HP Sauce

HP sauce (also known as "Brown Sauce") is a true British condiment.  Legend has it that HP stands for Houses of Parliament after its inventor heard that it was served in the restaurant in Westminster.  This explains why a picture of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament are on the front of all bottles of HP.

It is now produced in Aston, Birmingham and if you drive into Birmingham you can see the HP tower for miles around.

Its makers claim that, "Everything goes well with HP Sauce. Great for spicing up chips [French or freedom fries to those across the Atlantic], bacon sandwiches, sausages and snacks such as jacket potatoes and baked beans." They claim that it is the only genuine and original brown sauce that has set the standard since 1899.

It's made from malt vinegar (from barley), tomatoes, molasses, spirit vinegar and fruits and spices.  Perhaps its popularity stems from the blandness of British Cuisine?

The Labour Prime Minister enjoyed HP Sauce and his wife Mary once said that, "If Harold has a fault, it is that he will drown everything in HP Sauce." After this comment HP sauce was known as "Harold's Gravy" for a brief time.

The brand is now owned by Heinz.  If you fancy drowning everything in Brown Sauce or trying it for the first time - make a request to the UK Gopher who will ship it direct to your door.