The Lake District remains proud of its home-grown product, and Kendal mint cake can be found just about everywhere in Kendal. The Barrons are nervous about expanding: getting too big “wouldn’t give us that quality of life and that enjoyment,” said Paula. The copper pans also heat and cool almost instantly, so this method means our producers are always in control. When one of the four sons, Daniel Quiggin, moved to Kendal in 1880, the mint cake company was formed. The Quiggin family has been making confectionery since 1840, and they are credited with forming the mint cake company when one of the sons, Daniel Quiggin, moved to Kendal in 1880.

The expedition manager responsible for their provisions had read about Kendal mint cake in a climbing magazine. The sugar content is particularly useful at high altitudes, where the body craves sugar and finds other types of food hard to digest. We use real peppermint oil in our Kendal Mint Cake to give it that authentic and refreshing minty taste. Sir Edmund Hillary and his team carried Romney's Kendal Mint Cake with them on the first successful ascent of Mount Everest in 1953.Factory workers add essence of peppermint and mix this in a process known as ‘graining’, which helps the compound achieve its distinctive cloudy appearance.

Our community is home to passionate artisans, fantastic chefs, creative makers and bakers… and there’s always a warm welcome. This was seven years after the end of World War II, when the UK was still subject to food rationing.Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. If you would like to comment on this story or anything else you have seen on BBC Travel, head over to our Facebook page or message us on Twitter . The actual recipe for mint cakes remains a well-kept secret, and without those clear instructions, it may not work out. Even modern-day adventurers like Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman included Kendal Mint Cake in their supplies during their 2004 motorcycle journey around the world in Long Way Round.

Quiggin’s is a family business that has managed to keep the complete mint cake recipe secret for generations, so we’re not going to spill the beans now. Discover the timeless allure of Kendal Mint Cake, a cherished confection with a storied legacy dating back to 1869. Stir the mixture vigorously to ensure that the peppermint extract is evenly distributed throughout the mixture.

Kendal Mint Cake is not actually a cake in the traditional sense, but rather a sweet, energy-boosting, and sugar-based candy.