old british food

Classic British Foods: A History Lesson You Can Taste

As a Canadian who has called England home for the past 7 years, I’m constantly discovering little tidbits of history tucked away in the most mundane places. Like when I picked up my bottle of Vimto cordial the other day and saw that this fruity, purple drink has been around since 1908 – the same year Henry Ford unleashed the Model T onto the world!

That got me thinking about how long some of Britain’s most classic foods have actually been around. From biscuits to tea, some of these iconic items have been gracing British tables for well over a century. Which, as a relative newcomer to this country, I find pretty astonishing.

So in this post, let’s take a tasty trip back in time and explore the deliciously long history behind 6 classic British food brands. I promise you’ll never look at that squeeze bottle of ketchup in the same way again!

How a Failed Medicine Became Britain’s Beloved Purple Drink

Yep, before it became the UK’s most popular cordial, Vimto started out as a medicinal tonic called Vimtonic. Created in 1908 by John Nichols, he was trying to develop a health drink that would provide people with vim and vigour. Unfortunately Vimtonic kind of tasted like cough medicine (no thanks!) so John went back to the drawing board.

He simplified the recipe to a tasty cordial made from grapes and raspberries that you’d dilute with water before drinking. Much more appetising! And with that, Vimto cordial was born and went on to become a British classic found in fridges across the land.

Speaking of fridges, that’s where you’ll find most cordials here in the UK. The idea of concentrated fruit juice you dilute with water was completely foreign to me as a Canadian. Just one of culture shocks in my early days of British life!

Sweet Success: How a Sugar Byproduct Created an Iconic Brand

Golden syrup is essentially pure inverted sugar syrup, which is a natural byproduct from the process of refining sugar cane into sugar. But back in 1881, most of that tasty syrup was going to waste.

That is until Abraham Lyle came along and realised this sugary syrup could be a profitable product in its own right. He started selling it as a sweetener alternative to honey under the name “Goldie”. Though I’m not sure about you, but I think Lyle’s Golden Syrup rolls off the tongue a bit better!

And if you’ve ever looked closely at a tin of Lyle’s syrup, you’ll have seen the peculiar image of a dead lion with bees and flies hovering over it. Strange choice for food packaging! This imagery ties back to the Biblical story of Samson’s fight with a lion and the bees later making honey in its carcass. Hence the slogan “Out of the strong came forth sweetness”. Who knew golden syrup came with a built-in Sunday school lesson!

How Dairy Milk Chocolate Became a Global Phenomenon

When it comes to chocolate, Cadbury is world-famous as one of the largest confectionery brands on the planet. But it all started in 1824 when John Cadbury opened his first shop in Birmingham, initially selling coffee, tea and drinking chocolate. However, it was the invention of Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate in 1905 that really took the company to the next level.

Made with a higher milk content than previous recipes, Cadbury believed this new chocolate had the potential for mass appeal. And boy were they right! Dairy Milk became their signature product and bestselling chocolate line even until today. Though the Cadbury chocolate you buy outside of Britain is often a different recipe from the iconic bars we grew up with here.

I still fondly remember the excitement of biting into my first Dairy Milk bar after moving to the UK. Let’s just say it was love at first bite!

From Putrid to Popular: The Pungent Origin of Worcestershire Sauce

This savoury British condiment wasn’t exactly born a star. In fact, the first attempt at Lea and Perrins Worcestershire sauce apparently tasted downright terrible when it was brewed up back in 1837. The pair of chemists who created it even supposedly nearly threw out the putrid mixture at one point!

Luckily they noticed that over time, the flavours matured into something much tastier. Worcestershire sauce has an umami depth from ingredients like tamarind and anchovies. And its unique pungency has made it popular worldwide as a steak sauce and flavour booster over the past 180+ years. Though I’ll admit, as a vegetarian, I’m still never quite sure what to do with the bottle that seems to permanently reside in my fridge!

This 150-Year Old Biscuit Was Born from a Sweet Romance

Fox’s Biscuits may not be the first name you think of when it comes to British biscuits. But this brand has been quietly baking up delicious treats like jam sandwiches, cookies, and cream crackers since 1853.

That’s when the company was founded by Michael Spedding in Batley, Yorkshire. Though the Fox’s name actually came from Spedding’s future son-in-law whose surname was…you guessed it, Fox!

Nearly 170 years later, this family-owned biccie brand is still churning out the goods. Their sweet and tart raspberry jam sandwiches are a personal favourite perfect with a steaming cuppa!

Britain’s Oldest Logo: 340 Years & Counting for Twinings Tea

Walking along London’s Strand, it’s hard to miss the modest Twinings shopfront that has graced the street since 1706. This is where Thomas Twining first opened Britain’s very first known tea room over 300 years ago!

Back then, newly arrived tea from Asia was seen as an exotic novelty only the upperclass could afford. And the idea of London’s high society women hanging out unchaperoned in coffeehouses was totally taboo.

So Twinings smartly opened their doors to women and turned sipping tea into a respectable social activity instead. More than three centuries later, Twinings is still slinging some of Britain’s best brews. And at 340+ years old, Twinings’ iconic logo is recognised as the oldest in continuous use anywhere in the world! Now that’s what I call standing the test of time.

Alanna’s Thoughts: Appreciating History Over Tea and Biscuits

Sitting back with a cup of Twinings breakfast tea (milk, no sugar) and a couple of Fox’s biscuits, I’m struck by just how much history is packed into Britain’s food culture. From syrup to chocolate bars, these iconic brands have been quietly providing tasty meals and sweet treats to Brits for generations.

Which as a Canadian expat still getting acquainted with my adopted homeland, I find incredibly cool! It gives me a newfound sense of connection to be consuming some of the same foods people in this country have enjoyed for the past 200+ years.

So next time you crack open that tin of golden syrup or take a swig of Vimto, take a moment to appreciate the fascinating stories behind Britain’s classic food brands. Each bite is truly a bite of history!