Frequently Asked Questions - Scottish Food & Drink (2024)

WHAT KIND OF FOOD WILL I FIND IN SCOTLAND?

A huge range - as well as all our excellent traditional dishes (which we'll talk about a little later) and10Michelin star restaurants, Scotland is a very cosmopolitan country and you'll find restaurants specialising in food from many different cultures.

Eating local is very important in Scotland and you'll find lots ofrestaurantsthat proudly serve dishes made from locally sourced ingredients. What could be better than trying a mouth-watering new dish in the place where the ingredients were farmed?

WHAT IS SCOTLAND'S NATIONAL DISH?

Haggis! AKA the 'Great chieftain o the puddin'-race' - as Robert Burns once called it. In Scotland, haggis is a real celebration dish and nothing quite beats tucking into a hearty portion alongside your nearest and dearest.

WHAT OTHER TRADITIONAL DISHES WILL I FIND IN SCOTLAND?

Keep an eye out for:

  • Scottish smoked salmon
  • Haggis
  • Black pudding
  • Stovies
  • Bridies
  • Scotch pies
  • Aberdeenshire butteries
  • Fish and chips
  • Scotch broth
  • Lorne sausage
  • co*ck-a-leekie soup
  • Cranachan
  • Clootie dumpling
  • Dundee cake
  • Shortbread
  • Peppermint creams
  • Tablet

Remember, each region boasts its own traditional delicacies so be sure to ask the locals what they would recommend too!

IS THERE ANY FOOD THAT I CAN ONLY GET IN SCOTLAND?

There are a number of Scottish foods that have been granted European protected status, a designation which identifies high-quality products that are unique to a particular region. Scottish delicacies with protected status include:

  • Scotch beef
  • Scottish wild salmon
  • Traditional Ayrshire Dunlop cheese
  • Arbroath Smokies
  • Scottish Farmed Salmon
  • Scotch Lamb
  • Shetland Lamb
  • Orkney Beef
  • Orkney Lamb
  • Stornoway Black Pudding
  • Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar

You can buy these fantastic products throughout the world, but what could be better than trying them in the place where they are produced?

WHERE CAN I BUY LOCAL PRODUCE?

Localfarmers' markets and farm shopsare terrific places to find quality local produce and to meet the people behind the products. Some supermarkets offer local choices too.

IS THERE ANYWHERE I CAN SEE FOOD BEING MADE?

There are a number of cheese makers, ice cream makers and smokehouses you can visit. Some farmers markets also offer cooking demonstrations, so you can see the produce being turned into a tasty meal and pick up recipe tips.

Find more top Scottish food experiences

Frequently Asked Questions - Scottish Food & Drink (2024)

FAQs

What are some facts about Scotland food and drink? ›

Scotland's national dish is haggis, a savoury meat pudding, and it's traditionally accompanied by mashed potatoes, turnips (known as 'neeps') and a whisky sauce. Which brings us to the national drink – whisky. Over 100 distilleries in Scotland produce this amber-hued liquid, many of which can be explored on a tour.

What are the Scottish known for drinking? ›

WHAT KIND OF DRINK WILL I FIND IN SCOTLAND? Locally made alcoholic drinks include whisky (of course!), gin, beer, wine and cider, as well as soft drinks including IRN BRU and Scottish fruit juices.

What's the most popular drink in Scotland? ›

Irn-Bru has long been the most popularly consumed soft drink in Scotland, consistently beating rivals such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Fanta, and reportedly sells 20 cans every second throughout Scotland.

What is the national dish of Scotland? ›

Haggis. Haggis is our national dish, and the first recipe dates back to the 15th century (in recorded history).

What is the Scottish special drink? ›

What is whisky? Scotland's national drink - it's name even comes from the Gaelic word for 'water of life'. To be called Scotch whisky, the liquor has to be made in a manner specified by law.

What is Scotland's national drink? ›

Scottish whisky. Scottish whisky – otherwise known as Scotch – is one of life's great pleasures. Smooth, sweet and aged to perfection, the national drink of Scotland is beloved across the world.

What do Scots eat for breakfast? ›

So, what is a full Scottish breakfast? Usually made up of bacon, link sausages, Lorne sausage (also known as square sausage or slice), black pudding, haggis, baked beans, fried mushrooms and tomatoes, toast, tattie scones and fried eggs, the full Scottish breakfast is a sight to behold.

What do the Scottish call beer? ›

Scottish Gaelic vocabulary: drinks
DrinkDeoch
alcoholdeoch làidir<))
a pintpinnt<))
beerleann<))
ciderleann-ubhal<))
16 more rows

What do locals drink in Scotland? ›

5 Popular Scottish Drinks
  • Irn-Bru: Translation is “Iron Brew”. ...
  • The Botanist: This is a taste of the wild side of Scotland. ...
  • Drambuie: This is one of Scotland's most famous liqueurs – other than straight up Scotch. ...
  • Dark Matter Spiced Rum: Now, you wouldn't think that a rum would come out of Scotland but.

What are 5 fun facts about Scotland? ›

5 Fun facts about Scotland
  • It's home to one of Europe's oldest trees. ...
  • Golf was invented here. ...
  • The national animal of Scotland is a unicorn. ...
  • Over 90% of Scottish residents live in less than 5% of the country's area. ...
  • There are over 900 islands in Scotland, according to the Scottish government.

What to eat and drink in Scotland? ›

Traditional Scottish Dishes

Haggis, neeps and tatties, whisky, Stornoway black pudding, Aberdeen Angus beef. The list goes on. Our traditional Scottish dishes are loved by locals and visitors alike.

How much does Scotland drink? ›

46% of Scottish adults drink at least once a week, lower than 50% across the UK. And there is evidence of an increasing number of adults in the country never or rarely (less often than monthly) drinking: 36% in 2021, up from 32% in 2018.

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