Cornish foods you must try during your visit

By Pentewan Sands on the March 04th, 2022 in

It’s St Piran’s Day (Gool Peran in Cornish), St Piran’s Day is the county day of Cornwall held on March 5th each year. The day is named after one of the patron saints of Cornwall, Saint Piran, who is also the patron saint of tin miners.

So as we’re celebrating everything Cornish today, we wanted to suggest some of Cornwall’s finest produce to indulge in during your visit – including the correct way to prepare your cream tea!

Cornish pasty

It goes without saying that top of the list is the traditional Cornish pasty.

These are very easy to come by in Cornwall as practically every bakery you come across will serve freshly baked pasties from the same morning. Best eaten half an hour after they’ve come out of the oven, traditional pasties are made with short crust pastry and filled with beef skirt, turnip, onion, potato, a knob of butter and plenty of seasoning.

Pasties were originally made by tin miner’s wives for their hardworking husbands, with the crust of the pasty acting as a handle for their grubby hands. The pasty is now so synonymous with Cornwall that it’s been awarded a Protected Geographical Indication – which means it can only be called a traditional Cornish pasty if it is made in Cornwall.

If there’s only one thing you eat when you’re in Cornwall, then definitely make it a pasty.

Clotted cream

There is an ongoing debate of whether clotted cream originated in Devon or Cornwall, however, one thing is known for sure, it makes for a delicious cream tea or is great paired with a bowl of fresh Cornish strawberries.  

If you’re looking to try the best clotted cream in the county, then look no further than Roddas. Established in 1890, Roddas is now a popular brand amongst many UK households.

Most commonly served as part of a cream tea, firstly choose a plain or fruit scone, split into two, pick your jam of choice (strawberry is a winner) and spread onto your scone, then dollop a generous spoonful of clotted cream on top – and yes, this is definitely the correct way to prepare a cream tea! If you want to make this a true Cornish experience pair with Cornish Tea, made in Liskeard, it is one of the South of England’s leading tea and coffee suppliers.

Cornish Yarg

It may not be as well-known as the Cornish pasty or clotted cream, but it is definitely just as tasty!

Available in most delicatessens in Cornwall, Yarg is a creamy and crumbly cheese made from the milk of Friesian cows. Its distinctive appearance comes from the nettle leaves the cheese is wrapped in before it is left to mature for 5 weeks.

Definitely great for a cheeseboard!

Head to Lobb’s Farm Shop, located just up the road by The Lost Gardens of Heligan, for your nearest cheese fix.

Seafood

With over 400 miles of coastline, it’s no surprise that fishing is one of Cornwall’s main industries. Historically pilchards were Cornwall’s speciality, however, nowadays there is a huge variety of fish on the Cornish coastline to try – particularly Cornish crab and lobster. You’ll find that a lot of the eateries in Cornwall will have daily fresh fish specials on their menu – yum!

Saffron cake

Saffron is one of the most expensive spices in the world, averaging at £5,500 per kg. The spice has a distinct and delicate flavour and adds a golden colour to food. In Cornwall saffron is used in sweet baking to make saffron cake or buns. Some say that saffron cake should be eaten as is, whereas others like it with lashings of Cornish butter or clotted cream!

Drinks

Whilst you’re on your holidays, you may want to let your hair down and enjoy a few drinks whilst watching the sunset. Over the past few years, there have been a number of brands that have made their mark and established themselves within the F&B industry. To name a few:

• Tarquins Gin – with many flavours available including elderflower & grapefruit, rhubarb & raspberry, strawberry & lime, blackberry and of course their original gin
• Colwith Distillery – originally producing vodka with their own potatoes called Aval Dor, they have now branched out to create their own gin too! During the Covid-19 pandemic, they even produced their own hand sanitiser
• Cornish Rattler – produced by Healey’s Cyder Farm, rattler is a staple beverage to consume whilst you’re in Cornwall. Plus Healey’s is a great attraction to visit for all the family, with friendly farm animals, guided tours, sampling available
• Knightor Winery – nestled above St Austell Bay, Knightor Winery has produced some award-winning wines. They offer guided tours and sampling sessions, host weddings and have an onsite restaurant, which you can book via their website.
• St Austell Brewery – producing many ales, if you head to any pub or restaurant during your stay you will have a great selection to choose from! Or visit their shop within the brewery, just 5 miles up the road in St Austell