Hawkshead Wigs or Whigs are a type of small oval bread. The origin of its name is not clear: the wigs are said to be of Norse origin, invented as an offering to a God called Wigga, but it is also likely that it derives from a Teutonic word, which means wedge or slice.
This bread was a tradition in the city of Hawkshead, but from the 1850s, the Hawkshead Whig seems to be mentioned much less frequently. Nowadays, Hawkshead Whig bread is still known and occasionally made in the region, however it attracts little interest. Lard is used for its preparation rather than butter. The dough is set aside to rise, then it is knocked back and the softened lard is kneaded in. A small amount of caraway seeds are added to the mixture. Next it is shaped into ovals and allowed to rise again. Its colour is golden with a shiny top, which is why it is also called “wigs”. The Hawkshead Whig’s flavour is lightly spicy due to the caraway seeds, and it is mostly eaten on special occasions including Christmas and Easter.
