Many of our modern Christmas traditions would have been unheard of during the reigns of Henry VIII and his Tudor brethren. Don’t expect to see a Christmas tree, for one thing. The religious nature of the holiday took precedence on…
Simnel Cake: For Mums or Easter?
Simnel cake – a fruitcake with distinctive marzipan decoration. Most places I see it mentioned talk of it as an Easter cake, but I was sure I remembered learning about it for Mother’s Day in school. So which is it?…
Sir Walter Raleigh’s Cordials
Ask most people about Sir Walter Raleigh and they will know him as a soldier, explorer of the New World, and possible lover of Queen Elizabeth I. He introduced tobacco to England, and some say he also introduced the potato…
Black Pudding: British Superfood?
Let’s be honest, it’s not just visitors to the United Kingdom who are both intrigued and horrified by the idea of black pudding. Most Brits fall firmly on one side of the fence or the other; they either love or…
Coffee in the UK: A Brief History
We typically think of tea as the quintessential British beverage, but did you know that coffee has a pretty lengthy and interesting history in the UK? In this piece, we explore coffee and how it has played more of a…
Orange Marmalade: A British Breakfast Tradition
We expect certain things on a traditional British breakfast table. A pot of tea. Fresh toast. And a jar of marmalade. It remains the favourite of Paddington Bear. Whether you prefer thick cut or thin cut, the tangy preserve has…
Here We Come A-Wassailing
It may be a new year, but that doesn’t mean the festive season is completely over. After all, those twelve days of Christmas run until the Eve of Epiphany on January 5. This means there is still time for celebration,…
Mulled Wine and a Smoking Bishop
It’s all well and good to have a huge array of Christmas food on offer for your guests, but you’ve got to have a drink as well. The usual tea, coffee, and something a bit stronger are good. However, on…
Battenberg Cake
With its harlequin sponge and marzipan wrapping, Battenberg (or Battenburg) cake is a firm teatime favourite in the UK. It is also surprisingly easy to make. As for where it originated, that’s not quite so easy. Battenberg cake is made…
Do You Know Your Eccles From Your Banbury?
Britain has a huge number of regional dishes, but it can be easy to confuse some of them. For instance, you might be familiar with the Eccles cake, a small pastry case filled with spiced dried fruit. But do you…