A 100-year-old fruitcake has been found perfectly preserved in ice in Antarctica. 

The Antarctic Heritage Trust said that while the fruitcake's tin was rusted, the cake still looked and smelled edible. It was found in a hut built by Norwegian explorer Carsten Borchegrevink in 1899 and used by Scottish explorer Robert Falcon Scott in 1911. 

Scott is known to have been a lover of this particular brand of fruitcake, made by English biscuit company Huntley & Palmers, and is believed to have taken it with him on his ill-fated Terra Nova expedition to the south pole. 

Fruitcake is high in fat and sugar, making it ideal for trekkers in environments like Antarctica. 

Although the fruitcake survived the hostile environment, Scott and his team did not. They reached the south pole onl to discover a team of Norwegian explorers had beaten them to it by 33 days, and the entire team died on their way back to base. 

While its tin was rusted, the cake inside seemed fine. Photo: Antarctic Heritage TrustWhile its tin was rusted, the cake inside seemed fine. Photo: Antarctic Heritage Trust

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