TABLE OF CONTENTS
Best English Foods
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Clotted cream ice cream is a traditional ice cream that’s associated with Cornwall, although it’s sold in supermarkets throughout the United Kingdom. This ice cream is made with Cornish whole milk, eggs, and clotted cream. The use of Cornish clotted cream gives the ice cream a unique flavor and a velvety consistency.
This decadent ice cream can be flavored with various additional ingredients such as vanilla, and it can be found in many bars and cafes across the region. It is also not uncustomary to add a dollop of clotted cream on top of the scoops of Cornish ice cream.
This is not your regular Cheddar made across the world, but a unique one because of its maturity, distinctive full flavor, the source of milk and special methods of handmade production within the four Counties of Dorset, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall.
It needs to mature for at least 9 months before it is sold, either in cylindrical shape or in blocks of variable sizes. Its flavor can be described as full, sharp and nutty, and it is firm and creamy yellow on the inside, with a crumbly texture. West Country Farmhouse Cheddar is best paired with grapes, pears, apples, figs, celery or ripe tomatoes.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Cream tea is a traditional type of afternoon tea that’s associated with the West Country – Devon, Cornwall, as well as Dorset and Somerset. It consists of tea that’s usually served with a combination of clotted cream, scones, and jam.
Butter is also often added to the mix, as well as whipped cream instead of clotted cream, but the addition of whipped cream makes the tea less authentic. In Devonshire, the scones are split and first spread with clotted cream and then strawberry jam.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Afternoon tea
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Sticky toffee pudding is a rich, moist sponge cake filled with dates, covered in a sticky toffee sauce. The dessert is traditionally served with custard or a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side. Its origins are quite murky as some claim it originates from the Sharrow Bay Hotel in the Lake District, some report that it's especially popular in Cartmel, while others say that it was invented at the Udny Arms Hotel in Aberdeenshire.
Today, the dessert is also popular in Australia, Ireland, and Scotland.
MOST ICONIC Sticky toffee pudding
View moreMAIN INGREDIENTS
Banoffee pie is an English dessert made with cream, bananas, and toffee on top of a pastry shell or on top of a base made with crumbled biscuits. The name of the dish is a combination of the words banana and toffee. The sweet pie was invented in the 1970s by Nigel Mackenzie and Ian Dowding at The Hungry Monk restaurant in East Sussex.
It became extremely popular when the customers started to check regularly if the dessert was still on the menu. Today, banoffee pie is so popular throughout the world that it even has its own place in the dictionary, denoting "a tart or pie made with cream, bananas, and toffee", while the recipe for the pie can often be found on tins of Nestlé's condensed milk.
MOST ICONIC Banoffee pie
View moreBaked potato is a whole potato baked in the oven until the inside becomes soft and the skin turns crispy. The most commonly used potatoes for baking are russet potatoes, known for their high starch content, which results in a fluffy interior when baked.
The potato is first cleaned thoroughly to remove any dirt. Some people prick the potato with a fork or knife to allow steam to escape during baking, which helps prevent it from bursting. The potato is then baked in the oven at a high temperature, usually around 400°F (200°C), for about an hour.
VARIATIONS OF Jacket potato
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Beef Wellington is a dish consisting of a whole filet of beef that is coated with a pâté and duxelles, a combination of minced mushrooms, herbs, and shallots. The concoction is then wrapped in puff pastry and baked in the oven.
Traditionally, slices of beef Wellington are accompanied by madeira sauce. It is believed that the dish was named after Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington, who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo. However, the dish was not known in Wellesley's lifetime, so the origins of beef Wellington still remain murky, and some believe that the dish got its name because it resembles a Wellington boot.
MOST ICONIC Beef Wellington
Fish and chips is a traditional dish consisting of freshly fried fish fillets and sliced fried potatoes. The fish is dipped in a batter of eggs, flour, and milk, and it’s then fried in oil, lard, or beef drippings. The most common types of fish used are cod, haddock, skate, and pollock, but cod is the most popular choice, with 60% of all fish and chips meals using it as the preferred fish.
