danish baking since 2018.  I am a retired school teacher that was looking to fill some time and it has turned into a full time business with the unique Danish Baking products that I have been marketing.  I enjoy the time in the bakery, but really I do this to meet new people and attend shows such as Christkindlemarket Des Moines.  We have attended shows in 6 different states with 2 more new states this year on our schedule.  The recipes are a combination of Danish Grandmothers sharing with me and searching old cook books and the internet to create the product that I market. 

What inspired you to get involved as a vendor at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2021?

We were involved with Christkindlmarket Des Moines in 2019 and it exceeded our wildest expectations.  Des Moines has always been a strong market for us, but this was amazing.  The atmosphere and the different European cultures represented allowed for a great time by all participants, vendor’s and attendees.  It was as the Dane’s say a Hygge time: (pronounced hoo·guh). Hygge is about preserving happiness everyday. It is about slowing down, being humble, expressing gratitude, feeling safe and connecting with loved ones. Who wouldn’t want to spend a weekend with friends at Christkindlmarket Des Moines?

What products will you be selling at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2021 and why did you choose them?

My newest creation is the Danish Pastry made with the puff pastry dough for that light and flaky experience while enjoying a generous serving of fruit sprinkled with baker’s sugar and drizzled with a sweet white and glossy icing.

Hot out of the oven the Danish Letter.  A generous serving of Almond Paste wrapped in the puff pastry dough, topped with baker’s sugar and baked to perfection.  A perfect companion to a great cup of coffee. 

Ready for packaging.  The Cream Horn is filled with my own creation of sweetness to drive any connoisseur of the puff pastry covered in baker’s sugar and baked to a golden color crazy.

The Apple Kringle shows all the lite and flaky layers of goodness surrounded by air pockets of joy.  The generous serving of Almond Paste blended with the fruit and covered with Almond Slivers and baker’s sugar is a treat anytime of the day.

The Kringle comes in two different sizes: Family size of 5 inches by 15 inches or the couple size of 3 3/4 inches by 10 inches. Don’t be afraid to get the bigger size as all my products freeze amazingly so you can enjoy some now and some later with coffee and family or friends.

We also have a topping of cream cheese icing that is out of this world good.

Tell us about your business:

DamonLayne Woodworking is an Iowa business located in Earlham. For the past 8 years, I have spent my free time working from a renovated Madison County, one-room schoolhouse to create beautifully designed items for your home. My woodworking products include cutting boards, cheese slicers, and amazing cribbage boards.

What inspired you to get involved as a vendor at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2021?

I am excited to be a part of Christkindlmarket Des Moines because it displays the unique European holiday traditions and one-of-a-kind, handmade gifts. Talented artisans will be displaying their creations while families stroll along, listening to music, sampling the food, and sipping warm mulled wine. This is an amazing holiday event to have in Des Moines.

What products will you be selling at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2021 and why did you choose them?

My products for this year’s Christkindlmarket Des Moines include charcuterie boards, cribbage boards, cutting boards, and cheese slicers. These handmade items make a wonderful addition to any holiday baskets.

Anything else you’d like to share?

I am happy to be a part of this magnificent event for a third year. The little vendor huts, the amazing people, the wonderful smell of food, and the lively polka music are sure to make this event a holiday tradition for every family.

Tell us about your business

Founded in 2002, Ruhland’s Strudel Haus is a maker of fabulous sweet and savory strudel. We are inspired by the belief that food is one of life’s celebrations and is integrated into our relationship with the Earth and one another. Our mission is to provide a unique experience of common union. Our hope is that what we make will gather people around the table to celebrate the love and community found in family and friends. Our goal is to create food that brings joy and delight.

What inspired you to get involved as a vendor at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2021?

We found out about this event a few years back and thought we would fit well into Christkindlmarket Des Moines as we have participated in a similar event in Excelsior, MN for the past 18 years. We were accepted into CDM in 2018 and 2019 and we were thrilled by the reaction of the public to our product and service. Love this event.

What products will you be selling at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2021 and why did you choose them?

We will be serving our spinach feta artichoke strudel as well as our reuben strudel for savory offerings. Also, we will be preparing our Rindergulash hoagies. Our sweet strudels will include apple and strawberry rhubarb as they are our most popular strudels.