A Piece of Cake

I see on the FARMA website that Britain’s recently rekindled love affair with home baking continues.  Sales of baking products (flour, sugar, vine-fruits, decorations and home-baking kits) are up 11.2% year-on-year.  Not only that, but we are buying these products more frequently too, with an average of 10 purchases per year.

This continues a trend first observed by Mintel in 2006.  At that time they reported that the market had grown 25% in the previous five years, and predicted a continuation fueled by nostalgia.

Certainly that is something I recognize.

When I was very young our evening meal was always called ‘tea’ and consisted of bread with cheese or jam, and followed by the most mouth watering selection of cakes, biscuits and other homemade delicacies.  My mother baked every day, or so it seemed, and she turned out a never ending stream of goodies: sponge cakes, chocolate cakes, fruit cakes, fairy cakes, date and walnut loaf, chocolate éclairs, scones and meringues.  Being Scottish there were many regional specialities too including scotch pancakes, empire biscuits, shortbread and coconut pyramids.

Today there is nothing I enjoy more than a slice of cake with afternoon tea.

Other factors may also be at work of course, the recession for instance.  Baking can be an enjoyable and cheap pastime, and in an era of thrift, homemade cakes and pastries are affordable luxuries.

The addition of cooking to the national curriculum in 2008 may also be having an impact in reviving basic skills.

Whatever the reason, an increase in home cooking is to be welcomed.  Anything which increases people’s understanding and enjoyment of food is likely to lead to an increase in quality and that’s good for everyone. Another slice anyone?