Kendal Mint Cake
Posted by: martlakes
N 54° 20.276 W 002° 44.763
30U E 516511 N 6021151
Kendal mint cake is a glucose-based confectionery flavoured with peppermint. It originates from Kendal in Cumbria, England. Kendal mint cake is popular among climbers and mountaineers. Invented in 1869 it is still made in Kendal by three companies.
Waymark Code: WM35WK
Location: United Kingdom
Date Posted: 02/15/2008
Views: 30
Romney's is one of the three companies making Kendal Mint Cake in the town. It has remained a small family owned business but has a world famous product.
Romney's Kendal Mint Cake was carried to the top of Mount Everest in May 1953, on the first successful expedition to the summit. Sir Edmund Hilary and Sirdar Tensing ate this mint cake on top of Everest. Tensing also left some to appease the gods.
This association with such a famous event forever linked Kendal Mint Cake with success in the great outdoors. It became the tradition for hikers and climbers in the Lake District to take some mint cake in their packs.
Today, Kendal Mint Cake is still made by Romney's in Kendal and two other manufacturers - Wilsons and Quiggins. There has been some dispute and competition between the companies over claims to be the oldest or the original, and certainly who is the best! Romney's have a strong claim with their connection with Wipers. Supplying Shackleton's Trans-arctic Expedition started the link with exploration and the outdoors, which was sealed when their mint cake was the first to the top of Everest. The others have since followed but Romney's was the first.
The factory is quite small and nondescript but the air is often full of a sweet minty smell!
See: Romney's - (
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BBC article - (
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