Despite the protestations of its inhabitants, Britain doesn’t have the culinary sophistication of countries like France or Italy. But what it does have are some iconic foods and drinks from historic brands that have been popular for generations, some even going back to the 18th century. Here are 16 of the best British foods on Spinneys.com
McVitie’s Digestive Biscuit
As a nation of tea drinkers, it naturally follows that Brits love a biscuit. Of the many delicious treats available, the McVitie’s Digestive stands out as one of the true greats inside the biscuit tin.
Fray Bentos Steak & Kidney Pudding
In the late 1800s a company started making corned beef in a town in Uruguay called Fray Bentos. The beef was sold in Britain to great success and production moved into other foods, including tinned steak and kidney puddings, which today are a much-loved British meal.
Fray Bentos Steak & Kidney Pudding
Bisto Gravy
No British dinner table is complete without a gravy boat containing the hot, beefy sauce. The king of instant gravy is Bisto, a brand founded in 1908 with its famous advertising campaign featuring the Bisto Kids and the slogan ‘Ah! Bisto.’
Tunnock’s Tea Cakes
The jewel in the crown of the Tunnock’s family business – established in Scotland in 1890 – is the tea cake, a chocolate, marshmallow and biscuit treat wrapped in distinctive red and silver foil. The caramel wafer biscuit, also, is another icon of this heritage brand.
Robinsons Orange Barley Squash
Bottles of Robinsons orange barley squash behind the players’ chairs are a familiar sight at the Wimbledon tennis tournament. This popular orange cordial is mixed with water to make a refreshing drink – especially if you’re playing five sets against Rafa Nadal.
Robinsons Orange Barley Squash
Maldon Sea Salt
Still made using traditional methods first employed in 1882, this salt comes from a family business in Maldon, in southeast England. Their pure salt was given the thumbs up from Buckingham Palace in 2012 when it was awarded the Royal Warrant.
Lyle’s Golden Syrup
Packaged in an iconic green and gold tin, the design of which has remained unchanged since 1883, this sweet golden syrup is one of the oldest British food products still being made today.
Marmite
Love it or hate it, nobody sits on the fence with Marmite. Packed with B12, this flavourful yeast extract was created in England in 1902 using a byproduct of the brewing industry. Spread it on hot, buttered toast or a crumpet for a truly unique British snack.
Barr’s Irn-Bru
Fizzy, bright orange and made to a secret recipe, this sugary soft drink is a cult brand and has been drunk in Scotland since 1901. Irn-Bru could almost be called the country’s national drink.
Paxo Sage & Onion Stuffing
Yes, you could make stuffing from scratch, but for many Brits, it’s the smell of this instant sage and onion stuffing mix from Paxo that takes them back to Sundays from their childhood and a family roast dinner.
Real Lancashire Eccles Cakes
A wonderfully sweet treat from Lancashire, the Eccles cake is a small round cake studded with currants and topped with sugar – ideal with a cup of tea, of course.
Twinings English Breakfast Tea
Millions of Brits start their day with a cup of tea and the English breakfast variety by Twinings is hard to beat for flavour, smoothness and history, the manufacturer having been founded in 1706.
Twinings English Breakfast Tea
Birds Eye Fish Fingers
The bearded sailor, Captain Birds Eye, was a popular figure in British TV advertising in the 1980s as he extolled the virtues of his crispy fish fingers. Years later and the breaded fish treat, created in 1955, is still a hit with young and old.
Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate
One glance at this famous purple wrapper tells you that this is a classic – and very creamy - British chocolate bar from Cadbury, a brand that started in Birmingham way back in 1824.
Walkers Ready Salted Crisps
Today there are numerous posh crisps on the market flavoured with the A to Z of ingredients but if you want to keep it simple (and classic) go back to square one and enjoy a packet of ready salted crisps from the big-selling British brand Walkers.
Colman’s English Mustard
A blob of mustard on a roast beef sandwich is a wonderful British pairing. Founded in Norwich in 1814, Colman’s spicy mustard features a bull’s head on the historic and familiar yellow label.
Golden Wonder Pot Noodle
It may not be haute cuisine, but few can deny that there is a guilty pleasure of digging into a Pot Noodle, a classic British fast-food snack best enjoyed late at night.