Cod has a texture that is very supple, tender, and mild, and it makes for a great contrast to the crispy-fried batter shell. In addition, its tender meat nicely absorbs the condiments and seasonings such as malt vinegar and salt. You can find fish and chips made with cod throughout the country, but it’s especially popular in southern seaside towns such as Hastings and Brighton.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Fish and chips
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Triple cooked chips is an English dish created by chef Heston Blumenthal, who first started developing the recipe in 1992. Potato chips are first simmered, then cooled, drained, and freezed. Later on, the chips are deep-fried at a precise temperature and cooled, then deep-fried one more time.
The resulting potato chips have a crunchy, glass-like crust, while the interior is fluffy and soft. This innovative dish was first served at Blumenthal's restaurant The Fat Duck in 1995, and nowadays triple-cooked chips are a standard item in many other English restaurants.
MOST ICONIC Triple-cooked chips
View moreShropshire Blue is a British blue cheese produced in Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire. The cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk and is best described as a cross between Cheshire and Stilton. Shropshire Blue ages from 10 to 12 weeks and develops a natural rind that hides a creamy and smooth texture of the carrot-colored body with blue veining throughout.
The orange color comes from annatto. The aromas are strong and rich, while the flavors are intense, sharp, tangy, creamy, and full. It's recommended to pair it with a glass of Pinot Noir or Riesling.
Pair with
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Best English Food Producers
Ampersand Dairy is a British dairy specializing in the production of handcrafted cultured butter and buttermilk. It was founded by Grant Harrington, an experienced chef with international expertise, with the goal of creating the world's most flavorful butter by using traditional and refined techniques combined with the highest quality ingredients.
Their butter is made from the milk of Jersey, Holstein, and Guernsey cows, which are raised in England. The process includes the addition of healthy bacterial cultures and mineral-rich Himalayan pink salt, resulting in butter with a rich and creamy flavor.
BEST Ampersand Dairy Butters
Tempus Spiced Coppa is a premium cured delicacy made from carefully selected pork necks with the ideal ratio of lean meat to fat, giving it a rich texture and deep, layered flavor. It is distinguished by a unique blend of spices, including cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon, which are hand-ground and carefully added to achieve the perfect balance of aromas.
The aging process lasts three months, allowing the flavors to intensify and the texture to become tender and melt-in-the-mouth. Every step of the preparation, from meat selection to the final curing process, is designed to deliver an unparalleled gastronomic experience.
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 3 stars
2024, 2023, 2022
Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2024, 2023, 2022, 2021
Great Taste Awards - 1 Star
2022
BEST Tempus Foods Meat Products
Capreolus Fine Foods Ltd is a producer of cured meats based in Dorset, England. The company specializes in traditional and artisan charcuterie. It uses locally sourced meats, often from free-range and rare-breed animals. The curing process includes both air-drying and smoking techniques.
Capreolus Fine Foods Ltd has received multiple awards for the quality of its products.
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2023, 2022, 2021
Great Taste Awards - 3 stars
2023, 2021
BEST Capreolus Fine Foods Meat Products
Flora Tea is a brand that specializes in premium flowering teas, offering a unique and artistic tea experience. Known for its elegant and vibrant blooming tea, Flora Tea provides a selection of high-quality teas that unfurl into beautiful flowers when steeped.
Their range includes carefully hand-tied blooms made from the finest ingredients, offering both visual and sensory delight. Flora Tea also offers elegant teaware, including glass teapots and cups, to enhance the blooming tea experience. The company’s commitment to craftsmanship and creativity is evident in every product, making it a great choice for tea enthusiasts seeking a more artistic and visually engaging tea time.
