On the principle that 'if it looks like a Duck, quacks like a Duck, and swims like a Duck; then it probably is a Duck', I threw caution to the winds and bought what looked like an alternative product to Worcestershire Sauce. I'll try anything once!
I'd not heard of Henderson's 'Strong and Northern' Relish (made in Sheffield since 1885), but I was prepared to give it a go. If it's been around for such a long time, they must be doing something right.
It is of course an unashamed copy of Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce (made in Worcester since 1837); the colour of the sauce, the shape of the bottle, and even to a certain extent the label, all suggest that it would taste like L & P's.
It didn't. It's not all bad though, and with the addition of some extra Tamarind, and maybe some anchovy, it might almost fool an amateur. As it is, it is slightly vinegary, and lacks the rounded flavour of its doppelgänger. In fact it doesn't have a great deal of flavour at all (I did a comparison test).
However, I don't totally regret this purchase; especially as it was about half the price of L & P's.
Has anyone heard of Henderson's?
62 comments:
YP will love this.
I dare say YP will give you the rundown on Henderson since it's born and bred Sheffield.
Being the frightful food aka label snob that I am it's Lea & Perrins for me all the way. The reason you find Henderson not as strong as Worcester Sauce? Well, it lacks that one ingredient that gives L&P that umami flavour, namely anchovies. And, hold on to your seat, Cro, makes it therefore suitable for VEGANs. Which is where we come back to YP and Sheffield and his son of "Bosh" Vegan fame.
Thanks for making me google Henderson. Look at their website www.hendersonsrelish.com and laugh (in an affectionate, good humoured way). I quote "Like Worcester Sauce, only one million times better". I won't go into the subject of hyperbole, and why I never quite get why people are so competitive. Main thing is we are all happy, side by side, both everything-vores and Vegans - as long as the label is orange.
U
It is one of his pet subjects.
I see minds, great, small, any size, think alike. Are on the same track (within 60 seconds).
U
Such a hoot that Magnon doesn't know. He'll be up for another horse award after this x
I don't know what 'Worcester Sauce' is, but I'm a big fan of 'Worcestershire Sauce'. Maybe this is where the difference lies.
I did mention that it required anchovy.
Oh lord; what have I started. Will YP have the Strong Northern Police at my heels?
Why should he?
If a family recipe had been made by several generations of my family for personal consumption and never marketed to anyone until an unemployed youngster decided that Grandma's plum sauce might be the means to making a living - could we claim it was 'Ours, made in New Zealand since 1853'? The question being, how long has it actually been a commercial product?
Come on, Cro. Everyone calls it Wooster Sauce unless they take a short cut and ask for Lea & Perrins.
U
No they don't!
I did think this myself. Alternatively it's the Company that's been around since 1885, and not the 'relish'.
Through your collective incitement!
Yes, you have at least three readers who are knowledgeable about Sheffield. We say Wooster or perhaps more Woorster. I don't think young people really use it now though. I've never tried brown sauce. No idea what it is.
Brown sauce, aka 'Houses of Parliament Sauce', is an evil concoction. However, it does remove Verdigris on antique copper bed warmers, and kettles. So worth keeping a bottle under the sink.
I think you misunderstand.
They eat chips with gravy up there. Just saying.
Now dont knock HP Sauce. It gave me my first taste of French and was a 'sauce de haute qualitée'
They eat fish and chips with Henderson's.
Read it, take it in. I repeat, he will love you. He will give you a new horse award. You said you did not regret buying it. Why would he send anybody after you?
I have never been keen on brown sludge in bottles for my food so cannot join in the taste comparisons.
Copies of most things never seem to be as good as the original.
Do they have it on the counter at the Chippie?
Goodness me! Your first taste of French what! Mud?
My breakfasts wouldn't be the same without Lea and Perrins, but my breakfasts would be ruined by HP.
The Police will be sent to drag me to the awards ceremony; knowing my reticence.
I'm with you on that one, we were gifted a bottle from a person from Sheffield, after they had gone we chucked it out, Yuck!!
I recall the one near Sheffield Poly did. Excellent it was.
Every Sheffielder has heard of Henderson's. You can buy Henderson's T-shirts, mugs and other souvenirs. As it contains no anchovies, it is suitable for vegans and vegetarians. The comedian Tom Wrigglesworth said of Henderson's Relish that while outsiders think the condiment is Sheffield's answer to Worcestershire sauce, Sheffielders think it is the answer to everything.
