While most countries have their own national dishes and food, Irish people have a strange loyalty to products produced in the country which may not be available abroad. There are certain items that we would panic without, here are just ten that you will always find in an Irish press or fridge.
1. Brown Bread
None of that sliced pan stuff either, you have to have the proper brown bread in the press, either homemade or the one that looks like it’s homemade… but from a shop.
2. Kerrygold Irish butter
When you live abroad for a long period of time, this is one of the products you will miss a lot. Sure, you can get butter, or that stuff that is meant to taste like butter but looks like spread, but it’s not butter really. Well, it’s not Kerrygold. Now, did we ever find out who was taking the horse to France?
3. Tea
Now there is a debate that continues in Ireland on a daily basis, and a very important debate it is too. Which tea, Barry’s or Lyons? There’s a fierce family loyalty involved with that one. If you are in a house and there is no tea in there, get out. Something is seriously wrong.
4. Ballymaloe Country Relish
Ever try to sneak some Ballymaloe relish out of the country for your holiday in case they didn’t have any in a foreign land? No, neither have we. Who eats burgers without Ballymaloe relish? Crazy talk.
5. Mikado Biscuits
Just one of the Jacob’s family that most will have in their houses. If you go around to someone’s house for tea, you will either be presented with Mikado or Kimberley. They are the adventurous families. The others will have Rich Tea.
6. Potatoes
Just in case…
7. Denny Rashers and Sausages
You just never know when you might need a fry. Or a bacon sandwich. Or some sausages and mash. Or some coddle…
8. Tayto
You could have any kind of crisps really, but the ultimate loyalty is to Tayto. You will always notice when leaving the departure lounge of an airport the giant bags of Tayto and laugh it off, but when you are living abroad for a prolonged period of time, this is no longer a laughing matter. There will be desperate phone calls begging someone to send them over. “Are you going home next week? Oh my god, will you please bring me back some Tayto?”
9. Ice-cream wafers
Despite the fact that most people will not eat ice-cream outside of the Irish summer, that is those two really warm days in July, there will always be an unused packet of ice-cream wafers in the press. You never know when you might have an ice-cream emergency.
10. Birds Eye Custard
“Don’t you dare take that custard! I’m making a trifle later!” The only problem is Mam has been making a trifle since 2010. Is that custard gone off?
