Food & Drinks of Britain

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Scottish Shortbread

The origins of shortbread in Scotland can be traced back to the 12th centur, with the refinement of shortbread to closer to its contemporary flavour popularly credited to Mary, Queen of Scots in the 16th century.

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The glorious custard cream

Although other nationalities have various cookies, pastries and cakes to their credit, no one in the world seems to have such a wide range of mass-produced biscuits as the British. One of the most enduring is the custard cream, handed down to us from 1908.

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British vineyards - an ancient tradition

Vineyards are becoming an increasingly common sight in the countryside of southeast England, and British wine has come a long way in recent years, winning numerous international accolades and tempting even the most discerning of drinkers.

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HP Sauce- one of Britain’s favourite accompaniments!

The recipe for HP Sauce, one of Britain’s favourite condiments, was developed by Nottingham Grocer Frederick Gibson Garton. He created the sauce in his pickling factory at the back of 47 Sandon Street in Basford in 1896.

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A true British classic - the Yorkshire pudding

Once known as the Dripping Pudding, the Yorkshire pudding is a popular side dish in England, often served with a Sunday roast. It is a baked pudding made from a batter of eggs, flour, and milk or water, heated strongly to rise and obtain a light texture. It has featured in a list of 'ten things people love about Britain'.

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Cullen Skink - seaside Scottish soup

Cullen skink is a thick Scottish soup made of smoked haddock, potatoes and onions. This is a local speciality from the village of Cullen in Moray, on the northeast coast of Scotland.

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The Pork Pie - a British classic

The pork pie is a traditional British food item, which continues to be a highly popular and convenient snack. Modern pork pies are a direct descendant of the raised meat pies of medieval cuisine.

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Battenberg Cake - a British confection

Despite its foreign-sounding name, Battenberg is a traditional English type of cake, and relatively recent in origin. It was first named and described in a bakery and confectionary publication, published in 1898. Distinctive for its check pattern alternately coloured pink and yellow when cut through, these patterns when used on emergency vehicles in the UK are officially referred to as Battenburg markings because of their resemblance to the cake.

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Toad in the Hole - an English classic

English cuisine is rich in culinary delicacies with strange names. Bubble and squeak. Pigs in blankets. Angels on horseback. Yorkshire pudding. Toad in the hole, also known as Sausage Toad, is a traditional English dish, comprising sausages in Yorkshire pudding batter, often served with onion gravy.

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The humble potato - 500-year-old staple diet

The British diet would seem very strange without the potato. But, until explorers from Europe reached the Americas, we were a nation without this vegetable. That all changed in the 1580s.

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Fish and Chips - the original British fast food

When people are asked to name the most typical British meal, the answer is often fish and chips. It is believed that the tradition in the UK of fish battered and fried in oil, served with similarly cooked potatoes, may actually have been brought by immigrants. It is estimated there are 10,500 specialist fish and chip shops in the UK, selling 382 million meals every year, and earning a staggering £1.2 billion.

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A stink about Stilton

Stilton is one of the world’s best known cheeses. However, there is some dispute over its history, with European and English law insisting that true stilton can only be made in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire, despite it being named after a village in Cambridgeshire.

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Cheshire Cheese - the oldest British cheese

Cheshire cheese is one of the oldest recorded named cheeses in British history: it is first mentioned, along with a Shropshire cheese, by Thomas Muffet in his book "Health's Improvement" (c. 1580). It has been said that the cheese is mentioned in the Domesday Book, but this is sadly not true!

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Liquorice Allsorts - a sweet delight from Sheffield

Though best known for its former steel industry, Sheffield is also the heartland of Liquorice Allsorts, invented by acident here in 1899 and still produced in the city in Bassetts' factory.

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Wensleydale Cheese - once made by monks

Wensleydale is a crumbly and mild hard cheese originally produced in Wensleydale, North Yorkshire.

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Caerphilly cheese - a crumbly sensation

Caerphilly cheese is a hard, crumbly Welsh white cheese that originated in the area around the town of Caerphilly, Wales. Some say it was initially created to provide local miners with a nourishing and affordable source of sustenance.

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