who invented bagels

Bagels were invented by Jewish bakers in Poland. The earliest known mentions of bagels date back to the early 1600s in Polish Jewish communities. Bagels likely evolved from earlier breads such as German pretzels, brought by German immigrants to Poland. The distinctive bagel method of boiling then baking the dough gives it its unique chewy texture. There is also a story that a Viennese baker created the bagel shape as a tribute to King Jan Sobieski of Poland in 1683, making the ring shape resemble a stirrup, but bagels were documented in Poland well before that time. The bagel was a valued bread associated with Ashkenazi Jewish culture and was adapted to the restrictions Jewish bakers faced in Poland at the time. In summary, bagels originated in the Jewish communities of Poland in the early 1600s and were developed from earlier European breads like pretzels, becoming a unique boiled-then-baked bread product.