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Intro to Cornish Food and Drink


Cornwall sits at the very south-western end of the UK. Stand at the promontory (now a theme park) of Land’s End, look out to sea, the next land mass is the US.
Cornish Food and Recipes

Intro to Cornish Food and Drink

Photo © Elaine Lemm
The county is far enough away from London, and is also separated from its closest neighbour, Devon, by the river Tamar, to enjoy relative isolation. Cornwall is much warmer than the rest of the UK which gives it a head start in the spring, a longer summer and foods not easily grown elsewhere and hence, an abundance of Cornish foods.

The industries, both past and present, have influenced some of the most famous dishes of the county, the most notable being the Cornish Pasty. Tin mining was once one of the main industries and It is generally believed that the pasty evolved for Cornish tin miners, who, unable to return to the surface at lunchtime had a hearty, easy to hold and eat, lunch dish.

Fishing is still a major industry which is no surprise given that Cornwall has two lengthy coastlines, one on the Atlantic, the other the English Channel which is a coastline of 326 miles. Fishing has always been integral to Cornish life; the industry provides thousands of jobs and many millions of pounds for the local economy. There is a wealth of fish and seafood from these shore including, mussels, crab, lobster, turbot, sardines, pilchards, sea bass and much, much more; 40 different species are landed every day.

Agriculture and dairy farming are also important industries for the county as a look at some of the cheeses produced in Cornwall, and the famous clotted cream will bear testament.

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