Brits have a ton of tasty foods on their menus, but let’s be honest–our dishes aren’t for everyone. Not only do tourists often find them strange, but they’re even divisive among Brits. To show you what we mean, here are 21 British foods you either love or hate.
Marmite
Due to its slogan, “Love it or hate it,” Marmite perfectly encapsulates the divided opinions of British food. This yeast extract spread, known for its strong, salty flavour, is a breakfast staple for some and an acquired taste for others. These days, we even have marmite-flavored cheese, peanut butter, and, according to Newsweek, even deodorant.
Black Pudding
A type of blood sausage made with pork blood, fat, and oatmeal, black pudding is often enjoyed as part of a traditional English breakfast. Rich and earthy, it can be off-putting to some, but many people savour its distinctive flavour and consider breakfast to not be complete without it.
Haggis
Scotland’s national dish, haggis, consists of sheep’s offal mixed with oatmeal, suet, and spices encased in a sheep’s stomach; this ingredient list is enough to explain why it’s not to everyone’s taste. However, it’s truly a delicious and hearty dish, beloved for its robust flavour by most people who give it a try.
Spotted Dick
A classic steamed suet pudding studded with dried fruit and often served with custard, Spotted Dick undeniably has a name that raises eyebrows. While its dense texture and sweet taste delight some, others might be put off by its unusual name and ingredients. If they gave it a try, though, we’re sure they’d love it.
Steak and Kidney Pie
Most people can agree that steak pie is delicious, but if you throw in some kidneys, it becomes a little more controversial. Steak and kidney pie is a traditional pie filled with diced steak and kidney in a rich gravy, encased in pastry, creating a combination of textures and flavours that can be a comforting delight for some, while others may find the kidney’s taste and texture unappealing.
Jellied Eels
Arguably, the least popular British dish on this list is Jellied Eels, an 18th-century East End delicacy. It’s pretty much exactly what it sounds like: cooked eels set in spiced gelatin. Some Londoners love their slippery texture and strong fishy taste, but most people consider it completely unappealing in appearance, texture, and flavour.
Laverbread
A trip to Wales just isn’t complete without trying Laverbread, a Welsh specialty made from seaweed, often fried with oatmeal. It’s a really nutritious traditional dish, but its unique, slightly salty taste and slimy texture make it a divisive food item.
Kippers
If you’re not fond of Jellied Eels, Kippers might be more to your taste. It’s essentially smoked herring, typically served for breakfast, and has a strong, salty, and smoky flavour. While some enjoy the rich taste and aroma, others find it too intense for their morning meal.
Tripe
Another British food that you’ll either love or hate is tripe, which is made from the stomach lining of cows or sheep. It’s tastier than it sounds, usually being cooked in a creamy white sauce. However, there’s no ignoring that its chewy texture and mild flavour can be completely unpalatable for some Brits.
Mushy Peas
When you head for fish and chips, you’re either a fan of curry sauce, gravy, or mushy peas. The latter is a staple side dish in fish and chip shops, made from marrowfat peas cooked until soft and mashed. A lot of people love them, but their bright green, almost radioactive colour and distinctive texture can be off-putting for some, even if they enjoy regular peas.
Bovril
Up North, a lot of Brits love to drink Bovril in the evening, a thick, salty meat extract often mixed with hot water to make a beefy drink. Some find its strong, umami flavour comforting, especially in cold weather, while others are put off by its intense taste. However, most would agree that it’s tasty when integrated into a home-cooked meal.
Christmas Pudding
Once a year, most Brits indulge in our famous Christmas Pudding, a rich, dense dessert made with dried fruits, nuts, and spices, often soaked in alcohol and served flaming. Despite almost everyone eating it, its intense sweetness and heavy texture make it a controversial dish, although many people adore it.
Pork Pies
For some people, British snacks don’t get much better than pork pies, a delightfully crusty miniature pie filled with seasoned pork. Many people enjoy them for their savoury flavour and satisfying texture, but the gelatinous layer around the meat can be a major turn-off for some.
Stargazy Pie
Similarly to Jellied Eels, not many people these days will look at Stargazy Pie with their mouths watering. It’s a cornish dish where fish heads poking out of a pastry crust, baked with a mixture of fish, eggs, and potatoes. Its unusual presentation and strong fish flavour make it a curious but polarising dish, although if you can get past the fish heads, it’s actually pretty good.
Piccalilli
If you’re a fan of Britain’s vast array of pickles, you’ll probably be a big fan of Piccalilli. Its tangy, mustardy flavour is made from a variety of vegetables, serving as the perfect condiment. Its bright yellow colour, which seems even more radioactive than mushy peas, and sharp taste aren’t for everyone.
Eton Mess
It’s hard to imagine anyone not enjoying Eton Mess, a delightful dessert made with broken meringue, strawberries, and cream. It’s sweet, crunchy, and creamy, but its name and appearance might seem a bit too messy and sickly for some people.
Bubble and Squeak
The amusingly named dish of Bubble and Squeak is an old-school favourite among Brits, made from leftover vegetables, often including potatoes and cabbage, and fried together until crispy. These simple, hearty flavours are comforting for some, especially the older generation, but most young people find it offputting.
Bakewell Tart
Just like with Eton Mess, more people love Bakewell Tarts than don’t, thanks to its sweet pastry and jam and frangipane filling, topped with flaked almonds. However, there’s no denying that it has a rich almond flavour that can be too intense for some, who might prefer a more mild sweet treat.
Neeps and Tatties
In Scotland, Neeps and Tatties is an absolutely classic side dish, often accompanied by haggis and ground beef. Neeps means Turnips, and Tatties means Potatoes, and that’s essentially all it is, mashed up into a starchy side. It’s not particularly offensive, but a lot of people find it too bland and overly filling.
Cornish Pasty
Head down to Cornwall, and you’ll see Cornish Pasties everywhere, savoury pastries filled with meat, potatoes, and vegetables. It’s the perfect portable meal loved for its convenience and flavour, but the dense pastry and traditional filling combinations might not appeal to everyone.
White Pudding
Often served as part of a Scottish breakfast and accompanied by black pudding and haggis, white pudding is a big favourite among Northerners. Due to its name and association with black pudding, many Brits won’t even give it a try. However, there’s no blood in this sausage; it’s made from pork, suet or fat, barley, breadcrumbs, and sometimes pork liver, making it the more palatable of the two.