UK chain to sell Australian lamingtons – but not as we know them
British supermarket chain Marks & Spencer has launched a range of “Aussie classic” lamingtons but many Australian’s wouldn’t recognise them.
M&S claims it’s inclusion of lamingtons are the first time the Australian treat is to be widely sold on the high street in the United Kingdom.
And the so-called taste of Australia comes at a premium that have school fete cake-stall holders reeling – retailing at a whopping four pounds ($8.30) for a pack of two.
But while most Aussies grew up enjoying the a vanilla spinge square covered in chocolate icing and coconut, M&S claims its “classic” variety is a “buttermilk-enriched chocolate sponge coated in chocolate sauce, rolled in coconut flakes and topped with hand-piped jam and buttercream”.
The stores will also stock a caramelised biscuit version, but Woolworths can take the blame for that one after launching the lamington variation in Australia in July.
The caramelised biscuit lamington – which has proved a big hit on social media – is a rich chocolate sponge rolled in caramelised biscuit crumb and finished with hand-piped buttercream and salted caramel sauce.
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“Lamingtons are definitely the most iconic cake from Down Under and it’s very exciting to be the first to bring our version of this beloved Aussie classic to the UK high street,” M&S Food product developer for bakery treats Alice Birch said.
Unlike the Pavlova, and even the flat white coffee, the lamington is undeniably Australian without any trans-Tasman claims on its provinance.
The treat is thought to be named after Lord Lamington – governor of Queensland from 1896 to 1901 – or his wife Lady Lamington.
The Lamington’s chef, French-born Armand Galland, supposedly whipped up the very first batch to feed unexpected guests using only leftover sponge cake, chocolate and coconut.
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According to Lady Lamington’s memoirs, the guests were so impressed by Galland’s creation, they later asked for the recipe.
Another version of the cake’s creation has Galland accidentally dropping a block of sponge into a dish of chocolate. It was later discovered that desiccated coconut, sprinkled over the top, made the cakes more appealing.
This is what a real Australian lamington is supposed to look like. Photo: Getty
So popular have lamington’s proved to be in Australia that July 21 has been designated as National Lamington Day.
It’s documented Australian heritage, did not stop the University of Auckland making an ambit claim for the treat in a 2014 April Fools prank.
According to the University, the lamington actually originated in New Zealand as a coconut cake called the Wellington.
The “Wellington” was supposedly inspired by the snow-capped mountains of New Zealand and later named after Lord Lamington, who visited the country in 1895.
