Lake District food and drink

The Lake District is becoming a real go-to for foodies who appreciate the locally sourced produce and traditional recipes.

When we think of traditional Lake District fare, we have to admit that rum is not the first thing that comes to mind! Sticky Grasmere gingerbread, sugary Kendal mint cake and spicy Cumberland sausages maybe, but you would never imagine that Cumbria has a fascinating smuggling history as part of the international rum trade. Nowadays this sweet drink is used in various Cumbrian recipes with other imported ingredients such as nutmeg and ginger. Read on to find out more about rum butter and a great recipe we have for it...

Get a taste of the Lakes with this selection of scrumptious Cumbrian treats that you must sample during your Lake District holidays.

Cumberland sausage

This spicy sausage, traditionally known as the Cumberland Whirl, is rolled up into a large coil shape to serve. Consisting of rough-cut pork and spices, pepper and herbs, it is one of the most popular foods to herald from Cumbria. It's sold in a pack by supermarkets, but you should try it in its original form here.

Rumoured to have been introduced by German miners working in the Lake District during the Elizabethan era, its strange shape gives this humble Cumbrian sausage a really continental look. It was originally much spicier than the sausage we know and love now as, during this period, exciting new spices such as ginger and nutmeg were introduced to Cumbria and they were often utilised in local dishes. Try the wonderful taste of the Cumberland at Brockhole visitor centre on Lake Windermere. You can sample the Cumberland sausage in most Lake District pubs and restaurants, but here are 5 of the best pubs to visit.

Sticky toffee pudding

There is no better place to try the traditional sticky toffee pudding, a light and figgy sponge pudding, than at the hotel where it was first presented to the public back in the 1970s. The village of Cartmel is still proud of its famous sticky toffee pudding.

Such is its popularity, the chefs involved in making this secretive recipe at Ullswater’s Sharrow Bay Country House Hotel have all had to sign confidentiality agreements to never disclose the recipe, so unfortunately you won’t be able to come away with any secret information! Visit the hotel for afternoon tea, served with butterscotch sauce and a large dollop of clotted cream; the pudding and spectacular views over Lake Ullswater are just the thing to perk you up after a long fell walk. In the mood for something sweet now? Check out our guide to the best afternoon tea stops in the Lake District.

Kendal mint cake

Not a cake as such but more a slice of sugary heaven, the recipe for Kendal mint cake was allegedly made by accident by a confectioner back in 1869. 

Image: Andrew Bowden (CC 2.0)

During the process of making sweets in his factory, the mixture turned cloudy and, rather than throw it away, he poured it into a tray and made it into a hard white cake. It is still made in Cumbria today by companies such as Quiggin’s and Romney’s, who both have factories in Kendal. Brilliant as a quick energy boost for climbers, its claim to fame is that it made it to the top of Everest with the explorer and mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary in 1953.

Herdwick lamb

No visit to the Lake District would be complete without catching a sight of the traditional Herdwick sheep, a breed of sheep dating back to the 12th century. They are a symbol of the Lake District and are managed while staying true to traditional methods. Read all about them in our guide to Herdwick sheep. 

It is the way these lambs grow that gives their meat a sweeter, fuller taste – they mature slowly due to the harsh climate on the upper fells where they graze unrestricted. The lamb is best from January to May and there are various butchers in the area that you can buy it from. Herdwick lamb cobbler is a dish much enjoyed by Cumbrian fell farmers and you will find that many restaurants do their own version of this traditional recipe.

Damsons

Although this member of the plum family was known to originally come from Damascus, it has also been grown in the temperate climate of Westmorland since the 1700s. 

Its unique flavour, caused by cross pollination with wild sloes, is used in various drinks such as gin, wine and beer as well as cheese, chocolate and jams. Don’t miss the Damson Day Country Fair, held every April, which celebrates the blossoming of the damson by providing taster events and demonstrations, as well as lots of stalls packed with Lake District goodies to take home.

Grasmere gingerbread

A much older recipe than the famous sticky toffee pudding and invented by Sarah Nelson back in 1854, this chewy and spicy gingerbread isn’t the typical crunchy gingerbread man that you find in shops nowadays – it is actually more a cake than a biscuit. A wonderful ingredient to have in your store cupboard, it can bring life to an array of pudding recipes or just sprinkle the crumbs over ice cream!

Image: Andrew Bowden, CC 2.0

Buy some from The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop, a 16th-century former schoolhouse next to the church in Grasmere, where Sarah Nelson’s recipe is still a big hit with the customers. They also stock mint cake, fudge and rum butter, which all make for great Lakeland gifts to take home.

Rum butter

Now you don’t have to have a new baby in the family to try this recipe, made with rum, butter, brown sugar and nutmeg, but it is as good an excuse as any! Ancient Cumbrian tradition says that on the birth of a baby, rum butter is served with coins left in the butter bowl to symbolise prosperity to the newborn, with the baby’s mother encouraged to take some during her recovery.

As mentioned earlier, rum was an important part of Cumbrian life in the 18th and 19th centuries as it was smuggled through the western sea ports on its way from the West Indies. Whether you believe the stories about the origins of rum butter – mainly of drunken sailors and unfortunate pirates being trapped in caves – is up to you, but it does make for interesting conversation over the mince pies at Christmas! It also goes down a treat with some classic Grasmere gingerbread.

For a taste of the Lakes, try this recipe for damson gin

Ingredients:

• 500g damsons
• 125g caster sugar
• 1 litre gin
  
  

Method:

1. Prick the damsons and place into a large sterilised glass jar that can be sealed
2. Add the sugar and gin, shaking daily until the mixture becomes pink
3. Store in a dark larder or cupboard and leave for two to three months
4. Strain the mixture and put into bottles
5. Tie a tartan ribbon and tag around the neck of each bottle and store

Where to eat

If you're looking for somewhere to sit back, enjoy some great food and soak up a relaxing atmosphere, check out our favourite places to eat and drink. Your dog is even welcome to come too! If you are into sampling different beers and ales from the local area check out our guide to Lake District breweries and distilleries and for dining out don't miss our guide to the top 10 restaurants in the Lake District. You won't regret discovering this diverse range of establishments offering first-class dining and an eclectic menus for all tastes. There are even a couple of Michelin-star restaurants in there!

Come and stay in our self-catering cottages in the Lake District to sample all this amazing local produce for yourself. We have everything from family holiday homes and luxury cottages with hot tubs to dog-friendly cottages and log cabins in the woods. Browse our collection today and plan a holiday of a lifetime.