History

According to legend, Kendal confectioner Joseph Wiper, intending to make glacier mints, took his eye off the cooking pan for a minute and then, resuming his task, noticed that the mixture had started to 'grain' and become cloudy, instead of clear. When poured out, the result was Mint Cake.

Kendal Mint Cake was primarily sold to the locals then, due to its success, was sent once a week via Kendal's Railway Station to other parts in the North of England.

It was Joseph's great nephew, Mr. Robert Wiper, who realised the potential of Kendal Mint Cake as an energy bar and who supplied the 1914-1917 Trans-Antarctic Expedition under the command of Sir E Shackleton and the 1st Everest Expedition. These two expeditions gave Mint Cake a whole new image, which was consolidated when it was carried to the top of Mount Everest in May 1953, on the first successful expedition to the summit. Kendal Mint Cake can now rank as one of the world's most travelled sweets.

How Mint Cake is Made

Mint cake is still made in traditional copper pans on gas boilers. It is made by combining sugar, glucose and water then boiling more fiercely is smaller pots. After cooling for several minutes, half on ounce of oil of peppermint is added to every 40 lb of mix. Only the first finest oils are used in preparation, a blend of the famous American Wayne Country brand with Brazilian and Chinese types. The blend is poured by hand into shallow trays where it hardens quickly and is rapidly transferred out of the sugar boiling room and wrapped. Kendal mint cake has a subtle but stimulating flavour, cool in summer, fiery in winter and has a unique blend of textures, smooth and hard, but always creamy when sucked.

Used as Energy Bars

Originally popular with climbers / mountaineers, Kendal Mint Cakes are now used as energy bars by people involved in all sorts of active sports:

Used in Ration Packs

Kendal Mint Cake has an excellent shelf life & travels very well, so is often included in emergency / ration packs:

Used for Weddings / Parties

The very first wedding favours included sugar confections, which symbolize wealth and royalty.
In keeping with this tradition, the small individually wrapped Kendal Mint Cakes, available in either white or chocolate covered varieties,
make perfect wedding favours and are available in various quantities.

They are also a party bag favourite with children!

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