Liverpool
What food is Liverpool famous for? And what souvenirs to buy when visiting the pool of life!
What food is Liverpool famous for? And what souvenirs to buy when visiting the pool of life!
The table above lists all the local delicacies from Liverpool and souvenirs to purchase on your visit. Click on each name to be taken straight to the part of the blog post for that item.
Posh Scouse at Liverpool Maritime Museum by Alison Benbow under license CC BY 2.0
Liverpool has a rich and varied cuisine, reflecting the city's history. The Liverpool diet was once famous for its reliance on high-quality produce, especially fish and shellfish from the nearby ports of Seaforth, Ellesmere Port, Birkenhead, and Wallasey. In recent years local chefs have been influenced by international trends in cooking as well as more traditional British dishes.
Many foods are associated with Liverpool including Scouse (a meat stew), wet nelly, and the Liverpool bunloaf. Check below for some of the most famous dishes to come from this area.
Famous Liverpool Dishes You Need to Try
In this blog post, we will be discussing what delicacies you can expect to find in Liverpool.
From traditional cuisine to more continental fare, there are plenty of mouth-watering options available in one of the food capitals of England. Here are a few examples we recommend:
Scouse
One of Liverpool's most popular dishes is Scouse, a meat stew traditionally made with beef and vegetables which originates from the 18th-century sailor's dish 'lobscouse'. It is believed the dish was brought to Liverpool by Northern European sailors, although its exact origins remain unclear. Nowadays it can contain whatever meat is available and leftover vegetables. It is usually served with pickled beetroot (beet) and crusty bread. Scouse is so popular that there is a 'Global Scouse Day' which has been running since 2008. On the 28th of February, money is raised for local charities through pubs and restaurants throughout the city selling scouse on the menu that day.
Wet Nelly
Wet nelly is a traditional English fruit cake that has been popular in Liverpool for decades. It's a moister version of the Nelson Cake (a local Lancashire favourite). This moist fruitcake is a rich concoction of white bread, butter, brown sugar, eggs, mixed spices, and mixed fruit. Usually served with custard or just with a cup of tea.
Liverpool Tarts
Liverpool tarts are one of the most popular and well-known tarts in Liverpool. The tart goes back to around 1897 and is formulated using an easy recipe with flour, butter, sugar, and lemons. Liverpool tarts are so good because they are flavoursome, hearty and leave you wanting more. The pastry crust is crispy and buttery with the top of the tart usually found with a cut-out image or icon on display (sometimes with the badge of Liverpool FC), and the tart filling is a refreshing lemon flavour. Can be found in many bakeries across the city.
Liverpool Bunloaf
The Liverpool bunloaf is a cake that is made out of a savoury dough that is filled with raisins, ginger, currants, and cherries and then baked in an oven. The result is a delicious, flavoursome loaf of bread that can be eaten at any time. A popular cake that's been cooked in many a home across Liverpool, the bunloaf has had many variations across the years and continues to be a popular choice to this day.
Bah Humbug! (Everton Mints) by Pete under Public Domain license.
Everton Mints
Everton mints originated in Liverpool and are a popular choice in sweet shops across the United Kingdom. The origins are thought to have been from a coffee shop in the Everton district of the city. The white and black striped minty flavoured sweets have a toffee centre and have been distributed amongst Everton FC fans at Goodison Park for years. To try some yourself, head down to your nearest grocery store or sweety shop - you'll love them!
And some souvenirs to take home...
'The Beatles' Gifts
If you're looking for some unique Beatles gifts and souvenirs, then Liverpool is the place to be! There are loads of shops in the city centre that sell everything from Beatles T-shirts and mugs to replica guitars and records. You can also find some great deals on Beatle memorabilia online to pick up when in town. So whether you're a Beatles fan or not, there's something for everyone in Liverpool. The famous band were created and first played in Liverpool before going on to take over world music in the 1960's so where else is better to pick up your Beatles memorabilia?
Superlambanana
Superlambanana is a large, bright yellow sculpture of a lamb crossed with a banana. It was commissioned in 1998 and is to highlight the dangers of genetic engineering using two of Liverpool's most famous cargos over the years. There are numerous sculptures located across Liverpool attracting tourists to go on the hunt looking for them all. City gift shops offer a range of souvenirs such as mugs, T-shirts, little replica ornaments, and key rings to take your superlambanana home with you!
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a tasty, filling food items to try while in Liverpool, look no further than the items listed above. The local favourites are made with a delicious combination of ancient recipes and flavours that will have you coming back for more. So head to the nearest local bakery or café on your trip and give them a try. You won’t regret it!
In this blog post, we have shared some of the most famous Liverpool dishes and their origin stories. What is your favourite dish from Merseyside? Please share with us (via our contact form) what you think makes for a perfect food day or if there's an interesting story behind one of our featured dishes. These are just a few of the many delicious Liverpool foods you can try. To find out more about things to do in the area, click on the links below:
Free Things to do in Liverpool
I hope this article has been useful in answering the question 'What food is Liverpool famous for?', giving an overview of some traditional local delicacies and items worth buying as souvenirs while visiting.