Lost in the sweet chaos: The delightful origins of Eton mess

Eton mess is an iconic English dessert that has won fans worldwide. In each cup, you’ll find everything that makes desserts great—sweet meringues, strawberries, and whipped cream. It's perfect for small and large occasions or any day when only a sweet treat can cheer you up.

Its name refers to the somewhat accidental method of preparing this dessert. The most popular legend speaks of a cricket match played between Harrow and Eton College. During the event, a basket with Pavlova meringue was knocked over by a Labrador. The cake fell apart, the ingredients mixed, and a sweet mess was created.

Another theory says that this dessert was served in 1893 at the wedding ceremony of Prince George and Princess Mary of Teck. Many stories about the creation of the dessert are essentially legends and anecdotes that have become more colorful over time. My favorite remains the one with the Labrador, and considering the liveliness of dogs, it even sounds plausible.

Even though the exact origin of the Eton mess may be a mystery, it does not detract from its taste—this dessert simply steals hearts. Adults love it, children devour it, and the cups always return empty.

Ingredients:      

• 12 oz of strawberries
• 2 cups of 30% cream
• 1/2 cup of powdered sugar
• 2 oz of meringues

Decoration: 

• a mint leaf

Preparation method:

Step 1. Wash the strawberries and place them in a bowl. Blend them into a puree.

Step 2. Pour the well-chilled cream into a bowl and whip it until stiff, adding powdered sugar as needed. Crumble the meringues in a separate bowl.

Step 3. In a cup, layer the whipped cream, strawberry puree, and crumbled meringues. Then, add another layer of cream, strawberries, and meringues. Decorate with a mint leaf. Enjoy!