Edible-looking 100-year-old fruitcake recovered in Antarctica

(Image credit: iStock)

published 11 August 2017

A 100-year-old fruitcake has been recovered in Antarctica and folks, it seems basically edible. That's the latest from Antarctic Heritage Trust, which estimates the treat dates back to British explorer Robert Falcon Scott's 1910-1913 expedition to Cape Adare. "Although the tin was in poor condition, the cake itself looked and smelt (almost) edible," Antarctic Heritage Trust writes.

The discovery was made during an effort to preserve Antarctica's first buildings, constructed by Norwegians in 1899 and used by Scott on his later expedition. Program manager Lizzie Meek explained that "finding such a perfectly preserved fruitcake in amongst the last handful of unidentified and severely corroded tins was quite a surprise. It's an ideal high-energy food for Antarctic conditions, and is still a favorite item on modern trips to the ice."

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.

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