The Grasmere Gingerbread War
Which side are you on?
Some of you may recall a post I wrote about Grasmere Gingerbread in which I gave a brief history about it as well as a recipe which I had held in my posession for some years. In the post I acknowledged Sarah Nelson’s version as undoubtedly the most famous of all, the recipe, packaging and commitment to preserving the Sarah Nelson legacy has won many fans and delighted countless tourists with a taste of bygone England. The Sarah Nelson brand is synonomous with Grasmere Gingerbread but it would seem that for the owners that isn’t enough…
An application from ‘Sarah Nelson’ to trademark the name Grasmere Gingerbread has provoked fury from local shop and cafe owners and none more so than Steve Bell who is challenging the application. He argues that Grasmere Gingerbread was already a known commodity before Sarah Nelson herself began making it (something, I refer to in my earlier post) and that her name was patented but not the actual gingerbread. Steve Bell has been making gingerbread for some years using a traditional recipe passed on to him by his grandmother and argues that if the application is successful then he would no longer be able to sell his product as Grasmere Gingerbread. Indeed I for one would have to change my blogpost!
To understand this fully you have to have been to Grasmere. It is a beautiful place which holds fond memories for me but a metropolis it is not. What you will find is a number of small, excellent shops and cafes making a living from promoting all that is good about Grasmere and the English Lake District. It is not tacky in the way many of our seaside towns have become but it does play to its strength by charming the coach loads of tourists passing through every summer. Everyone has a pot of tea and a slice of cake when they visit, it’s a must and that cake is the renowned Grasmere Gingerbread. Unless you don’t like ginger it is one of those foods which is near impossible not to like but how many people really care who makes it?
Personally I don’t care. If I have some gingerbread in Steve Bell’s shop and am told it is homemade then I am impressed because it shows that he cares. If Sarah Nelson’s wrap theirs in parchment then I think that’s a nice touch. Either way I think they are both doing a fine job preserving local tradition. But should one or the other enjoy absolute control over the name and production?
The Sarah Nelson brand is by far the best known but does that mean it should be considered the only one? I have my reservations about that. Would a united front not be better to preserve the ‘Grasmere’ name in the manner of the French wine producing regions thus detracting major manufacturers from exploiting their good name?
I think it’s a shame because to me it goes against the ethos of what a product like Grasmere Gingerbread is all about; regional, delicious and loved for what it is.
Miles
trademark wars are hotting up all over the place now.
I understand why a business would fight to protect their brand but things are going way too far.
In this case I suspect they’ll be lucky to win. If it can be shown that this product was in existence before Sarah Nelson then …
That said you never know nowadays.
A place like Grasmere needs everybody pulling together I would have thought not fighting !
Rod
September 14, 2008 @ 8:22 am
Rod,
That’s my take on it as well. Sarah Nelson could, in reality create a brand rather than preserve a heritage which, in my opinion would go against the grain of what they have stood for.
Miles
September 14, 2008 @ 8:28 am
Miles,
I agree with you. It’s fine to have your own recipe and if there is one which stands out for excellence then surely it will speak for itself?
While we’re on the path of excellence can I tell you about my new tea? It’s called Black Swan from the Zhejiang and Fujian provinces……. smooth, sweet and malty, it’s simply delicious and worth the price. Pity I haven’t any gingerbread to dunk! A fine tea I would put above all alcohol, even chocolate
Here’s hoping all the Lincolnshire folk are out and about enjoying the dry weather…. personally I shall be on the hunt for rosehips.
Cid
September 14, 2008 @ 10:52 am
Cid,
The Black Swan sounds intriguing, especially if you rate it above alcohol!
I did indeed enjoy the good weather, hope you did too.
Miles
September 14, 2008 @ 5:45 pm
We had a local debate last year that can be read here
http://www.artisan-food.com/DotNetNuke/readin/newsviewsfromthekitchen/tabid/210/EntryID/232/Default.aspx
September 15, 2008 @ 8:39 am
Miles,
Yesterday saw me out on the push bike in search of the elusive rosehip but I was wearing my determined hat so hail and snow wouldn’t have stopped me! Now there are a couple of things to keep in mind when picking these… don’t pick them all because the birds need them through winter and wear leather gardening gloves…. it’s a painful business. I followed the recipe more of less and brewed about a litre of the stuff but it doesn’t have as strong a scent or flavour as the purchased equivalent. It sort of looks right though as pictures on the net prove… bit like the colour of weak tomato soup
Does anybody know if the vitamin content diminishes with boiling? Either way I feel I can tick that one off the list of ‘must do’s’ for this season. Moving on from that are Elder and Hawthorn syrups, fruits currently in season here, Elderberries for colds and Hawthorn for heart and circulation, so I might just give them a go as well. I’ve got a horrible feeling that these syrups don’t keep for long but I’ve heard you can freeze them.
Cid
September 15, 2008 @ 10:55 am
Cid,
Sounds great, I would imagine that you will lose some vitamin content through boiling them but it’s still got to be good for you.
The elderberry and hawthorn syrups sound great.
Well done.
Miles
September 15, 2008 @ 4:20 pm
Miles,
I feel I’ve missed my vocation as a potion maker. If the famous Mr Culpeper was alive and well and working in my town, I would surely ask to be his apprentice. Should I ever accidentally find a syrup with youthning and energy enhancing properties, I promise to air it here for the good of the planet… judging by my appearance today it might already be too late
Just to finish off the original post, I have to admit that I’m a fan of ginger Parkin and the season is upon us…. or at least that’s my excuse. Apart from the known properties of ginger and oatmeal, I doubt whether this will be my elixir of life but a small square is all that is required on a cold autumn day to cheer the spirit. Let’s hope that the joy of baking an excellent gingerbread and selling plenty of it, is enough to calm the troubled waters in Grasmere.
Cid
September 15, 2008 @ 6:40 pm
Cid,
It sounds as though you, like me are about ready to embrace all that is autumnul. I’m quite looking forward to game and winter dishes. Good riddance to this sad state of a summer.
Miles
September 15, 2008 @ 8:38 pm
I heard a rumour that Steve Bell has passed away suddenly this week-end Jan 10 2009. I hope it’s not true as he was a great man in a difficult situation. My sympathy to his family.
January 11, 2009 @ 12:40 pm
Enda,
I must say I was reluctant to post your comment because I am unable to verify it. Like you I do indeed hope it isn’t true and that somebody might come across this site and put our minds at rest.
Should you hear anything more I would be grateful if you could let me know.
Kind regards
Miles
January 11, 2009 @ 10:07 pm
Unfortunately it is true, his body was found on the fell overlooking Grasmere. The following link takes you to the article in a local paper
http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/1.377200
January 13, 2009 @ 8:35 pm
Sorry to drag this up again but thought you might “like” to know that the Wilsons successfully registered Grassmere Gingerbread yesterday.
January 24, 2009 @ 11:28 am
http://www.ipo.gov.uk/t-find-number?detailsrequested=H&trademark=2414523
January 24, 2009 @ 11:29 am
Greedydave,
Thanks for that, I appreciate it. Nice to see you back despite the nature of the post.
Miles
January 24, 2009 @ 6:06 pm