Scots vote on the best and worst parts of Scottish breakfast

VisitScotland has polled the nation on their best (and worst) parts of the full Scottish breakfast, revealing that bacon, toast and tattie scones are Scotland’s most loved items.

Article Source: Visit Scotland
Last Updated: 2 October 2023 14:37

WHAT WE LOVE MOST ABOUT THE SCOTTISH BREAKFAST: A PUBLIC VOTE

• New research surveyed 1000 Scots to uncover what they think the best (and worst) parts of the full Scottish breakfast are, revealing that bacon, toast and tattie scones are the nation's most loved items.

• According to the research, Scots aren’t keen on fried mushrooms or fried tomatoes

• More than half (57%) of Scots said they eat a full Scottish breakfast at least once a month and prefer to have tomato sauce with their full Scottish

Food is a vital part of a country’s heritage. It’s how tradition weaves into everyday life, generation after generation and serves as a unifying force that binds us as a community.

From porridge, which dates back 5,500 years to Stone Age settlers in the Outer Hebrides, to a filled Glasgow roll that thousands grab on their way to work each morning, a hearty breakfast encompasses many important parts of Scotland’s culture. It also celebrates the amazing local ingredients that can be found on our doorstep - whether it’s famous porridge oats milled in Fife, award-winning Ayrshire Bacon and Stornoway Black Pudding, or organic local milk and free-range eggs from local Scottish farms.

And who could forget perhaps the most iconic one of all: the full Scottish breakfast. But get a group of Scots in a room and ask them what their favourite parts of the full Scottish breakfast are, and debate would likely erupt!

To settle the age-long debate once and for all, a survey of 1000 Scots uncovers which parts of the full Scottish breakfast they like – and dislike – the most.

How would Scots score each item of the full Scottish breakfast out of 10?

The verdict is in, the research found that bacon, toast, and tattie scones are the most popular food items in a full Scottish, with Scots scoring the items 8.4, 7.8, and 7.7, respectively, out of 10.

After tattie scones, the next highest-scoring native Scottish item was Lorne (or square) sausage, with an average score of 7.5.

When it comes to the lowest-scoring Scottish breakfast items fried mushrooms and fried tomatoes came in last with scores of 5.5, and 4.8, respectively.

Interestingly, the only age group who did not score bacon the highest out of 10 was 25–34-year-olds, who scored tattie scones the highest, with an 8 out of 10.

It also seems that tastes for the iconic Scottish haggis and black pudding acquire with age. Where the under-45s scored haggis an average of 5.3 out of 10, the over-45s scored it 6.1. Similarly, those under 45 scored black pudding 5.4 out of 10, whereas with those over 45s, the scoring jumps to 6.9.

What is the one part of the full Scottish breakfast people say they couldn’t go without?

While Scots might’ve scored bacon, toast, and tattie scones the highest out of all the items in a full Scottish breakfast, the things they said they simply couldn’t go without differ slightly.

The highest scoring item, bacon, remained on top, with 21% of Scots saying they couldn’t go without this on their full Scottish breakfast plate. Following bacon was Lorne sausage, with about 1 in 5 (19%) Scots saying they couldn’t go without this, and then tattie scones again in third place (17%).

Looking at the items Scots said they would remove from the full Scottish breakfast if they could, most Scots (22%) said they would take fried tomatoes off the dish. Almost 1 in 5 (18%) said they would remove fried mushrooms, and nearly 1 in 6 (14%) would remove baked beans.

How often do Scots eat a full Scottish breakfast?

Imagine stepping into a local café, such as The Peerie Shop Café in Shetland, where the aroma of freshly prepared Scottish breakfast fills the air. Or picture the cozy comfort of the Kirkwall Hotel in Orkney, where you can relax and indulge in a charming atmosphere. And let's not forget about the authenticity of a local farm shop like Gloagburn Farm Shop in Perth, where you can connect with local ingredients. Regardless of where visitors or Scots find themselves eating in Scotland, they’ll undoubtedly be able to find a full Scottish breakfast as an option on the breakfast menu.

But how often are Scots actually eating a full Scottish breakfast?

The research found that more than half (57%) of Scots say they eat a full Scottish breakfast at least once a month! 18–24-year-olds were found to eat a full Scottish breakfast most frequently, with almost two-thirds (62%) of respondents in this age group saying they eat the dish at least once a month. They were also the age group most likely to say they eat a full Scottish breakfast daily, with about 3 in every 100 saying this.

Red or brown sauce?

Another debate sparking question is that of whether people prefer to adorn their full Scottish breakfast with red sauce or brown. According to the results of the research, red sauce was the overall winner, with 2 in 5 (40%) of Scots saying this was their preference. However, it was a close tie with brown sauce, with just over a third (36%) of Scots voting for this. Interestingly, 26% of Scots prefer their breakfast without either of them.

Renowned chef and restauranteur, Nick Nairn is a firm supporter of the award-winning produce that goes into creating the iconic traditional Scottish Breakfast.

“Scotland is world renowned for the freshest of local ingredients that can be sourced and purchased across the entire country. There really is no limit on how to put together your own twist on breakfast in Scotland but I am massive champion of local is best; the real magic happens when you steer clear of supermarket goods and treat yourself to only the tastiest locally-produced foods available. The more local it is, the better, plus it’ll be tastier and good for you too.

We boast farm shops in Scotland that offer the freshest of eggs, artisan bakers that specialise in hand-crafted breads to the succulent bacon, sausages and haggis on offer at local farmers’ markets, and of course there are a plethora of farms that offer the juiciest hand-picked fruits and berries. Of course you can also add more decadent items to your breakfast treat such as the iconic Scottish smoked salmon. The list is endless. I urge you to draw up your own personalised breakfast menu for a truly memorable feast to start your day in Scotland”.

Lauren Pirnie, VisitScotland Regions & Sectors Marketing Manager comments: “Food and drink is such an important part of the tourism experience. In fact, sampling traditional dishes and local produce is the second top activity undertaken by visitors to Scotland. When it comes to breakfast, then we are spoiled for choice with a huge array of mouth-watering delicacies and even better, so many places to enjoy them; from B&Bs and hotels to Michelin-starred restaurants, farm shops and local eateries.”

For more information, please visit: https://www.visitscotland.com/things-to-do/food-drink/full-scottish-breakfast

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