Britain has a rich culinary heritage and is home to many traditional foods that have a unique history and taste. A lot of British cuisine is unpopular in America or hasn’t even been heard of across the pond, but there’s a variety of British foods, including hearty comfort foods and sweet treats, that every American should try at some point in their life. Dig into these 18 classic foods from Britain if you’re curious about what the Brits eat.
Black Pudding
When you hear what black pudding is, it sounds pretty disgusting, but give it a chance! Black pudding is a type of blood sausage made from a mixture of pig or cow’s blood, pork fat, and oatmeal (gross, right?). However, if you forget what’s in it, it can be a delicious appetizer or addition to a full English breakfast, and many Brits vouch for its tastiness. Unfortunately, it’s illegal to import to the U.S., so most Americans won’t get the chance to taste it.
Scotch Eggs
Eggs are a staple in every American home, and likely every home around the whole world, due to their versatility. Eggs can be cooked in many ways and eaten in many forms, and one form Americans might not be very familiar with is the Scotch egg. A Scotch egg is a tasty deep-fried snack made from a hard-boiled egg covered in a layer of sausage meat and then bread crumbs.
Cornish Pasty
Back in 2011, the BBC reported that the Cornish Pasty Association “produce 106 million pasties a year, worth a total of £65m per annum – a figure equivalent to 3% of Cornwall’s gross domestic product.” With those numbers, these Cornish pasties must be good! Every American should try this delicious savory pie filled with meat and vegetables that are widely known as Cornwall’s national dish if they get the chance.
Fish and Chips
The NFFF highlights that there’s “a staggering annual spend of £1.2 billion on fish and chips in the UK.” This immense popularity shows that there’s nothing quite like British fish and chips (or fries as we call them). There are many fish and chip shops in the United Kingdom, which the Brits fondly call ‘chippies’, and you can also find this dish in most traditional British pubs. Americans will be missing out if they don’t try this classic.
Full English Breakfast
There are so many components to a full English breakfast, such as bacon, sausage, baked beans, fried egg, hash browns, black pudding, fried tomato, mushrooms, and toast. I may have even forgotten something, it’s so hard to keep track of it all! It’s pretty mind-boggling how Brits can eat all this for breakfast, but if you’re going to give it a go, you have to try it all to get the full experience.
Jaffa Cakes
Jaffa cakes are the ideal bite-sized, sweet treat! They have a light sponge base, a dark chocolate coating, and an orange jelly surprise in the center. Once you have one of these treats, you have to have more. This might seem ridiculous, as it’s in the name, but Jaffa cakes are actually the subject of quite a heated debate in the UK regarding whether they’re a cake or a biscuit (what we’d call a cookie), with a court case officially ruling that they’re a cake.
Marmite
Another British food that divides the population is Marmite, a spread typically used in sandwiches or on toast. People either absolutely love it or find it completely disgusting. This strong, salty spread is so famous that it created the much-used phrase: ‘it’s like Marmite, you either love it or hate it.’ Americans must try it themselves to find out which side of the fence they’re on.
Crumpets
Ever thought that bread and toast aren’t good enough? The Brits have the solution: crumpets. Crumpets are circular pieces of batter, which are often toasted and buttered, that people in the United Kingdom might have for breakfast instead of toast. You can also put other toppings like jam on crumpets (as you would with toast). Americans have to try this breakfast food to see what all the fuss is about.
Toad in the Hole
Before you freak out, this dish is not made from actual toads! They might eat some weird things over the pond, but they don’t snack on toads. Toad in the Hole is an iconic British meal featuring sausages cooked in Yorkshire pudding. Yorkshire pudding is a traditional British food in itself, and when combined with sausages, it creates the ultimate comfort food all Americans should try. Don’t forget to drown it in gravy too for the full experience!
Bubble and Squeak
Many Americans might have come across Bubble and Squeak in British movies and TV shows, as it’s a dish that’s been around for centuries. A great use for leftovers, Bubble and Squeak mixes potatoes, cabbage, and any other vegetables you might have lying around. Try to replicate this British dish if you want to reduce your food waste. If you’re wondering where the odd name came from, it’s named after the noises the ingredients make when being cooked in the pan!
Eton Mess
Getting its name from the prestigious Eton College, Eton Mess is a delight for the taste buds! This sweet dessert is created by combining meringue, cream, and typically a variety of berries, and the result is a wonderful mixture of different tastes and textures in every bite. This dish is incredibly popular in the United Kingdom and is sure to be enjoyed just as much by any American who tries it.
Sticky Toffee Pudding
Another yummy British dessert is the sticky toffee pudding. Usually more popular in the colder months, this pudding is often served warm with cream or ice cream. As the name suggests, it’s made up of a sticky cake that’s covered in warm toffee sauce. It’s the perfect dessert to satisfy that craving for something sweet after you’ve had your main meal. It’s likely everything you’ve ever dreamed of, but you won’t know unless you try it!
Haggis
Hailing from Scotland, Haggis appears to be taking over the world in recent years. According to GOV.UK, “the total export value of haggis over the past decade [is] at £8.8 million and [there’s been] a 136% increase in tonnage of haggis shipped across the world.” Although it’s currently banned in the U.S., Americans should try to get their hands on this delicacy made from the liver, stomach, or heart of sheep or cows at least once. Just ignore how terrifying it sounds!
Victoria Sponge Cake
A Victoria sponge cake (also known as a Victoria sandwich) is the ultimate British cake and is a staple at birthday parties, weddings, and just about any other celebration in the UK! The cake itself is named after Queen Victoria, who was known to love cakes, and it consists of two layers of vanilla sponge cake with jam and cream in the middle and a dusting of icing on top. It’s a delicious cake that every American should have the pleasure of tasting.
Scones with Clotted Cream and Jam
The cliche image of British people sitting down to enjoy English tea wouldn’t be complete without scones with clotted cream and jam. A greatly popular treat in the United Kingdom, scones are a traditional British baked good that can actually be either sweet or savory. When it comes to sweet scones, they can be quite problematic, as many Brits argue over whether you should put the cream or the jam on first!
Jellied Eels
Another pretty questionable snack that the Brits somehow enjoy is jellied eels. They look even more gross than they sound, with the boiled eels sitting in a thick, gelatinous broth. Originating in London, this unappealing dish has been around in Britain since the 18th century. There seems to be no reasonable explanation for it, but once people give this delicacy a go, they often keep going back for more!
Deep-Fried Mars Bar
Over-the-top, extreme, sweet food creations are usually associated with America, but it’s actually the British that pushed the limits with the deep-fried Mars bar! A Mars bar is a classic British chocolate bar that’s made up of chocolate, caramel, and nougat. This tasty treat is deep-fried to produce the sickliest, most unhealthy snack you could possibly think of. It sounds like the perfect British food for Americans to check out!
Pork Pies
Pork pies are savory finger food that always has a place at every buffet across the pond. Unheard of by many Americans, these packages of minced pork, herbs, and spices sealed with pastry are a much-loved snack in the United Kingdom. They were invented back in medieval times as a way of preserving meat and have only grown in popularity since, spreading to Australia and New Zealand. Maybe it’s time for pork pies to take over America.
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