Individual British cities are invariably associated with particular industries, brands or products. My adopted city - Sheffield - is mostly associated with metal products including cutlery and surgical instruments. After all, it was in this city that silver plating began and it was here that stainless steel was invented by Harry Brearley.
Another product that is distinctly Sheffieldish and adored with nostalgic affection by Sheffielders everywhere is Henderson's Relish. It is a black savoury sauce with a secret recipe. As Matt Helders of The Arctic Monkeys pop group said, "It's like Worcester Sauce but a million times better".
It was invented in 1885 by Henry Henderson and for more than a hundred years it was manufactured in a little factory on Leavygreave Road. You will find iconic orange-labelled bottles of "Hendo's" in the kitchen cupboards of all true Sheffielders,
Henderson's is good to splash in soups and stews or upon slices of cheese on toast. Some Sheffielders even dash it on plates of chips (American: fries) and some use it in place of soy sauce in Asian dishes. Henderson's is very adaptable and unlike that vile Lea and Perrin's Worcester Sauce, Henderson's is vegan! No anchovies added to this secret mixture.
My grown up children live in London but they both make sure that they never run out of Henderson's. The company has its own helpful website with historical notes provided and souvenirs for sale. You may visit that website here. It's hard to believe that I have been blogging for over thirteen years and hadn't got round to devoting a post to Henderson's until today. Silly me!
Oh my! I will search the shelves of my local supermarket which carries English foods to see if I can find some Henderson's. I really do want to try it now.
ReplyDeleteI would send you some but sending liquids by international mail is almost taboo.
DeleteYou sure have been prolific with your posts, Yorkie! Three I've just had to catch up on!! Maybe I've just been slack...and/or otherwise occupied...sorry for my tardiness. Don't take it personally! I'm the guilty one and lower my head in shame!
ReplyDeleteI stick with the good old Holbrook's Worcestershire Sauce...and am never without a bottle or two in my cupboard/s.
Compared with Yorkshire, Worcestershire is an inferior county.
DeleteMe too Lee. Never heard of YP’s wonder sauce!
DeleteI've never head of Henderson's relish so I googled to see if it's sold here. I can't find that it's sold in Canada.
ReplyDeleteThe taste is probably too sophisticated for Canadians.
DeleteI would like to try that sometime if I can find it around here. I use worcestershire sauce in cooking but it would be nice to try something a little different. Are you starting to feel any better by now? I sure hope so!
ReplyDeleteIt is Sunday morning now and I hope to have a walk today so I must be feeling a hell of a lot better. Thanks for asking Bonnie.
DeleteI had never heard of Henderson's but I shall look out for it. I use Lea and Perrin's Worcester sauce a lot ! ( especially good with cheese and tomato on toast!)
ReplyDelete"Lea and Perrins" is a name that one should not utter in Sheffield as it is considered to be imperilling.
DeleteAs a mere southerner, I too had never heard of it, but will look it up next time I'm in the supermarket. It sounds very versatile.
ReplyDeleteAs my son and daughter have to source their bottles in Sheffield, the relish may not be available in London stores.
DeleteObviously the best of everything comes from Yorkshire but we can't get Henderson's relish here. I usually have some Worcestershire sauce here and there was a time when I had a milder version. I thought it was called Lincolnshire relish but google doesn't seem to know what I'm talking about.....
ReplyDelete13 years to tell us about this marvel? Yorkshire will fire you
I agree entirely with the first eight words of your comment Kylie.
DeleteI like my anchovies!
ReplyDeleteThey are not YOUR anchovies Graham. They belong to all of us though I suspect that the mummy and daddy anchovies would dispute this.
DeleteNever heard of it. I shall look out for it next time I'm shopping.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure that Henderson's Ltd export to Lincolnshire.
DeleteWe have used it for years as my other half was born in Sheffield.
ReplyDeleteHenderson's can add relish to any marriage.
DeleteIt sounds a bit like Maggi. Julius Maggi invented it in the late 19th century in Switzerland, but I doubt it has become anywhere as popular as in Germany. Just like "Hendo's", you can splash it on soups, use it in sauces or even on sandwiches. O.K. loves a splash of it on slices of hard-boiled egg on bread.
ReplyDeleteMy sister and I used to have an original mini Maggi bottle for our play shop, and sometimes we drank the Maggi directly from it. I wouldn't do that today, but it goes to show how versatile and popular some things are!
As far as I know, Maggi is also vegan. It has its own Wikipedia entry, too.
I have had "Maggi". Thanks for reminding me of it. I used to like it - it has an appealing savoury taste. "Henderson's" is spicier.
DeleteWell, I doubt that it's find-able here in South Carolina (a mere 3000 miles from Sheffield, give or take!) so I shall have to continue to use inferior Worcestershire's. :)
ReplyDeleteSorry about that Jennifer.
DeleteHello Mr.Pudding, ( and Jennifer) Henderson's is available in Statesville,NC by way of Amazon! I am originally from Hampshire ( miss the UK ) so have fond memories of many English pickles, sauces etc.Special treats were pickled walnuts and onions with cold chicken on Boxing Day. Merry Christmas to you and yours Mr, Pudding. PS Bought "Bosh" for my vegan daughter for Christmas
ReplyDeleteHello Shelagh! Thanks for calling by and thank you also for buying "Bosh!". I will tell one of the authors!
DeleteI've never had Henderson's! I'll have to look for it. I do like the Waterlogue version. :)
ReplyDeleteI think you will struggle to find it in London.
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