Journalism major Faith Morrow ’24 attended the Regional Writers of England May-Term Faculty Led Experience in May 2022. She wrote this piece as a part of her 2022 SCARP project titled “Sharing Personal Cultural Experiences Through Travel Writing.”
English food has gotten a bad rap in pop culture, from flavorless pub food to herb water overpriced as tea. While in every country there are hits and misses with local food, I can assure you that not all English food is bad. After two weeks in England where I tried several new foods and different cuisines, I sorted out my favorite foods unique to the country. Here are ten foods and drinks you should give a try on your next trip to England, all tasted by yours truly.
Full English Breakfast
What better way to start off this list than with one of the most notable meals in British culture! A Full English is like the cousin to your classic American breakfast of eggs, pancakes with syrup, sausage, bacon, hashbrowns, and orange juice. The Full English Breakfasts I had during my stay at Royal Oxford Hotel came with baked beans, thick British bacon, sausage links, a fried tomato, cooked mushrooms, toast with an egg on top, and blood sausage.
Okay, hold on, baked beans for breakfast? Yep. But if you’re a fan of baked beans like I am, I think they fit well with a hearty meal. Though the bacon and sausage are pretty standard, I did not expect the fried tomato or mushrooms. I’m not a big tomato lover, but I didn’t mind the mushrooms which I otherwise don’t eat a lot of! The toast and eggs were normal parts of the breakfast for me but be prepared for the strange black patty that is blood sausage (or blood pudding). Though it’s what you’d expect, sausage made with animal blood, the name is so off-putting I would only nibble on mine. It tastes like a denser sausage is all, so don’t be afraid to give it a go!
It is a lot of food at the start of the day so I wouldn’t recommend having it often, but it is a nice treat for a special morning.
Lemon Sugar Pancake
While we may douse our fluffy pancakes in store-bought or even real-deal local maple syrup in the U.S., try this alternative in England! I had lemon sugar pancakes for breakfast at The Royal Hotel in Bath where the pancakes were lighter, more like crepes, and I was given two lemon wedges to squeeze the juice onto my pancakes and sugar to sprinkle on top. The outcome was sweet but tart, altogether more refreshing and lighter than traditional pancakes! Since the kind of maple trees used for harvesting sap are not abundant in England, it makes sense why maple syrup is not as popular as in the U.S.
Flapjack
Nope, I’m not talking about pancakes anymore! In England, flapjacks are thick baked oat bars served in rectangular or square cutouts. They’re like the predecessor to the granola bar. I bought a flapjack at the Bath Guildhall Market and it was probably an inch thick! My oat bar was on the crunchier side and not very sugary like grocery store granola bars, but it had a nice simple taste of the batter and some kind of jam used in it. Kimberly Killebrew of The Gourmet Dare food blog explains that traditional flapjacks are simply made with “oats, butter, sugar, and golden syrup” (a thick golden sugar syrup). Variations can include icing, ganache, nuts, dried fruit, and other local specialties. It’s a filling snack good for in-between meals or fuel power for a long walk or hike.
Scotch Egg
Another British food great for on-the-go is the Scotch Egg, which wasn’t actually invented in Scotland (misleading, right?). It’s a classic snack involving a hard-boiled egg wrapped in sausage then covered in breadcrumbs and deep-fried. Tempting, I know. When I bought mine at the Bath Guildhall Market I assumed it would be hot, but the deep-fried egg was actually cold which is how it’s normally served in Britain, according to Britannica. Though I would’ve preferred eating the meaty deep-fried goodness warm, it was still a satisfying lunch I could eat straight from the paper wrapper as I watched the water and seagulls on the Pulteney Weir in Bath.
Afternoon Tea
A quintessential taste of Britain would not be complete without a posh little afternoon tea, served between lunch and dinner around 3 or 4 p.m. Though the meal includes tea options, like English Breakfast, Earl Grey, Darjeeling, or Ceylon among others, it certainly isn’t just tea. For traditional afternoon teas, a three-tiered tray of finger sandwiches, scones, and desserts is also served. Don’t assume this is part of daily British life though — the traditional fancy afternoon teas are for occasions, not routine.
