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The arrival of mince pies on supermarket shelves signals Christmas has well and truly arrived, and that first bite of flaky pastry filled with sweet, spiced fruit is undoubtedly amongst the finest ways to embrace the festive spirit. Yet the name remains baffling to many. Mince typically features in savoury dishes like spaghetti bolognese or shepherd's pie, not in sweet treats.

While it's relatively common knowledge that mince pies don't contain meat, the misleading name has caused some to miss out on this seasonal delight for years. TikToker Laura Parker shared footage confessing she'd steered clear of the Christmas staple, convinced they'd taste of beef, reports the Mirror.

The clip captures Laura enjoying the pastry with the caption: "On my fifth mince pie because I'm making up for all the years I thought they was beef flavour." The accompanying description states: "If I knew from the start it was a sweet treat I would have been unhinged a long time ago."

A fellow TikTok user responded: "WAIT ITS NOT MINCE," prompting another to clarify: "It's fruits and currants." The bewildered commenter replied: "I'm unsure how I feel about that - I must try them now."

Another person remarked: "I remember where I was when I found out it was mincemeat and not mince meat." They continued: "I could not figure out why people were so keen to eat a room temperature mini meat pie."

However, some expressed disappointment upon discovering the lack of actual meat. One remarked: "I thought they were like... mini shepherd's pies... I'm so disappointed."

Another recounted a humorous childhood memory, stating: "This is where the darkness in me grew from. I once was a happy child and excited to try mince pies. I loved steak pie so I thought it'd be the same... I was tragically wrong. I will never forget the taste of that day... Mince pies forever traumatise me."

The filling comprises dried fruits, generally raisins, currants, apples, and finely-diced mixed peel, combined with brandy, sugar, and warming spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. While traditional versions incorporate beef suet, which remains common in numerous mince pies currently, alternative recipes employ meat-free substitutes including butter or vegetable shortening.

Nevertheless, the formula has transformed considerably through the ages, with mince pies bearing little resemblance to their historical predecessors. The BBC notes that the earliest documented version appeared in 1390, when the cookbook A Forme of Cury featured a recipe for 'tartes of flesh' comprising pork, hard-boiled eggs, and cheese, combined with spices, saffron, and sugar.

A further recipe from 1615 included an entire leg of mutton and three pounds of suet, alongside seasonings and fruit. The first association of mince pies with Christmas can be traced back to the mid-17th century, as documented in the diaries of writer and statesman Samuel Pepys.

Contrary to popular belief, Oliver Cromwell did not attempt to ban mince pies during his reign over England in the mid-1600s, as reported by the BBC. However, he did oversee a failed bid by Parliament to abolish Christian holy days, including Christmas.

As per the BBC, sweet pies gained popularity as sugar became more affordable and readily available due to sugarcane plantations in the West Indies. By the time of the Victorians, these festive treats had evolved into their present form.