26 Amazing Scottish Foods You Have To Try At Least Once

You haven't lived until you've tried rumbledethumps.

1. Cranachan

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This traditional Scottish dessert is a heavenly (and calorific) blend of whisky, whipped cream, honey, and fresh raspberries topped with toasted oatmeal.

2. Cock-a-leekie soup

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This hearty dish is is made with leeks, chicken stock, and barley. It's often referred to as "Scotland's National Soup".

3. Clootie dumpling

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The word "clootie" means cloth, and refers to the fact that this traditional suet fruit pudding is wrapped in linen before being boiled for a couple of hours.

4. Crowdie

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Crowdie is similar in texture to cottage cheese, but much tastier. Legend has it that it has the power to prevent a whisky hangover if it's eaten before a drinking session.

5. Arbroath smokie

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A smokie is a flavour-packed, strongly smoked haddock made in Arbroath, Angus. The fish are salted, hung over a burning barrel, and then sealed in with wet sacks.

6. Scotch pie

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These meaty treats are pure joy on a cold day. Thick pastry is filled with peppery mutton and then baked in a high round tin, leaving a rim that can hold gravy.

7. Rumbledethumps

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This fantastically-named vegetable dish originated in the Scottish Borders. Mashed potato, onion, and cabbage are fried, then baked with cheese until golden brown.

8. Finnan haddie

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Finnan haddie is a variety of smoked haddock made in north-east Scotland. The fish is lightly smoked over green wood and peat to give it a subtle, delicate flavour.

9. Strathdon Blue

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This rich, full, and creamy Highland blue cheese is made by the Stones family at their farm in Tain, Ross-shire. It's made with 70% Friesian and 30% Holstein milk.

10. Caboc

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This luxurious, primrose yellow Highland cheese is made with double cream and rolled in pinhead oatmeal. The recipe dates back to the 15th century.

11. Atholl brose

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Atholl brose is a delicious Scottish drink made by mashing oats in water, straining the resulting 'brose' and combining it with honey, whisky, and sometimes cream.

12. Scottish macaroons

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Bright, colourful macaroons like these are very popular, but they're not as tasty as the Scottish version made with coconut, chocolate, and (weirdly) mashed potato.

13. Cullen skink

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This thick Scottish soup was invented in the town of Cullen in north-east Scotland. It's a combination of potatoes, onions, and smoked haddock (usually finnan haddie).

14. Moffat Toffee

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These sugary treats have been made by the Blacklock family in Moffat since the late 1800s. The toffees have a sweet caramel shell and a sharp lemon centre.

15. Scotch broth

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Hot, filling soups are a great antidote to the Scottish weather, and few are as filling as this broth: A mixture of lamb or beef, vegetables and sometimes split peas.

16. Ayrshire Dunlop

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This mild East Ayrshire cheese is made with unskimmed milk. The method was invented by local farmer's wife and inventor Barbara Gilmour in the 18th century.

17. Tipsy Laird

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This Scottish dessert is traditionally served on Burns Night. It's made in a similar way to trifle but is made with whisky not sherry, and raspberries instead of strawberries.

18. Dundee cake

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This famous variety of fruitcake is made with currants, sultanas, and almonds. A Dundee company started to mass produce the cakes in the nineteenth century.

19. Isle Of Arran Cheese

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This island cheese company is relatively new, but their award-winning flavoured waxed cheddar definitely deserves a place on the list (especially the whisky variety).

20. Stovies

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Stovies (meaning "to stew" in Scots) is a traditional dish made with potatoes, onions, and various forms of meat and other veg, often eaten with home made oatcakes.

21. Heather ale

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Heather ale (leann fraoich) has been brewed in Scotland since ancient times, but this particular variety by Williams Bros. was inspired by a 17th-century recipe.

22. Abernethy biscuits

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These tasty, buttery biscuits were invented by a doctor called John Abernethy in the 18th century. He included aromatic caraway seeds in the recipe to help digestion.

23. Black bun

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What's better than a fruit cake? A fruit cake wrapped in pastry. Black bun is eaten on or around Hogmanay and is similar to a traditional Christmas cake in texture.

24. Aberdeen butteries

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These butter filled, flaky savoury rolls are basically a Scottish croissant. They were originally given to fishermen; their high fat content means they don't go stale at sea.

25. Haggis, neeps, and tatties.

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Haggis done well is a revelation. Forget that it's made of innards and enjoy the sweet, salty, spicy, meaty and unique flavour, ideally with a whisky sauce.

26. Tunnocks Caramel Wafers

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The Tunnocks Teacake is a fine thing, but finer still are crisp, chocolatey Tunnocks Caramel Wafers: they beat Kit Kats hands down.