You're probably familiar with the mushroom-shaped muffin from bakeries everywhere. But do you know where muffins came from, which country they originated in and why they became so famous? Today we have the answers.
The History of the Muffin
The word "muffin" comes from the French "moufflet". This bake has a long history that can be traced back to the 10th and 11th centuries in Wales, in Britain.
At first, muffins were food for slaves in Victorian English society. They would gather leftover bread scraps, biscuit dough and mashed potato, knead them into a dough and cook it on a flat-bottomed pan. The tempting aroma of this servants' food drifted up from below stairs to the masters upstairs, and it was so delicious that no one could resist. In the end it became a treat the English enjoyed with afternoon tea every day.
The Muffin Man
Muffins grew more popular in the 19th century. In those days, many "muffin men" walked the streets ringing bells to sell muffins at teatime. They made so much noise everywhere that the government had to pass a law banning muffin men from disturbing residents. The muffin man also appears in a classic, much-loved English nursery rhyme about a muffin man who lives on Drury Lane. Although there is no clear evidence of who wrote the song or why, a credible theory is that muffins were a popular snack that people bought to eat before or after the theatre in London's Drury Lane district.
Muffin men of that era were often Irish or immigrants. Most were kind and friendly, and their bakes were so widely known that they inspired a song. By World War I, muffins had become the most popular treat in the British Isles. Muffins were then introduced to the United States in the 1960s, where the recipe was adapted by simply adding grains, nuts or dried fruit.
Muffins Today
Muffin recipes can be made with or without yeast, but yeast muffins are rarely seen today. Muffins are also now shaped like cupcakes, which is the muffin we all know so well. A typical muffin fits an adult's hand and is usually eaten for breakfast, or sometimes as a snack during the day. The corn muffin is a traditional, very popular American breakfast item made from corn and various cereals. It is spread with a little butter or dipped in coffee before eating.
Official State Muffins
In some US states, the muffin is even an official state food:
- Corn muffin: Massachusetts
- Blueberry muffin: Minnesota
- Apple muffin: New York
