Stornoway black pudding facts for kids

A slice of Stornoway black pudding

Stornoway black pudding is a special kind of black pudding. It is made in the Outer Hebrides, also known as the Western Isles, in Scotland. In the Scottish Gaelic language, black pudding is called marag-dhubh.

What Makes It Special?

Stornoway black pudding is known for its unique taste and texture. It is moist and firm, with small pieces of fat that you can see. The special Scottish oatmeal used gives it a good, rough texture.

When you cook Stornoway black pudding, it keeps its shape well. After cooking, it looks almost black. It is easy to cut and breaks apart nicely, but it does not crumble too much. It has a rich, meaty, and savory flavor. It is well-seasoned but not spicy. It also leaves a clean and pleasant taste in your mouth.

Protecting Stornoway Black Pudding

For a long time, people made black pudding outside the Western Isles and called it "Stornoway." This was not fair to the real product. To protect its special name, people applied for something called Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status.

What is PGI Status?

PGI status is a special label from the European Union. It means that a food product must come from a certain place. It also means the food must be made in a traditional way. This helps to protect the quality and reputation of famous foods.

The Application for PGI

The application for PGI status for Stornoway black pudding was made in January 2009. It took a few years, but the protected status was officially given in May 2013. This means that only black pudding made in the right place and with the right recipe can be called "Stornoway black pudding."

Key Rules for Stornoway Black Pudding

The Scottish Government's application to the European Union set out two main rules:

• Where it is made – The black pudding must be made on the Isle of Lewis and in the nearby "Stornoway Trust" area.
• The recipe – The ingredients must follow a specific recipe. The main ingredients are beef suet, oatmeal, onion, and blood. The amounts of these ingredients must be within certain limits.