Fruitcake

This much maligned holiday treat dates back to the ancient Egyptians. Fruitcake-like loaves were found in tombs and assumed to be food for the journey to the afterlife. Many believe those same ones are being re-gifted today, and would only eat fruitcake after they have shuffled off this mortal coil.

The Romans feasted on fruitcake as did many other cultures. But the Europeans' "discovery of the new world" and its vast supply of sugar increased the cake's popularity. In times before rapid transportation and refrigeration, the fruitcake was a good way to preserve fruit for winter consumption. The large amounts of sugar and generous use of alcohol, aid in preventing bacteria growth. They also account for the cake's substantial weight.

Some interesting fruitcake facts:

47% of recipients re-gift fruitcake; 11% throw them out; "feeding a fruitcake" is the term for soaking it with alcohol (which can be whisky, bourbon, rum or brandy); depending on custom a fruitcake can be fed over a day, month or an entire year; a fruitcake should not be served for a minimum of a week after baking to give the fruits the opportunity to ferment and increase  in flavor; kept in an airtight tin, a fruitcake can stay fresh for up to 25 years.

For the record, I truly enjoy fruitcake. It is a tasty, nutty treat. I prefer ones fed with brandy. - as ever BB

"The worst gift is fruitcake. There is only one fruitcake in the entire world and people keep sending it to each other." - Johnny Carson