Cro, you are thinking of Coca Cola and/or vinegar to clean brass and encrusted toilet bowls. No one would slather anything with HP (which is a thick sauce unlike L&P) other than their English Fry up. What with the Royal approval. I like HP, the one I draw a line on is "Daddy's Sauce". It sounds vaguely incestuous.
U
I call it "Wuster". Never heard of the other stuff though. Can you put it on chips?
I bet Cro makes his own - Croca Cola.
Ursula,
Seldom right, and wrong again Dear!
Many people use HP sauce to clean brass, and tomato ketchup to clean silver!
Oh, and it's 'Worcestershire' sauce, never 'Wooster'!
If it's cheaper and edible I'd buy it. Not crazy on any of those sauces. Ketchup used to be my favourite, now it's sweet chilli sauce.
Of course it's also a case of what you can find here.
Both of the ones you write about show up in the summer with the tourists.
I will find a use for it. Added to soups, casseroles, etc, maybe.
I had no idea it was so well known and well loved. Another example of the great North/South divide. One day I'll write about a City down here called London; I know you'll be interested. You can buy 'London' Fridge magnets, mugs, etc, too.
Thank you Col.
I think it would be very good on chips!
I love Sweet Chilli sauce on salads. It makes a change from vinaigrette.
I use the proper stuff because you don't need lashings of the stuff to give the flavour.
I agree, and it tastes right too.
Well I never! I had heard of London but I thought it was just made-up like Hogwarts or Narnia.
As Yorkshire folk we buy Hendersons, it completes the holy trinity with Yorkshire tea and mushy peas.
The language!
Love Lea & Perrin Worcestershire sauce …… never heard of Henderson’s ….. dislike HP Brown Sauce ( it overtakes everything and all you taste is brown sauce ! ) Heinz tomato sauce has its place/uses. Nice on chips ! I also know about brown sauce being a great cleaner …. That’s all I’d use it for but, each to their own. I’m sure some people would dislike some of my food choices. XXXX
You see; you learn something every day.
We do occasionally have Yorkshire Tea, but I've still never had mushy peas.
HP ruins the taste of anything. I only bought it once, and threw it away. Nothing wrong with ketchup, it's just tomato, vinegar, and sugar.
Ah ha... I see.
When catering for my brother, he would never say that he didn't like something...you just judged that if no tomato sauce went on it, he liked it...and if he slathered the sauce on....
Love Lea & Perrins! We use it a lot... as a condiment and also in cooking. Have never heard of Henderson's.
It seems that the closest equivalent we have here is A1 sauce. Sadly, I haaaaaate A1 sauce, although I used to slather it on my steak when I was a kid. I was surprised to try it as an adult and find it so...so...unsavory.
But that being said, I do understand that everyone has their own tastes and would never find this post a reason to begin a tiresome debate.
We love Lea and Perrins for marinating meats, so a vegan substitute would be kind of pointless.
There is no substitute for L&P.
I've never seen this before; L&P is the pantry staple. We've just signed a Free Trade Agreement with the UK, however, and if it plays out the same way as ours with the US, all sorts of mysterious foodstuffs will land on our shores. Viz, for the first time, I saw a jar of Shippam's Crab Spread in the supermarché the other week, which I'd never noticed before nor heard of despite it's "Estd 1750" claim and had to try it but it's not a patch on Peck's Paste!
Very subtle indeed. That way it causes no arguments.
I'm never without a bottle of L & P's, but now (for a short while) I have both.
I had to look-up A1 Sauce, and see that it's similar to HP sauce. Not my favourite.
Wonderful sauce. I'm quite surprised to hear that it's sold in the US.
Absolutely!
Shippam's pastes were a staple sandwich filler back in the 50's and 60's, but they fell into decline. My late mother knew Ian Shippam, who was the boss at the time. I did notice recently that they are still on the shelves, but I can't imagine buying it.
We have Lea&Perrin in Australia, HP sauce too, but most Australian I know buy Holbrooks brand Worcestershire sauce, which we call Wooster Sauce. I don't splash it on foods, but instead add a bit to gravies and a bigger bit to flavoured the water I use when cooking a beef potroast, also adding tomato sauce to both of those things during cooking.
Well who'd have thought such a lot of comments could come from a sauce. It's a good job you didn't mention Marmite v Vegemite.
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