What better way to begin English Tourism Week in Banbury than with something Banbury has been famous for for centuries: the Banbury Cake.
At first glance, it is just a pastry – an oval parcel of flaky pastry filled with currants and spice. But Banbury cakes have a surprisingly long-standing story.
The oldest printed recipe for Banbury cakes was published by Gervase Markham in his book The English Huswife, first published in 1615. (Pictures below) It was quite a popular title in its day (a bestseller of its time, going through nine editions and at least two other reprints by 1683). Whether that was down to the popularity of the Banbury cake recipe, we cannot say.
Now, Banbury was known to be a stronghold of strict Puritans so it was only a matter of time before the Puritan authorities frowned officially on Banbury cakes (along with many festive foods associated with saints’ days). Despite that, the cakes endured. I suppose giving them an air of the forbidden just made them even more popular. Happens all the time, doesn’t it?
By the 18th and 19th centuries, they’d become one of Banbury’s best-known exports. Those passing through the town carried them away, and they were shipped far and wide – Australia, the East Indies and America just to name a few. What made them so good for long haul shipping? Their high sugar and spice content.
There is even a long-standing story that Queen Victoria enjoyed Banbury cakes and was given a supply every summer.
They are sometimes mistaken for Eccles cake but Banbury cakes are flatter and more oval, with a filling that often carries a sharper hit of spice and lemon peel.
There were two shops in Banbury most closely associated with the cakes over the years – The Original Cake Shop, located at 12 Parsons Street and Betts’ Cake Shop at 85 High Street. Four hundred years later, Banbury Cakes are still part of the town’s identity – and a rather tasty piece of local history and – with my marketing hat on – impressive brand longevity.
Not bad for something that began as a small local pastry.
So, the question of the day is: Have you ever actually tried a Banbury Cake? What did you think?
