Pot Pies, Banoffee, and Honeycomb: Discovering Unique British Flavors

Some popular destinations for study abroad–such as France and Italy–are famous for their delicious cuisine. Great Britain, however, has a reputation for having less-than-great food. Some people have told me that British food is bland, unhealthy, and gross. In my experience, I have found that there is some tasty British food. There are many things to try, and to broadly claim that British food en masse is bad does not do justice to Britain’s many delicious–yet sometimes unhealthy– meals, sweets, and snacks. Here is a list of some of the scrummy (translation: delicious) food I have tried while in England.

Hearty Meals

The Brits have mastered how to make hearty meals that warm the soul.

Fish & Chips (With Mushy Peas)

“Fish and chips” is probably one of the more well-known British dishes, and rightfully so. The fish and chips are fantastic. I recommend adding some malt vinegar on top. Oftentimes, the fish and chips will come with mushy peas, which is exactly what is sounds like: mushed up green peas. It is slightly sweet, and goes great with chips. Chips are popular in the U.K. and they are not limited to being served only with fish; they come with nearly everything, even Domino’s and Chinese takeout. Great Britain is literally surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, so one does not need to go far to get some fresh cod or haddock.

Sunday Roast

A Sunday roast is a traditional “meat and potatoes” kind of meal. Expect a plate topped with generous servings of beef, chicken, or pork with a variety of roasted or boiled potatoes and vegetables. Many pubs and restaurants will serve Sunday roast or carvery every week on Sundays.

Pot Pies

Following the “meat and potatoes” theme, let’s discuss pot pies. On wet and cold day, there’s nothing better than a steaming hot pot pie. You may be familiar with shepherd’s pie, but there are all sorts of combinations of meat and vegetable pies. I recently had ham and chicken pie. There are vegetarian options as well. A good pot pie has a thick, crispy, flaky crust and a nice gravy.

Sweets

I am a sucker for baked goods, of which England has many to try. I have also tried other desserts and candy, which are called sweets in England.

Cream Tea

Cream tea is not a drink; rather, it is a scone, served with jam and clotted cream, severed with tea. Clotted cream is a thick, sweet, spreadable cream. This is a decadent sweet, perfect to split with a friend as you catch up in the afternoon.

Sticky Toffee Pudding

My mouth is watering just thinking about this one. Sticky toffee pudding is a moist sponge cake drenched in a caramel-y toffee sauce. Because it is usually hot, it is best served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Banofee

I don’t think banana is a popular flavor for candy or desserts in America, but it is more so in the U.K. Banoffee pie is a pie consisting of a graham cracker-like crust, bananas, cream, toffee, and a chocolate shavings. This “banoffee” flavor can be found in a number of other treats, like milkshakes, syrup, and cookies.

Honeycomb

Like banoffee, honeycomb is a flavor more common in the U.K. Honeycomb is of course very sweet. I have seen it as candy, in baked goods, and tried it in ice cream.

Snacks

Pasties and Sausage Rolls

Pasties and sausage rolls are quick meals or filling snacks. Pasties are basically handheld pot pies. They consist of a hearty pastry filled with minced meat, potatoes, and vegetables. Sausage rolls are minced sauced surrounded by flaky pastry. These are inexpensive and delicious snacks or meals good for when you are on the move.

Crisps

Crisps (translation: chips, as in potato chips) are mostly similar to chips in the U.S., but there are a few different flavors. Instead of sour cream and onion, there is cheese and onion. While the U.S. has barbecue flavor, the U.K. has bacon, chicken, and prawn flavors. There are also paprika Pringles, which I’ve been told are addicting.

Flapjacks

Not to be confused with American pancakes, flapjacks in the U.K. are tray bakes, made of rolled oats, brown sugar, syrup, and other ingredients to add flavor. They are basically chewy and soft granola bars. They are very filling and go great with a cup of tea.

Drinks

Tea

Lots and lots of tea. Brits really do love their tea. I’ve been told that the “British way” to have tea is with milk, no sugar. I personally prefer my cuppa (translation: cup of tea) black (without milk).

Squash

No, not the vegetable. Squash is a fruit juice beverage that is purchased in concentrated form. After bringing some home from the grocery store, you poor only a small amount in to a glass and fill the rest with water. The first time I tried squash, I made the mistake of assuming I did not need to dilute the juice. I’ve only had orange, which seems to be the most popular. The taste is nothing exceptional, but the idea of purchasing juice concentrate is novel to me.

Cider

In south west England, hard cider is a popular alcoholic drink. There are several stellar local cideries. Cider is usually made from apples, though I have also had pear cider. The flavor ranges from sweet to dry.

International Cuisine

If traditional British food does not appeal to you, don’t fret. The British population is diverse, and there is a variety of international food options to choose from. In Exeter, I have enjoyed Jamaican and Japanese fusion restaurants. A popular restaurant chain called Nando’s serves up tasty Afro-Portuguese chicken with its popular Piri-Piri sauce. Piri-Piri is even making its way in to other eateries as well. Like the U.S., there is Chinese takeout, although the food options are slightly different (No crab rangoon, unfortunately). Indian food is prevalent here, not unlike how Mexican food is easily accessible in many parts the U.S. It tastes incredible!