Marks & Spencer expects to sell 40 million mince pies this year - thats a very popular Christmas food. Love 'em or hate 'em they are a festive tradition, one which goes back quite some time.
It is thought that 'spicy meat pies' were brought back by the Crusaders from the Middle East in the 12th century. The early mince pie was known by several names, including mutton pie, shrid pie and Christmas pie and contained meats, fruits and spices including cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
The mince pie began to get sweeter in the 18th century when cheap sugar arrived from the West Indies. It wasn't until the 19th century, the mince pie we recognise today had arrived - when many recipes dropped the meat entirely.
