Colston bun facts for kids
| Type | Sweet bread |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | England |
| Region or state | Bristol |
| Main ingredients | Yeast dough, dried fruit, candied peel, sweet spices |
A Colston bun is a yummy sweet bread. It's like a bun or a small loaf. It is made with yeast dough, which makes it soft and fluffy. This bun is full of tasty dried fruits like currants. It also has candied peel and sweet spices for extra flavor.
This special bun comes from the city of Bristol, England. It is named after Edward Colston. He was a local merchant who first created the recipe. Colston buns come in two main sizes. One is called "dinner plate" size. It's big and has eight marks so you can easily break off pieces. The other is a smaller, individual bun called "ha'penny staver".
Contents
What is a Colston Bun?
A Colston bun is a type of sweet bun. It is made from a dough that uses yeast. This makes the bun light and airy. The dough is mixed with dried fruits. These often include currants. It also has candied peel and sweet spices. These ingredients give the bun its unique taste. The bun is a traditional treat from Bristol, England.
History of the Bun
The Colston bun is named after Edward Colston. He was a merchant from Bristol. He lived a long time ago. The bun's history is linked to him. It was first made in Bristol.
Colston Day Traditions
The Colston bun was traditionally given out on Colston Day. This day is November 13th. It celebrates a special permission given to the Society of Merchant Venturers. This group of merchants got their permission from King Charles I in 1639.
The tradition started at Colston's School. This school was set up for children from poor families. This happened in the early 1700s. On Colston Day, children would get a big "dinner plate" bun. It had eight marks so they could share it with their family. They also got a "staver" bun. This smaller bun was for them to eat right away. It helped "stave off" (stop) hunger. The wives of the Merchant Venturers also gave the children a gift of money. This was usually two shillings, which is like 10p today. The Colston Society continued this tradition. They gave buns and money to some school children in Bristol.
Why the Name is Controversial Now
Colston buns are not very well known outside of Bristol. You can usually only buy them in some local bakeries. This is often just on special occasions. In recent years, the name of the bun has become controversial. This is because of Edward Colston's past. He was involved in the Atlantic slave trade. This was a terrible part of history. Because of this, his name has become a topic of debate.
The Colston Society had been active for 275 years. They celebrated Colston and helped give out the buns. However, in 2020, the society decided to stop operating.