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2022, 2021
Great Taste Awards - 3 stars
2022, 2021
BEST Flora Tea Teas and Herbal Infusions
Cornish Cheese, based in England, is known primarily for producing Cornish Blue, a type of cheese that has garnered recognition in various cheese awards. This company operates from a farm in Cornwall, where it crafts its cheeses using traditional methods.
The Cornish Blue, which is a soft, creamy blue cheese, was specifically developed to be milder than some of the sharper blue cheeses available. Cornish Cheese sources all its milk locally, ensuring freshness and quality in its cheese production.
AWARDS
International Cheese Awards - Gold
2023
World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2024
BEST Cornish Cheese Cheeses
Galerie Du Thé specializes in high-quality loose-leaf teas, including black, green, oolong, matcha, and white tea. Their selection is curated to provide an exceptional tasting experience, with a focus on freshness, craftsmanship, and small-batch production.
The brand emphasizes its commitment to "fresh" teas, vacuum-sealed for optimal freshness, and shipped in protective packaging to ensure that each tea retains its full flavor profile. They also offer a selection of award-winning blends, such as their Great Taste Award Collection.
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2022
Great Taste Awards - 3 stars
2022
BEST Galerie Du Thé Teas and Herbal Infusions
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 3 stars
2023, 2022, 2021
BEST Hollis Mead Organic Dairy Cheeses
Devon Cream Company is a British company with over 40 years of experience in producing high-quality dairy products. Their dedication to traditional methods and the use of 100% natural ingredients ensures an authentic taste and premium quality. Their production process combines carefully selected raw materials and precise processing to achieve a rich texture and long-lasting freshness.
They are committed to preserving artisan techniques, allowing each product to maintain its natural character and distinctiveness. Their products are available on the international market, and their high quality and consistency have made Devon Cream Company a recognized name among lovers of authentic dairy delicacies worldwide.
BEST Devon Cream Company Butters
Marsh Pig is a British producer of premium cured meat delicacies, renowned for its handcrafted products made exclusively from free-range meat. Located in the heart of Norfolk, this family-run brand has set high standards in the world of dry-cured meat specialties, combining traditional preparation methods with a modern approach to quality and flavor.
Their selection includes meticulously crafted salami, chorizo, pancetta, lomo, and beef jerky – all free from artificial additives and with minimal fat content, resulting in a richer, purer, and more intense taste. Each product is naturally aged and handcrafted with exceptional care, ensuring a superior texture and an authentic culinary experience.
BEST Marsh Pig Meat Products
Tea Shirt Teas is a British company focused on providing high-quality, eco-friendly, and ethically produced teas. Their range includes a wide variety of organic and plastic-free loose-leaf teas, including black, green, oolong, herbal, and Ayurvedic teas.
The company stands out for its commitment to sustainability, using recyclable and compostable packaging to reduce its environmental footprint. Tea Shirt Teas is particularly proud of its innovative blends, such as "Chocolate Cloud" and "Apple & Grapefruit." All teas are carefully selected and ethically sourced, supporting fair trade and sustainable practices within the tea industry.
BEST Tea Shirt Teas and Herbal Infusions
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Best English Food Products
Whole Blue Stilton from Cropwell Bishop Creamery is an exemplary British cheese with a rich, tangy flavor and a melt-in-the-mouth, velvety texture. This cheese is handcrafted using traditional methods dating back to the 17th century and is matured for about 12 weeks to develop its distinctive character.
Cropwell Bishop uses vegetarian rennet and fresh, local milk to produce this award-winning Stilton, which is recognized under the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) for authentic Stilton cheese. It is ideal for large gatherings as it typically comes in a whole form weighing about 7.5 kg, wrapped in wax paper to preserve its quality and flavor.
AWARDS
World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2022
Global Cheese Awards - Gold
2023, 2021, 2018
World Cheese Awards - Gold
2023
Blue Stilton cheese from Clawson Dairy is a distinguished product with a rich history and a distinctive profile. Made exclusively in Leicestershire, this cheese benefits from a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status, ensuring that only cheese produced in certain counties can be called Blue Stilton.
