Yorkshire
What food is Yorkshire famous for? And what souvenirs to buy when visiting this beautiful county!
What food is Yorkshire famous for? And what souvenirs to buy when visiting this beautiful county!
The table above lists all the local delicacies from Yorkshire 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.
Yorkshire Puddings
Food from Yorkshire is well known for being tasty and very flavoursome. Whether you're looking to go out for a meal, or buying food from a shop, the food from the area known as 'God's own county' will help you do this in a way that is not only affordable but also enjoyable.
You can try out the many famous dishes from different types of cheese such as wensleydale and swaledale, to new and traditional ways of cooking the famous Yorkshire puddings or the Yorkshire curd tart!
So plan your trip and go try some food during your visit to the gorgeous county of Yorkshire, you won't be disappointed!
Once you've read up on the foods to try on your visit to the beautiful county of Yorkshire, why not have a look at our posts for the activities that are available to do. You can find them on the following buttons below:
11 reasons why food from Yorkshire is so tasty
In this blog post, we will be discussing what delicacies you can expect to find in Yorkshire.
From traditional English cuisine to more continental fare, there are plenty of tasty options available in one of the most visited counties in England. Here are a few examples we recommend:
Yorkshire Puddings
Probably Yorkshire's most famous export, the Yorkshire Puddings are a type of baked pudding that originated in Yorkshire (hence the name). They consist of a round ball of batter with a crisp crust and soft interior typically served as part of the Sunday roast.
They make the perfect accompaniment to your Sunday dinner, especially alongside a healthy serving of beef with onion gravy. The crispy outside and soft, fluffy inside compliment the roast perfectly. The famous 'Toad in the hole' dish is usually classed as sausages within a large Yorkshire pudding highlighting that the pudding is used in various meals across the country.
In a poll in 2012, the Yorkshire pudding was voted the tenth best loved things about Britain showing how enjoyed the pudding is. Yorkshire puddings are loved nationwide and will be the perfect accompaniment to any meal you have.
Yorkshire Curd Tart
The Yorkshire curd tart is a fully traditional Yorkshire food that is a must try. The filling is a sharp but sweet curd, and the pastry itself has an amazing flavour to it. The tarts are similar to a baked cheesecake with a filling made from cheese, butter, eggs, spices, sugar and dried fruit.
You can get them from cafes and some supermarkets around Yorkshire for not very much at all. They're the perfect treat for when you want an after dinner dessert or a sweet something with a cup of tea.
Originating in Yorkshire around the 17th Century, the tart has been enjoyed throughout the county but strangely the dish isn't very well known outside Yorkshire. Make sure you try one when you next visit.
Wensleydale Cheese
Wensleydale Cheese
Wensleydale cheese was created in the town of Wensleydale and first produced commercially there in 1897. The cheese has proven to be that popular that there are now creameries throughout the United Kingdom that produce the cheese.
Made from cow's milk, the cheese is a crumbly, creamy medium strength cheese with a hint of sweetness. Easily eaten on its own or with some crackers, the cheese is found on many a cheese board throughout the country. Wensleydale is commonly found with dried fruit throughout the cheese with the most common combination being with cranberries.
Yorkshire Blue
You're probably thinking, "blue cheese?" but trust me when I say you need to try this! Made from Yorkshire cow's milk, the spreadable blue cheese is mild and sweet on the tongue. Made by the company Shepherd's Purse, the blue cheese once created in 1995, was the first to be created in Yorkshire in 30 years.
Matured over 8 weeks, the cheese has won many awards including the 'Best English Cheese' award in 2018 at the Nantwhich International Cheese Awards.
Henderson's Relish
Henderson's Relish is a tasty little number that all foodies should have heard of. It was first made in 1885 by Harry Henderson with his famous secret recipe only known by family members at that time. Today the relish has become one of the UK's best-loved condiments, particularly enjoyed mixed in with beef stew.
Henderson's Relish is now made in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire and transported to supermarkets all over the U.K. The family-sized jar will provide generous helpings to accompany most dinners weeks on end, while the smaller jars are great for taking on picnics or when you're out and about. Not to be confused with Worcestershire sauce, this tasty treat is just perfect for anyone who likes their food to taste that wee bit special.
