Fact Finder - Food and Drink

Fact
The Evolution of the Cornish Pasty
Category
Food and Drink
Subcategory
Global Cuisine
Country
United Kingdom
Description
The Cornish Pasty was the original 'portable lunch' for tin miners in Cornwall, England. Its design was purely functional: the thick, crimped crust on the side allowed miners with dirty, soot-covered hands to hold the pasty without contaminating the food they were eating. Once finished, they would throw the 'handle' (the crust) away. To be a protected 'Cornish Pasty,' it must contain beef, potato, swede (turnip), and onion, with no other vegetables allowed. Some historical pasties were made with a savory filling at one end and a sweet jam filling at the other, providing a full two-course meal in one pastry. Today, the Cornish Pasty has 'Protected Geographical Indication' (PGI) status in Europe.