It's crafted using local cow's milk and is known for its crumbly yet creamy texture and bold, tangy flavor that develops over an eight-week maturation period. Blue Stilton is characterized by its blue veins which radiate from the center, contributing to its unique taste.
AWARDS
World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2021
Global Cheese Awards - Gold
2023, 2021, 2019, 2018
International Cheese Awards - Gold
2024, 2023, 2022, 2019
Chuao chocolate from William Curley is crafted using cocoa beans sourced from the Chuao region in Venezuela, an area famous for producing some of the world’s finest and rarest cocoa beans. This premium chocolate is celebrated for its rich and complex taste that features notes of red fruits, nuts, and a subtle hint of spice, making it a favorite among connoisseurs.
The Chuao chocolate bars are part of William Curley's exclusive collection, often available in limited quantities, and are a must-try for those looking to experience one of the most luxurious chocolates in the world.
AWARDS
Academy of Chocolate - Gold
2013, 2008, 2006, 2005
AWARDS
SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2024, 2023
The Scotch Whisky Masters - Gold
2024
IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold Outstanding
2024
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2024
Great Taste Awards - 3 stars
2023, 2022, 2021
Sinodun Hill cheese boasts a unique pyramid shape with a mousse-like texture and is celebrated for its fresh, citrus flavor that deepens over time to reveal notes of almond and red fruit. This cheese is named after the local Sinodun Hill and is matured for up to 21 days, allowing its ivory rind to develop seasonal blue and grey molds that enhance its complex flavor profile.
Sinodun Hill has garnered multiple accolades, including Best British Cheese at the World Cheese Awards in 2023 and previous gold medals at both the World Cheese Awards and the British Artisan Cheese Awards?.
AWARDS
World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2023, 2022
Culture Cheese Magazine Best Cheeses issue - Best
2023
Spenwood cheese, produced by Village Maid Cheese in Berkshire, England, is a distinguished artisanal cheese crafted from unpasteurised ewe's milk using vegetarian rennet. This firm cheese is matured for about 7-8 months, developing a thin, natural rind during the process.
Its flavor profile is rich and nutty with sweet and savory notes, and it becomes more piquant and slightly crumbly as it ages, making it a great substitute for Parmesan in various dishes. Spenwood is often compared to Mediterranean cheeses like Pecorino and Manchego due to its texture and taste.
AWARDS
World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2022, 2021
Culture Cheese Magazine Best Cheeses issue - Best
2023
Japanese Black Vinegar Chocolate is one of the innovative creations by the esteemed London-based chocolatier William Curley. This unique chocolate combines the unexpected tartness of Japanese black vinegar with the richness of dark chocolate, creating a flavor profile that is both unusual and delightful.
The inclusion of this vinegar is part of a broader trend by Curley to incorporate Japanese-inspired ingredients into his products, offering a distinct fusion of Eastern and Western culinary traditions.
AWARDS
Academy of Chocolate - Gold
2013, 2009, 2008
Devon Blue is a variety of English blue cheese that is produced by Ticklemore Cheese in Devon, United Kingdom. This cheese is noted for its firm texture and moist, crumbly body, striking a balance between creaminess and a mild, gently tangy blue flavor.
Made with pasteurized cow's milk sourced locally, Devon Blue typically matures for a period of approximately 6 to 8 months. During this time, it develops a natural rind and a dense, evenly veined interior. The cheese is suitable for vegetarians, as it is made using vegetable rennet.
AWARDS
World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2023, 2022
AWARDS
Academy of Chocolate - Gold
2020
Academy of Chocolate - Golden BonBon
2020
TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. For the “Top 100 English Foods” list until March 27, 2025, 10,343 ratings were recorded, of which 9,254 were recognized by the system as legitimate. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.