A sweet chunky vegetable pickle in a dark tangy sauce, eaten with cheddar in a ploughman’s. It was first made in 1922 at a Crosse and Blackwell factory in Branston, Staffordshire, and the name stayed after production moved to Bury St Edmunds.
It is a branded commercial recipe still owned by its manufacturer, so a home version would be a chutney wearing the name of a real product.
What goes into it
- swede, carrot, onion, cauliflower and gherkin
- malt vinegar
- sugar and dates
- tomato
- spices
How it is made
Diced vegetables are cooked in a spiced sauce of malt vinegar, sugar, date and tomato until they soften but keep their bite, then hot-filled into jars. The particular cut of the vegetables and the spice blend are the product, and both belong to the manufacturer.
How long it takes: made and jarred in a factory; matured briefly before sale
How it is eaten
With mature cheddar in a sandwich or a ploughman’s, or with pork pie.
History
First made in 1922 at a Crosse and Blackwell factory in Branston, Staffordshire; the name stayed after production moved to Bury St Edmunds.
Frequently asked questions
What is Branston Pickle?
Branston Pickle is a fermented & pickled from United Kingdom: sweet chunky vegetable pickle in dark tangy sauce, eaten with cheddar. First made in 1922 at a Crosse and Blackwell factory in Branston, Staffordshire; the name stayed after production moved to Bury St Edmunds.
How is Branston Pickle made?
Diced vegetables are cooked in a spiced sauce of malt vinegar, sugar, date and tomato until they soften but keep their bite, then hot-filled into jars. The particular cut of the vegetables and the spice blend are the product, and both belong to the manufacturer. It takes made and jarred in a factory; matured briefly before sale.
Can I make Branston Pickle at home?
No, and the atlas gives no method for it. It is a branded commercial recipe still owned by its manufacturer, so a home version would be a chutney wearing the name of a real product.
What goes into Branston Pickle?
Swede, carrot, onion, cauliflower and gherkin, malt vinegar, sugar and dates, tomato, spices.
How is Branston Pickle eaten?
With mature cheddar in a sandwich or a ploughman’s, or with pork pie.