Parkin
Parkin
Anyone who has visited Yorkshire knows of Parkin; it is a deliciously dark and tender cake-like snack that takes its flavour from treacle.
With the history of the snack going back around 500 years, the origins of this food are clear to see – the use of oatmeal, flour and butter symbolise an age-old trade between the agricultural communities in the north and London's merchants.
The use of treacle gives the parkin a fruity and complex flavour that is timeless – it may be enjoyed as a wholesome snack or even at special occasions like weddings, coming to the table veiled in icing sugar. Traditionally Parkin is consumed on Guy Fawks night on the 5th of November but can be found in Yorkshire the whole year round.
Forced Rhubarb
The town of Wakefield in Yorkshire is famous for its forced rhubarb. Making up the famous 'Rhubarb Triangle' along with towns Morley and Rothwell, forced rhubarb is made and enjoyed in abundance. 'Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb' made within the Rhubarb Triangle now has protection status under the European Commission's Protected Name Scheme.
Running from December to March, rhubarb is forced into warmth and darkness from their natural habitat early, resulting in a pink glow and a sweet flavour. The rhubarb is then served in many a crumble across Yorkshire in the winter time, perfect if you're visiting at this time of year!
Fruit Nevilles
Fruit Nevilles is a really tasty and flavourful snack that goes perfectly with a cup of Yorkshire tea. The snack is orange flavoured shortbread with currants throughout the biscuit. Made by Bothams of Whitby, the snack can be somewhat hard to find but you can buy from the manufacturer's own website. Fruit Nevilles are a great tasting snack that is the ideal light weight for a light bite to eat.
Yorkshire Fat Rascals by Karen Booth under license CC BY-ND 4.0
Fat Rascals
Fat Rascals are a deliciously sweet smelling, tasty cake similar to a scone. They originated in Yorkshire sometime in the 19th Century and were made popular by Betty's Cafe Tea Rooms in 1983 (who now own the trademark to the name).
The original recipe was made with many traditional ingredients, including oats, treacle sugar, butter. The other ingredients are flour, butter, baking powder and currants.
Today the cake is plump with a scone like appearance usually decorated with glace cherries and almonds. A favourite across Yorkshire seen in many cafes and afternoon teas.
Abbot's Gold Cheese
Abbot's Gold is a type of cheddar mixed with caramelised onions with a mild, sweet and tangy flavour, making the cheese extremely tasty. Originating in Yorkshire and produced by the Wensleydale Creamery, the cheese is made from pasteurised cow's milk and is one of the most popular in the county. The smooth and creamy cheddar cheese is a must try and goes well in a sandwich or can be eaten on its own.
Swaledale Cheese
Swaledale cheese originates from the town of Richmond in Swaledale, North Yorkshire. The cheese has distinctive properties due to the herbs and grasses that grow in the area grazed by the cows from this area. The medium firm cheese made from unpasteurised cow's/ewe's comes usually in a round shape and is yellow in colour.
Legend has it the method for making the cheese was passed onto farmers in the area from Cistercian monks from Normandy who came to the Yorkshire Dales in the 11th Century. Today the cheese has won many awards including gold medals at the World Cheese Awards.
And some souvenirs to take home...
Rhucello
Rhucello is a Yorkshire rhubarb liqueur produced in Wakefield. The drink was invented by David Burnley in 2014 after joking between friends dreamt up on a stag party. Today the business goes from strength to strength with the drink being enjoyed in the 'Rhubarb Triangle'. Enjoyed on its own or mixed in with a cocktail, the rhubarb liqueur is a drink that in unique to the area and will be a welcome addition to the drinks cabinet back home.
Conclusion
The food from Yorkshire has proven to be really tasty and flavoursome over the years. With a wide variety of local cafes, markets and independent shops available, you'll not be stuck at finding the above options on your visit to the northern county. If you haven't had the chance to try out the local cuisine yet, be sure to add it to your list of things to do on your next visit!
In this blog post, we have shared some of the most famous Yorkshire dishes and their unique history. What is your favorite Yorkshire dish? 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. To find out more about things to do in the area, click on the buttons below:
I hope this article has been useful in answering the question 'What food is Yorkshire famous for?', giving an overview of some traditional local delicacies and items worth buying as souvenirs while visiting. If so please share with your friends by clicking the social media icons below.