You’ve had big soft pretzels. And maybe you’ve even had salted rye bread… but have you tried a salt bagel? To those with a sweet tooth: stop reading now! This bagel is for salt lovers only.

The Salt Bagel Origin Story

As you may have heard, bagels almost certainly originated in Poland many centuries ago. While a handful of theories exist about what ethnic group first invented this special process of boiling and then baking, the first written record dates definitively back to 1610 in Krakow. The round shape of these rings of wheat dough was believed to bring good luck. They became an inexpensive street food there, and were covered with toppings such as poppyseeds, sesame, and yes, salt. The symbolism of bread and salt in Eastern Europe is extremely rich—almost all cultures in the region have a tradition of greeting guests and blessing weddings with this duo. Thus this particular bagel flavor was born and made the journey to mainstream popularity as a street food anywhere Polish and Jewish immigrants settled.

What Does A Salt Bagel Taste Like?

Extremely salty. Any traditional deli spot in New York will tell you that the traditional way to season these bagels is to thoroughly cover them with big crystals of salt. The salt should be chunky, and the coverage should be liberal. This isn’t a bagel flavor for the light of heart—the saltiness is seriously intense. Basically, if your mouth feels like the Dead Sea when you’re eating one, you’re doing it right.

How Should I Eat A Salt Bagel?

Some fans of the beautiful salt bagel swear by eating them plain, like you would a soft pretzel. In sandwich format, this bagel is best when you add copious amounts of creamy or umami flavors. Balancing the saltiness with cream cheese is the classic way—but other full-fat cheese, tomato, and avocado taste great as well. Although some bagel purists might scoff at the notion of a sweet bagel, adding fruity cream cheese or preserves (think jelly or jam) also results in a good combination that brings down the salty taste to levels fit for human consumption.

Give It A Try!

The salt bagel is anything but boring. It may not be plastered with poppyseeds, encrusted with everything spice, or seasoned with sesame, but the addition of humble salt is nothing less than show-stopping. So get a brick of cream cheese and a bottle of water ready, and remember: no pain no gain. If you’re in the midwest, you’re in luck—all three Gotham Bagels locations sell salt bagels. Order online for pick up or delivery here.