It has gone from peasant food to super food. And now the humble black pudding is about to be celebrated with its own national day.
Scottish Craft Butchers has earmarked 18 March for nationwide acknowledgement of the blood sausage, whose origins date back to ancient Greece.
The decision to celebrate black pudding with its own national day follows a call for the foodstuff to be awarded similar acclaim as its famous Scottish cousin – the haggis.
Leading the call is Scotland’s current black pudding champion, butcher Nigel Ovens of McCaskie’s Butchers and Café in Wemyss Bay.
“Black pudding is one of the most important butchers’ traditional staples in Scotland and it has now evolved into a gourmet ingredient in fine dining establishments as well as on our family breakfast tables,” he said.
“People should be proud of this heritage food and celebrate it in style. As with haggis, every butcher has their own recipe for black pudding, and every country has its own specific version of the blood sausage.”
McCaskie’s produces almost half a tonne of black pudding every week to supply customers across the UK and Nigel thinks it’s time everyone celebrated what he called a “food hero”.
“Although divisive because of its blood-based recipe, black pudding is now enjoying superfood status and we should be shouting about it from the rooftops,” he said.
Scottish Craft Butchers president George Jarron agreed that black pudding was worthy of a dedicated focus by manufacturers, suppliers, cafes, restaurants and customers.
“Scottish Craft Butchers play a huge part in the supply of black pudding to the nation,” he said, “so it’s fitting that we should spearhead the first ever National Black Pudding Day.
“Nigel’s call to action will provide the springboard for people across the country to celebrate the Scottish version of an international favourite and I look forward to seeing what plans we can put in place for the first-ever celebration of its kind.”
The Scottish black pudding champion’s call for a national day to recognise the blood sausage has gathered support across Great Britain, with National Craft Butchers adding their weight to next year’s event.
David Gigli, president of the National Craft Butchers, said they were delighted to join in the celebration of black pudding by adopting the national day across the rest of Great Britain.
“We have 500 members in England and Wales who will be encouraged to promote and celebrate this breakfast staple and core craft butcher product,” he said.
“It`s only right that the whole of the country should get behind a National Black Pudding Day and turn the spotlight on this great foodstuff. We will be looking at special events and promotions to help make 18 March a special day for black pudding lovers everywhere.”
