Ginsters Original Cornish pasties are the original grab-and-go handy snack, easily enjoyable and made with pride in Cornwall by Ginsters from quality British ingredients.
It’s Cornish Pasty week from the 25th of February until the 3rd of March 2018, which culminates with the World Pasty Championship that takes place at The Eden Project on the 3rd.
It is the perfect reminder to grab one of these original handy snacks. A proper Cornish pasty has to be made in Cornwall, but you don’t have to travel West to get hold of one – Ginsters Original Cornish pasties which have a PGI – Protected Geographical Indication are made in Cornwall and are easy to find in the chiller cabinet of your local supermarket.
A proper pasty should contain beef, potato, onion, and swede (but definitely no carrots!) all wrapped in flaky layers of puff pastry crust (a Ginsters pasty has 80 layers), and Ginsters pasties are really rather good. What makes a Cornish pasty so special is the peppery hit from a generous seasoning of black pepper.
Ginsters have been making pasties in Callington, Cornwall from quality British ingredients since 1969 . Their pasties really hit the spot, and are made with 100% British beef and vegetables grown just 15 miles from the factory. They are certainly doing something right and now sell a massive 800,000 pasties a week.
One of the stories about pasties is that the crimp was developed for Cornish tin miners to use as a handle when underground and unable to wash their hands. Likewise, there are tales about pasties with one end being savoury, and the other sweet to give an entire meal in one package.
They do need to be heated up to be best enjoyed, and again, there are stories about that: apparently, the well-known rugby chant of “oggy, oggy, oggy” (replied with “oi, oi, oi) has it’s origins in Cornish tin mines, derived from the Cornish word for pasty, the hoggan.
Apparently, the cry of “hoggan/oggy” went up when the pasties were hot and ready to eat, and the “oi” reply was the acknowledgement.
While I’m not sure how much I believe these stories, I do believe that a good Cornish pasty is much tastier than you might remember, especially if you’ve only experienced poorer quality offerings eaten too cold.
Whether you worry about the stories or not, there’s no denying that a proper Cornish pasty, expertly made by Ginsters, makes a great lunch that makes me want to grab my wetsuit and body board and head for the West again.
We love our annual trips to Cornwall, and a Ginsters original Cornish pasty eaten in the depths of winter here in London instantly transports us back to those golden beaches, rugged headlands, blue skies, lighthouses and secluded coves.
When we have a Cornish holiday a pasty is very much on the menu for at least two lunches, best enjoyed on the beach after a spell in the sea body boarding, or to set you up before or after a cliff top walk. All these photos of Cornwall were taken on a 6 mile walk around Trevose Head. Because of the winding coastal path the scenery changes dramatically with each twist and turn.
The perfect day in Cornwall
Ingredients
- 1 sunny day
- 1 beautiful Cornish beach
- Good tides, wind and surf
- 4 wetsuits ((you are not going in without))
- 4 body boards
- 4 traditional Cornish pasties ((served piping hot))
- 4 ice creams ((served iced cold))
- 1 beautiful cliff top walk
- 4 cream teas
Instructions
- One a beautiful sunny day, pack up your gear and head for the beach.
- Wriggle into your wetsuit, grab your body board and head for the sea.
- After a couple of hours in the water, collapse on the beach and warm up and refuel with a Ginsters Pasty.
- Take in the views in the afternoon with a clifftop walk.
- Finish off the day with a cream tea.
Notes
Ginsters Original Cornish Pasties, which have a PGI, are sold chilled in the supermarkets across the whole of the UK for all to enjoy – RRP £1.70
Post sponsored by Ginsters, all opinions our own.
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Carrie | Clean Eating Kitchen
I am partial to a proper Cornish pasty! I’ve never been to Cornwall, it looks so beautiful, and I love your recipe at the end!!
Helen
I love my trips West each year – Cornwall is such a pretty part of the UK.
Lisa | Garlic & Zest
I’ve never had a pasty before — but what’s not to like — beef, potatoes and puff pastry — it’s like this was made for me! Lovely photos of your day at the beach too! Such a pretty area.
Helen
They are SO good. The secret is all that delicious pastry and the generous pinch of pepper.
Lauren
Your photos are amazing. Cornwall looks beautiful. That definitely seems like the perfect day :)
Helen
Thank you Lauren, it was a stunning day, and they are only iPhone photos.
Jessica Fasano Formicola
These look very satisfying and comforting! Cheers to delicious foods to try! Making me hungry!
Helen
There is nothing like a proper Cornish pasty. So many memories associated with it.
Traci
Wow 800K pastries a week? That’s a lot of beef and dough! These look so filling…and your vacation recipe sounds delicious…now I want one :)
Helen
800K is a lot of pasties! but they really are so good!
Elaine @ Dishes Delish
I’ve never had pasty before, but I want to try them asap! I loved reading about the background of this delicious snack! I also enjoyed seeing the photos of Cornwall! I know that I would love pasties and can’t wait to try them.
Helen
I am dreaming of a proper Cornish pasty right now. I love my cliff top walks in Cornwall.
Sarah Bailey
I have to admit I do like a good old pastie and if you aren’t in Cornwall to buy a real one, Ginsters really offer a delicious buy anywhere snack to have at anytime!
Helen
I love a pasty. making sure we have one this week for Cornish pasty week!
Ana
I knew that Cornwall was beautiful but I had no idea how breathtaking it would be. And the pasties sound delicious, they have cheese and onion ones too right?
Helen
I’m sure they have a veggie on too. I adore Cornwall. So beautiful.
Patrick
Those pasties look great but I don’t think they sell them here in the United States otherwise I would try them for sure.
Helen
that are so good. I don’t think they export as the need to be fresh, but you must have one when you come to the uk.
Harriet from Toby & Roo
I love Ginsters! We will frequently get them for a picnic for the grownups whilst the kids enjoy their sandwiches! YUM! H :)
Helen
They are SO good, but a bit big for children.
lisa prince
Oh I do have to agree these are amazing! I don’t even like Cornish pasties unless I have these. I can’t deal with other brands, they’re just mush and these are so full of flavour with a chunky filling.
Helen
They are so good, and I agree other brands don’t compare
Danielle
Can you believe I have never had a Cornish Pasty. Maybe a trip to Cornwall to try one is in order.
Helen
They are so very tasty, and I recommend trying one soon.
Rhian Westbury
I absolutely love a gingsters cornish pasty so I might need to have one this week as homage to pasty week x
Helen
What better way to celebrate pasty week than enjoying a lovely warm Cornish pasty.
Lynne Harper
I love a good olde cornish pasty. We have always had them at home for as long as I can remember, with a dollop of brown sauce :) such a quick meal/snack but packed full of flavour
Helen
Brown sauce is a great accompliment to a tasty Cornish pasty.
Kara
I do love a Cornish pasty and I think they taste even better on a warm and sunny day playing on the beach
Helen
A perfect beach snack, and one of the times they are sill enjoyable even when cold.