Tuck into our Bramley apple, pear & raspberry crumble and you are tucking into a real piece of British heritage.
Apple crumble is one of those iconic British desserts which always seems to hit the spot.
It’s simple, unfussy and not cluttered by exotic- sounding ingredients which you can’t pronounce, let alone find in your local supermarket: fruit, flour, butter and sugar – a combination which works a treat.
The term ‘comfort food’ could well have been made for crumble, but this tasty institution is not as old or traditional as you may think – having first won the hearts and taste buds of the British nation during the rationing in World War II. We met Adrian Barlow, of English Apples and Pears, who explained:
“The crumble’s forerunner, the apple pie, dates from medieval times, but it wasn’t until needs must that the crumble became popular. During rationing, today’s everyday items (such as sugar, flour and butter) were rationed into very small quantities. Pies were, by their very nature, wrapped in all of these ingredients – so, the nation had to find a way of making a tasty fruit pud with less pastry.”
Step forward a culinary genius to create a crumble topping, by sprinkling it on top of the fruit.
So, although a relative newcomer, the crumble is very British –as, too, are the Bramleys which you will find in Wetherspoon’s crumble. Adrianshared the history with us: “Those of you who are disappointed by the newness of the ‘crumble’ itself will be pleased to know that Bramleys have been the nation’s favourite, when it comes to apple desserts, since the 1800s.
“During the 19th century, nurserymen began to develop culinary apples, to give a more robust, tangy flavour when cooked, compared with dessert apples.”and sugars which is retained even during cooking, whereas other apples tend to lose much of their natural flavour, when cooked.
11th February 2012
For your chance to win this fantastic prize, simply answer the following question, complete your details and send in your entry.
In what year were the first Bramley apples sold?
Competitions open to all UK residents over the age of 18, excluding employees of the promoter, their respective families and agents or anyone directly connected with these competitions. Acceptance of the rules is a condition of entry. No purchase necessary. Entries must be received no later than 22/3/10. Proof of dispatch is not proof of receipt. The winner will be the first correctly answered entry drawn. Where multiple prizes are offered, the winners will be the first relevant number of correct entries drawn. Where the prize requires travelling to or from a venue, transport costs and incidental expenses will be the responsibility of the prize-winner(s), except when detailed otherwise in the prize description. The judge’s decision is final; no correspondence will be entered into. One entry per household. The winner/winners will be notified by post. No cash alternative available. The prize(s) will be delivered to one UK address (where the prize(s) are goods for delivery). The promoter reserves the right to cancel or amend this promotion, owing to events arising beyond its control. The promoter is not responsible for any third-party acts or omissions. Promoter: J D Wetherspoon plc, Wetherspoon House, Central Park, Reeds Crescent, Watford, WD24 4QL