Cornish fairing facts for kids
Traditional Cornish fairings
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| Course | Snack |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Region or state | Cornwall |
| Main ingredients | Ginger, mixed spice, golden syrup |
| Variations | Multiple |
A Cornish fairing is a yummy, traditional ginger biscuit from Cornwall, United Kingdom. The word "fairing" used to mean any tasty treat you bought at a fair. But over time, it became known for ginger biscuits or gingerbread. These biscuits were often given as a special gift to children or to sweethearts. Cornish fairings became super famous when a company in Cornwall started selling them by mail in 1886. That company still makes them today! They even work with famous chef Rick Stein to create new biscuits.
Contents
What are Cornish Fairings?
Cornish fairings are sweet and spicy ginger biscuits. They are made with common baking ingredients. These include flour, sugar, butter, and golden syrup. They also get their special taste from mixed spice, ginger, and cinnamon.
How are they made?
These biscuits are usually round and a bit crumbly, like gingerbread. First, dry ingredients are mixed with butter until they look like breadcrumbs. Then, sugar and syrup are added. The mixture is shaped into biscuits and baked. They start high in the oven, then finish baking at a lower spot.
A Sweet History of Fairings
The name "fairings" first described any edible souvenir sold at fairs across England. For example, at the famous Bartholomew Fair in Smithfield, gingerbread fairings were sold for centuries. In different parts of the country, fairings could be different treats. For instance, in northern England, decorated "paste eggs" were a traditional fairing at Easter.
The Rise of the Ginger Biscuit
The Cornish version of fairings was a spiced ginger biscuit. These became very popular in Victorian times. A full Cornish fairing treat might also include sugar-coated almonds and caraway seeds. There were also crystallised angelica and macaroons.
During the 1800s, these biscuits became a popular gift. Young men would buy them for their sweethearts. Before this, the spices needed for the biscuits were very expensive. Only wealthy people could afford them for baking cakes.
Furniss Foods and Mail Order
Many companies started making ginger biscuits called "fairings." One famous example was in Grasmere. The gingerbread sold there was so loved that William Wordsworth's sister, Dorothy, wrote about how much she and her brother wanted them.
In 1875, John Cooper Furniss opened a large store in Truro, Cornwall. He also had a bakery where he made biscuits. He created many new kinds of biscuits. He even sold penny boxes of sweets that came with a small piece of jewelry. These were a huge hit!
In 1886, John Cooper Furniss began selling his ginger biscuits at his tea room in Truro, Cornwall. They were so popular that he started selling them by mail order. People believe Furniss got his recipe from a fair in Launceston, Cornwall. This fair happened the week after Christmas. However, Furniss Foods suggests the recipe came from fairs held at Whitsuntide or Corpus Christi.
Modern Fairings
Furniss expanded his company into Furniss Foods. This company became a well-known Cornish biscuit maker. They made different types of fairings, like "orange and lemon" or "apple and cinnamon." The company later faced some challenges. It was bought by Proper Cornish, a company known for pasties. Proper Cornish then focused on making Cornish fairings and a few other popular items.
Cornish foods are a big reason why people visit Cornwall. A survey showed that food is one of the top three reasons tourists come to the area. Famous chef Rick Stein loves Cornish fairings. He said they remind him of his childhood.
"When I was a child, we never left Cornwall without a couple of tins of Furniss Cornish Fairings. They were as important to us as clotted cream and pasties."
