Some people love it, others loathe it. But there is no doubt that the fruit cake has staying power. The fruit cake has been around since Roman times in one form or another. . The earliest references to the fruit cake describe a comestible made of dried fruits, pine nuts, and pomegranate seeds mixed with a barley mash. It was used by hunters and soldiers as a quick source of calories when away from home . No superlatives were used to describe the snack, probably because it tasted worse than it looked.
In the middle ages, because fruits were hard to come by, preserving them in sugar bacame a common practice. These fruits were later added to cakes and the dish became a delicacy. The British were the first Europeans to embrace the fruit cake . Topped with plums, dates, pears, cherries, pineapples, and citrus peel, the dessert was served to kings and queens and other members of the aristocracy.
The fruit cake (also called the plum cake) was actually banned in Europe in the 18th century because it was considered sinfully rich and decadent by religious leaders. The restriction was later lifted, mostly because the nobility couldn’t do without it at tea time . It was considered a staple dish in the court of Queen Victoria (1837-1901).
The fruit cake did not gain a loyal following until the middle of the 20th century, on the other side of the Atlantic. . At the time, business leaders were looking for simple, inexpensive gifts they could send to clients and customers during the holiday. Then somebody got the bright idea to enclose the fruit cake in an aluminum tin that could safely be shipped through the mail. The ancient comestible has been a popular holiday gift ever since.
Who eats them?
For entertainers in America the fruit cake has been a rich source of comedy. . Late night legend Johnny Carson once joked that “There is only one fruit cake in the entire world, and people keep sending it to each other.” And he’s right…well, partly. The fruit cake is the single most re-gifted present in America. With that said, some folks adore them. Why else would they order more than two million fruit cakes each and every year?
The truth is that those mass-produced fruit cakes in aluminum tins ruined the reputation of the former delicacy in America. More than a half a century after they came on the scene, most people still have a poor opinion of the fruit cake. But the gourmet versions that are sold today are nothing like their inedible predecessors. Made with the finest ingredients and often fed with alcohol for weeks at a time, they have a rich, decadent appearance and taste.
This article provided by Hale Groves, providing fresh fruit baskets, gift baskets and Florida oranges and citrus, including delicious Florida fruit gifts, Honeybells, Ruby Red Grapefruit, Valencia Oranges, Tangerines and more! On the web at HaleGroves.com.
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