Savor British Elegance: Three Must-Try British Dishes

Text / MOOK Scenic Spots Home Travel Life Network Li Xinyi, compiled and reported Source / Moleskine Editorial Department

 

When it comes to “British cuisine,” it’s probably the nightmare of many international students living in the UK. Indeed, British food generally has a reputation for not being very tasty, as traditional British dishes often use ovens or stewing methods that require long cooking times. Urban restaurants, aiming to save time, often use semi-finished products, which naturally results in inferior taste. And the prices at high-end restaurants are not something everyone can afford, which leads to the widespread impression that British food is bad. However, defenders of British cuisine will tell you: “Only when you leave the big cities can you taste authentic British food.” As immigrants from various countries have introduced and developed their native cuisines in the UK, there are also more and more international dishes to choose from. But it would be a pity to visit the UK without trying authentic British cuisine. Why not live like a Brit for a day and get to know British culture through its food?

 

The British breakfast is hearty in portion

The only classic dish that can be listed as a must-try is probably the British breakfast. Only the British would treat breakfast as a kind of “cuisine,” available all day long in cafes, pubs, or restaurants (All Day Breakfast), even displayed as a sign at the entrance. When that large plate filled with food is served, the visual satisfaction alone is enough, bringing a sense of warmth and happiness right from the start of the day.

A real British breakfast (Full Breakfast / Cooked Breakfast) starts with a glass of 100% fresh orange juice. If you’re at a hotel or a larger restaurant, other options such as grapefruit juice or apple juice may also be available. At this time, a large pot of British breakfast tea (Breakfast Tea), which carries a faint floral aroma, will also be served. Breakfast tea is a blend of Indian tea, Ceylon tea, and Kenyan tea in certain proportions, resulting in a stronger flavor, suitable to be paired with milk or lemon slices. Of course, you can also choose a pot of American coffee instead. Before the main course, there is usually a small self-service area where you can start with some cereals, mostly various grain flakes such as cornflakes and oatmeal. Add milk and sugar according to your preference, or add diced fruit to enhance the flavor.

 

Then comes the main course. A standard British breakfast fills a large plate with seven types of food: several slices of bacon that are slightly crispy and caramelized, soft-boiled or scrambled eggs, juicy sausages (usually German sausages), a half tomato seasoned with spices and roasted, some sautéed mushrooms, golden fried bread slices (sometimes replaced with hash browns), and soft and fluffy baked beans in tomato sauce (Baked Beans). In northern England, black pudding is also added. Black pudding is made from a mixture of pig’s blood, grains, pig liver, and other internal organs that are chopped into filling, then stuffed into a pig’s intestine casing to resemble a sausage. It is essentially the British version of pig’s blood cake. The importance of baked beans to the British is almost equivalent to that of cheese in France or beer in Germany—it’s a staple for all three meals. However, due to the time-consuming preparation, canned baked beans are more commonly used nowadays. Along with this plate of food, sliced triangular toasted bread is neatly arranged on a toast rack, served with butter and jam. A complete British breakfast guarantees you full energy and a revitalized start to the day.

 

British Afternoon Tea: A Taste of Aristocracy

The British love for tea even led to changes in dining habits. Since the British only had two main meals a day at the time, the “inventor” of afternoon tea, Lady Anna, Duchess of Bedford, would prepare fine tea along with sandwiches, scones, cakes, and various other tea-time treats every afternoon to entertain her aristocratic lady friends. This not only relieved their hunger but also gave rise to another form of social interaction among the upper class, which has been passed down to this day as the famous British afternoon tea culture.

 

Enjoying a traditional British afternoon tea that retains an aristocratic flair is not difficult. Major hotels in the UK will definitely have at least one restaurant offering afternoon tea services. With luxurious decor, exquisite tableware, and the sound of elegant piano music, sampling the layered pastries and richly flavored teas allows you to indulge in a luxurious afternoon. The cost is around £25–£40, and it’s recommended to make a reservation in advance.

The types of tea available for British afternoon tea are generally divided into pure black tea and flavored tea. Common pure black tea varieties include India’s Darjeeling, Assam, Sri Lanka’s Uva, Indonesia’s Java, East Africa’s Kenya, and China’s Keemun tea, which was the first to be supplied to the British upper class, among others. Pure black tea is characterized by its strong flavor and intense aroma. Paired with sweet jams and cakes, it magically allows you to taste both the tea and the original flavors of the desserts—bitter with a hint of sweetness, and sweetness with a touch of fragrance. It is the most authentic choice for afternoon tea. Flavored teas, infused with fruity and floral aromas, are also becoming increasingly popular, such as Earl Grey tea, fruit tea, rose tea, jasmine tea, etc. Paired with fruity desserts, they can fill your entire afternoon with fragrant memories.

 

Besides the tea, the most enchanting part of British afternoon tea is the magical three-tiered dessert tower. In a more refined British afternoon tea, the bottom tier of the tower holds several types of savory sandwiches, with fillings such as ham, cheese, corned beef, smoked salmon, and raw cucumber, mayonnaise, etc. The middle tier consists of several English scones (Scone). The top tier is adorned with small bite-sized cakes, strawberry fruit tarts, cream puffs, or small biscuits. When tasting the desserts, the best order is to take them from the bottom up—starting with savory, then sweet; light before rich. Begin with the lightly savory sandwiches to slightly appease your hunger and whet your appetite, followed by the fragrant and delicate Scones, and end with the rich, sweet fruit-flavored cakes and fruit tarts for a satisfying finale.

 

In addition to the aristocratic-style traditional afternoon tea, there is also a more casual version known as cream tea (Cream Tea), as the British call it. A pot of black tea, paired with warm, crumbly Scones, spread generously with jam and cream, is a delicious treat. This simple happiness is available in teahouses all over the streets.