When I enjoyed afternoon tea at The Pump Room in Bath, four little sandwiches were served with different fillings and toppings like salmon, egg salad, peas, and gooey toasted cheese. Next I cut my scones in half and topped with clotted cream and jam, which is typically strawberry. Though clotted cream sounds a bit strange, I promise it’s a sweet, incredibly smooth butter-like spread that will perfect your scones. Finally, I enjoyed dessert with an assortment of small cakes and patisserie including an almond patisserie, colorful cake, smooth tiramisu, and coffee macaron.
Samosa
With the popularity of Indian food in England, finding this Indian snack won’t be too difficult! Samosas are triangular pastries with hot fillings inside full of flavor and spice. According to Indian food blog Cook With Manali, the samosa’s pastry should be flakey and crispy, never oily, and when you bite into it there may be lamb or chicken along with veggies to compliment it. Vegetarian samosas are also commonly served, sometimes with spicy potatoes, peas, onions, and more. I enjoyed a vegetarian samosa from Sofi de France in the Oxford Covered Market for a light lunch after arriving in England. It’s a great food for either on-the-go or to sit down and enjoy with chai and dipping sauces.
Sausage Roll
One of the most comforting foods I had in England was a delicious King Sausage Roll from Parsons Bakery in Wells. I ate it along with a jam doughnut for lunch on the lawn in front of Wells Cathedral — perfection! Like a cousin to Pigs in a Blanket, this British bakery item is just what it sounds like: savory sausage wrapped in a flaky pastry. As Tara Holland of The Kitchnn notes, the inside is pork sausage meat rather than sausage in a casing and has spices and seasoning like Worcester sauce and onion powder. Meanwhile a golden crispy puff pastry hugs the warm fillings to create a delicious roll ready to eat!
Butterbeer
If you’re a Potterhead visiting England, try some butterbeer at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter. Served cold, this non-alcoholic drink is a staple of the wizarding world. To me, the butterbeer tasted like a refreshing vanilla cream soda, and the bubbles on top were delightful. Unlike regular whipped cream, the foamy white topping is sticky and sweet, leaving a mustache when you sip! Though of course it’s going to be a bit overpriced for basically a special soda, you’ll enjoy the taste and hopefully be refreshed to finish the rest of the long studio tour. And if you happen to be more of an ice cream lover, they offer butterbeer soft serve as well!
Sally Lunn Bun
When in Bath, have a Sally Lunn Bun! Not to be confused with a Bath Bun (a small, sweet, heavier bun), this bun is famous in Bath and served at Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House. Touted as the oldest building in Bath dating back to 1482, the quaint restaurant offers the Lunn Bun by itself or in variations like Trenchers. Similar to brioche, this scrumptious bun is as big as your hand and super easy to pull apart since it’s so light. I had a Pork Trencher at Sally Lunn’s which was a bottom of a Lunn Bun topped with warm bites of pork, veggies, and a deviled sauce. It was a hearty, simple meal after a long day of walking all over Bath.
Torsy Moorsy Cake
Unique to Glastonbury, this fun-to-say fruitcake is a delightful dessert to finish up my list. Though I’ve never been a huge fan of fruitcake, Torsy Moorsy cake changed my mind! Burns The Bread bakery, the creator of the cake, claims it is made of various dried fruits “steeped in Somerset Cider” and contains black treacle, pecans, and cheddar cheese. Yep, cheddar cheese! I thought that was strange at first, but after tasting it, the moist sweet cake with that hint of cheddar pairs well together! The use of cheddar makes sense too when the cities of Wells and Cheddar, two cities known for cheese, are nearby. The Torsy Moorsy cake comes in a special tin at the bakery, so be sure to try it for yourself and keep the tin as a keepsake for home.
Make sure to try foods and drinks you’ve never had before when travelling abroad, because you might just find your next favorite thing! While of course eating familiar foods or visiting international chains is perfectly fine, trying something unique to the area is an experience you can’t have as easily back at home — the whole point of travelling! Cheers!
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