Posted 20th Feb 2018
Pasty fans - rejoice! Cornish Pasty Week will commence on Sunday 25th February, offering pasty fans the ideal opportunity to indulge
To get you in the mood, we find out a few facts about one of our oldest and favourite delicacies from Warrens Bakery, the guardians of the Cornish Pasty since 1860.
1 The humble Cornish pasty dates back to the end of the 18th century, where it was established as a staple part of the diet for working men across Cornwall. It served as a quick fix lunch that would be enjoyed by miners and farmworkers as it could be easily transported and filling.
2 Did you know the pasty was originally vegetarian? In its early stages, the pasty was eaten by poor families, and would be filled with vegetables which were found in abundance in the county. Meat would have been added in the eighteenth century.
3 The Cornish Pasty Crust (or crimped edge of the past) was famously used as a handle to hold the pasty with. Due to the arsenic levels found in many tin mines, this was previously discarded and simply used as a handle, although these days, many people view this as the best bit.
4 There are two main types of crimp, which are dependent on whether the person who hand crimped your pasty is left or right handed. Three of Warrens Bakery's 20 qualified pasty 'crimpers' are left-handed, meaning they produce a 'cock' pasty, as opposed to the more traditional 'hen'.