It’s easy to see why so many people regard black pudding as somewhat of a ‘Marmite’ food – one of its most prominent ingredients is blood, which means that for lots of people, you love it, or you hate it. But as we begin a New Year, it looks like it’s (quite literally) back on the menu. Butchers across the country are still seeing steady levels of sales, and Google trends figures put searches of the meat consistently high. 

Here at Butchers Equipment, we supply a wide variety of knives and butchery equipment to professional and domestic customers all over the UK, so it’s a long-term trend that we’ve also been observing with interest! So, what’s behind the recent rise, and can we expect it to continue into 2023? 

Customers are more selective about the provenance of their meat

Arguably one of the most interesting aspects behind the rise of black pudding is that trend is that demand for it is growing not in spite of people choosing to eat less meat, but in many cases actively because of it. As one professional publicly observed, more people are pursuing flexitarian diets, which means that on the rarer occasions they do actively choose to eat meat, they want to ensure that it's properly high quality – and they’re prepared to pay more accordingly.  

That’s a big reason why provenance is becoming an ever-more important factor for growing numbers of customers, who want to know where their meat comes from, and that it’s been sourced in Britain, and that it’s had a good life.  

Reducing waste

With growing awareness and concern about environmental waste, black pudding also provides a relatively efficient solution. Essentially, the reason why it was once such a regional delicacy all across the UK was because it helped to ensure that nothing was wasted from killing the pig. That meant if you were eating meat, you were eating the whole animal. 

And today, commercial black pudding provides an equally viable means to ensure that no part of the pig is wasted – so that environmentally-conscious consumers can enjoy the occasional plateful without compromising their key principles. 

Cost-effective in increasingly tighter times

Another major draw of black pudding is that it’s inexpensive, largely because it’s not made with cuts of prime meat. That makes it a popular choice for consumers who are increasingly finding themselves forced to tighten their wallets in a steadily tougher economy. In fact, it’s one of several foods seeing a resurgence in popularity, as the cost of living crisis pushes people into trying new things in the kitchen. It’s obviously far from an ideal set of circumstances, but there’s no denying the economic situation as a factor!

It's part of the UK’s cultural heritage

Black pudding has been a part of the UK’s cultural heritage for thousands of years, likely introduced by European monks in 800BC. Ever since then, various regions across the UK have developed their own distinct recipes, often using local ingredients to create their own unique takes on black pudding. Scottish puddings, for example, are made with beef suet and oatmeal, whereas Lancashire black puddings are more often made with pork fat and pearl barley.

Speaking of Lancashire, it’s here that the annual Black Pudding Throwing Championships are held, traditionally in the Greater Manchester town of Ramsbottom. It’s exactly as complex as it sounds – participants hurl black puddings at piles of Yorkshire puddings, sitting high on a platform above. It’s a slightly quirky example of how it’s become so firmly embedded in the national consciousness!

So, if you’re looking for the perfect butchers equipment to prepare black puddings for your customers – or even for yourself at home – you’re in exactly the right place. We only supply the very best carving knives, butchers knives and chef knife sets here at Butchers Equipment Warehouse, as well as a wide variety of supplementary equipment and accessories, so you can always be confident that we have exactly what you need — and all at the very best prices to boot.

Feel free to explore our extensive range of knives, sets and accessories right here on our site, and if you’ve got any questions, get in touch with our experts on 01254 427721 and we’ll be happy to help!