British culture is known to be iconic, from the royal family to its rock and roll history. However, British cuisine is often considered a step behind other countries. Discover 18 British dishes that the rest of the world doesn’t want to try, and find out why they’re so poorly received by other nations.
Haggis
Most people don’t think of the internal organs of sheep when considering a snack, but haggis is a delicacy in Scotland. The sheep’s heart, liver, and lungs are bulked out with onion, oatmeal, and spices and are all cooked inside its stomach (though artificial casings are more often used nowadays). This results in a nutty and savory-flavored meal.
Jellied Eels
A common dish in the East End of London since the 18th century, jellied eels consist of eels (once plentiful in the River Thames) that are chopped and boiled in spiced stock before being allowed to cool and set into a jelly. The dish’s texture may be considered off-putting and gross to tourists.
Stargazy Pie
Stargazy pie is a pastry dish consisting of sardine heads protruding through the crust of a pie. This may be alarming to a lot of people, especially those who don’t particularly want to be looking at the animal they’re about to eat. According to Vice, however, this is often only cooked to commemorate Tom Bawcock’s Eve, a day when “a local man called Tom Bawcock bravely sailed out to sea and returned with fish aplenty” during a time of famine.
Black Pudding
Eating blood may be distressing for some, so black pudding—made using pork or beef blood mixed with a cereal such as oatmeal—may not be considered an ideal choice for breakfast for tourists. However, many Brits still enjoy it as part of a traditional breakfast!
White Pudding
White pudding is seen as an alternative to black pudding, as it doesn’t use blood. Instead, it mixes fat with oatmeal, barley, and breadcrumbs all inside a sausage casing. Some might still object to eating it due to the use of animal intestines for the sausage, however.
Baked Beans on Toast
One of the most famous examples of the polarizing nature of British food, beans on toast is a simple meal of baked beans poured on toast. That’s it. According to TastingTable, “One possible explanation for Brits’ love of the dish and Americans’ loathing of it is that British beans in tomato sauce are not as sugary as American ones.” Others simply find it off-putting.
Liquor
Also called parsley sauce, liquor contains flour, butter, milk, and chopped parsley. It’s often served alongside pie and mash in the U.K. People unfamiliar with it may be skeptical of giving it a go because of the green color of the sauce, but they may be pleasantly surprised if they do.
Kippers
An old, traditional breakfast food in Britain, kippers are smoked herring that have been split down the middle. Off-putting even to most modern Brits due to their strong smell and taste, the popularity of kippers has been on the decline for years—so it’s no surprise the rest of the world isn’t lining up for a taste.
Christmas Pudding
With origins in medieval England, Christmas pudding is a mainstay tradition in many households come Christmas day. As shared by Allrecipes, Christmas pudding involves dried fruit, candied fruit peel, and citrus zests, all mixed together into a sponge cake. The resulting dense, rich flavor is unappealing to many.
Dripping
Dripping is animal fat from the unusable parts of cows or pigs and can be eaten on bread cold instead of butter or used for cooking. As it’s considered less healthy than vegetable oil, it has been shunned by both modern Britain and the rest of the world but is still eaten by some.
Pork Pies
Pork pies are made from chopped pork, pork fat, and jellied pork stock, all encased in a thick pastry. The resulting texture from the fat and jelly is off-putting to many foreign eaters, though it is considered normal (even a nice treat) to eat in the U.K.
Mushy Peas
The unusual texture and appearance of this dish are immediately strange to those who haven’t been brought up on it. According to The Daring Gourmet, mushy peas originated in northern England in the mid-18th century and have been going strong ever since. Marrowfat peas are boiled until soft, and the resulting mush is seasoned with salt and pepper.
Scotch Eggs
Scotch eggs are boiled eggs wrapped in sausage meat and then covered in breadcrumbs, which are then deep-fried. This unfamiliar combination of egg, meat, and bread may be seen as strange to outsiders; however, scotch eggs are very well received in the U.K.
Marmite
Famous for its divisive nature, many, even in the U.K., despise this spread. Usually eaten on toast, Marmite is a sticky, dark brown yeast paste with a powerful salty flavor. The spread is generally off-putting to many due to its appearance alone, but its smell will likely have you pulling away too. As they say, you either love it or hate it.
Mince Pies
Many are discouraged by the name alone, but don’t let it fool you—the mince involved is actually dried fruit and spices rather than meat from a cow or pig, which was how they were traditionally made back in the 13th century, as shared by Great British Mag. A staple of Christmas across the U.K., Brits absolutely love these sweet pastries.
Brown Sauce
Brown sauce is a popular condiment in the U.K. that is usually used for full English breakfasts and bacon or sausage sandwiches. The ominous brown appearance of the sauce may be strange to some people, as is the smell.
Toad in the Hole
The combination of Yorkshire pudding and baked sausage may not sound too appetizing to people unfamiliar with this dish. The name and appearance can also be off-putting. However, toad in the hole is considered delicious by those in the U.K., and those who try it often end up loving it.
Spotted Dick
With its peculiar name, spotted dick is very much considered strange by those who live outside the United Kingdom. Made with suet (a kind of animal fat) and dried fruit, spotted dick is served as a dessert along with custard.
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