Foreign Grocery Friday: Swigging Irn Bru in Scotland
When we travel, one of our favorite things to do is to pop into a local grocery store and check out the food products and candies we'd never find anywhere else. So we're trying out this new feature, Foreign Grocery Friday, where each week we'll feature some of our (and your) favorite overseas treats. Got a recommendation? Let us know!
What's that bottle of nuclear-orange soft drink on the same shelf as Pepsi, Coke and other top-brand colas? Oh, it's just the best selling pop in Scotland: Irn Bru. Although we like to pronounce it by mumbling "urn bruh," the actual way to say is simply "Iron Brew." Irn Bru is not only hugely popular in the UK, but also in other places around the world where you'll find some Scots residing. For example, we recently ran across it in Nova Scotia. The entire history of this curious drink is of course available over at Wikipedia, and we're stunned to find that this stuff was first introduced back in 1901.
The taste: Don't be afraid to try some when you spy its bright orangeness up against the dark bottles of other colas. Irn Bru doesn't taste like orange pop, nor is it unpleasant. Our chief Irn Bru expert describes its taste "citrus-y, cream soda-y, energy drink-y without quite tasting like any one of the three." We agree. It's hard to pinpoint it as, you see, no one knows the full Irn Bru recipe aside from two folks at the top of the company.
The price: It's typically under 1 GBP for a can or bottle, but we've found it as high as 1.99 GBP for a can and 2.99 for a bottle at train stations. Irn Bru is available in many sizes and bottles depending on what region of the UK you're in.
Where to find it: In Scotland, you'll find Irn Bru everywhere you'd expect to see Coca Cola, and sometimes even more frequently. Take-out places, regular restaurants, delis and convenience marts all are pretty much guaranteed to carry Irn Bru. In the States, look in the UK-import section of specialty grocery stores or, if you're desperate for it, order some online. In New York City, the store Tea & Sympathy carries Irn Bru.
[Photos: Jaunted]
Comments (2)
Post a CommentReturn to » Foreign Grocery Friday: Swigging Irn Bru in Scotland
Return to » Foreign Grocery Friday: Swigging Irn Bru in Scotland
Join the conversation!