If we are going to promote our business with the name Now Schmear This!, we should probably define the word for those who do not know what it is or the history behind it.
While the word schmear has been used as slang in the English language to mean many similar things ("the whole schmear") or to represent a bribe ("schmear the palms"), we are going to solely focus on the reason you're here, to learn about the spread commonly used as breakfast fodder.
Let's dive in and uncover What the heck is a SCHMEAR? We will look into the hstory of the word, the way it has tranformed in society, and why we centered our entire business around this one magical word.
The Background and History of the Word SCHMEAR
The earliest reference of the word schmear (pronounced "shh-meer") in history we could find comes from Germany, 1909 as the word was used as a verb, meaning to "smear" or "spread" and specifically referred to fat or grease, as if to lubricate a machine. Over time, the word was integrated into the Yiddish language to include uses primarily referring to butter.
As Europeans relocated to the USA after WWII, the immigrants from Great Britain introduced us to soft, spreadable cheese and the large population of both German and Yiddish speaking immigrants in New York popularized the term schmear and "standardized" its use as a reference most notably for that spreadable "cream" cheese.
The Schmear Becomes a Part of American Culture
If there is one single underlying theme to food culture in the USA, it is that we love to embrace the food introduced to us from other cultures, combine them with other foods that we love, create new combinations, and make them uniquely ours.
A perfect example of this is often regarded as "the perfect breakfast": the combination of a bagel (Jewish), a schmear of cream cheese (England), thin slices of smoked salmon / lox (Scandanavian), and capers (Italy) are the quintessential melting pot of the food world. This breakfast sandwich has become so rooted in tradition that, by the 1980's, the bagel & schmear had permeated American culture so thoroughly that it has become a standard breakfast item in cafes and restaurants throughout the nation
That blending of cultural standards into a single food, adopted by Americans is what inspires the current trend of "elevating" the simple cream cheese into something filled with unexpected flavors and delights. Artisan flavors and recipes can be found everwhere with the only limitation to flavor combinations being the limits of your own imagination.
Interesting & Intriguing Schmear Facts
Based on its original definition, spreading mortar on bricks would, technically, be considered a "German schmear" technique
The earliest known production of cream cheese is from 1873 when a deli owner in New York blended Neufchatel (a French soft cheese) with cream and salt
From September 1951 - February 1952, the cast of a Broadway revue titled "Bagels & Yox" handed out bagels and cream cheese to all patrons during intermission of the show
A 1951 review of "Bagels & Yox" in Time Magazine introduced and popularized this now popular breakfast staple to Americans all around the country
A schmear is only a "schmear" if it is spread across the bagel. If it is simply "dropped" on top and not spread evenly, it is considered "a slab"
In England (where "cream cheese" originates, it is simply referred to as "soft, white cheese" and is often flavored with garlic and herbs
Mascarpone is also considered a cream cheese, the difference being that it is produced using cream instead of milk
In Summary
The word "SCHMEAR" has a long history and storied adaptability across many cultures. As the word has evolved, so has its definition in popular culture. While tradition would imply that a schmear refers solely to cream cheese, as it stands today, we can safely proclaim that you are welcome use "schmear" to refer to any spreadable topping. It doesn't matter if that topping is butter, cream cheese, hummous, or even jam.
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