IT was in 1854 that Grasmere cook and baker Sarah Nelson perfected the recipe for her now world-famous Grasmere Gingerbread.
Selling it from a table top perched upon a tree stump outside her Church Cottage home in Grasmere – now The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop – its popularity grew, first amongst villagers, then passers-by and finally visitors and tourists.
A truly sensational burst of spicy-sweet flavour within a crumbly-chewy texture, no-one has tasted anything like it before.
To commemorate and celebrate the 160th anniversary of Grasmere Gingerbread, Joanne and Andrew Hunter – current custodians of The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop – unveiled an exciting new website at a special launch party inside the adjoining Wordsworth Hotel in the village.
Featuring an innovative three dimensional storybook on the homepage, plus a host of fascinating historical information on everything from Sarah Nelson to the origins of Cumbrian Rum Butter (which the shop also sells), this commercial website is no ordinary commercial website.
“Whilst enabling customers from anywhere in the UK and the rest of the world to buy Grasmere Gingerbread and other ginger-related products swiftly and efficiently, it is much more than just an online shop,” said Joanne Hunter.
“It not only celebrates an amazing Victorian pioneer, Sarah Nelson, an entrepreneurial woman who was truly ahead of her time but showcases Cumbria and the amazing network of local food producers with whom we work.”
Family, friends, supporters and customers of The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop joined Joanne and Andrew and their three children Yasmine, Eden Rose and Eamont at their special 160th celebration party.
“It was a wonderful opportunity to get people together and to thank them for all their support down the years,” added Joanne.