6 Delicious Cornish Dishes You Have to Try

Cornish Cream Tea
Cornish Cream Tea | ©Dan Cottle / Flickr

Freelance Travel Journalist

As descendants of fishermen and miners, the Cornish know how to eat, and how to eat well. It’s all about piling on the calories to weather the elements and hard labour that Cornish life once entailed. Most Cornish food comes from the sea and is usually pretty heavy on dairy, therefore not ultimately forgiving on the waistline. Nonetheless, it’s pretty darn delicious! Here are 6 delicious Cornish dishes that you absolutely have to try!

Cornish Pasty

You can’t walk down a street in Cornwall without passing at least three pasty shops. The Cornish pasty is so highly-esteemed, and contested with neighbouring Devon about where it originated, that it has been given Protected Geographical Indication status in Europe, meaning that only pasties made within the boundaries of the Duchy can be called as such.
These tasty parcels of goodness, also known as oggies by locals, are made up of just a few ingredients: local beef, swede, potato, onion, and a healthy dose of pepper, folded and baked in pastry. The crimping at the side of a pasty is considered an art amongst people in the trade, and takes years of practice.
The Cornish pasty originated when Cornwall had a booming tin mine industry in the 17th and 18th centuries. Wives would cook husbands going underground this practical and wholesome meal which would keep them full throughout the day. Back then, meat and potatoes would be in one side, and jam and cream in the other for dessert. The crust was also used as a handle, so that the miners wouldn’t get toxic mine grub all over their lunches; now, the crust is considered the best part, especially if the juices have been left to drip down to the bottom crimp. Yum.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BV-LK8DlokD/?taken-by=introventures

speech icon man in bubble

Destinations Unlocked:

Let our travel expert Stefano help you find your perfect Culture trip

Looking for an expert's perspective?

Uncover my top 3 recommended places from each continent on the map.
speech icon man in bubble
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

Cornish cream tea

First thing’s first, when you eat a cream tea in Cornwall, make sure to put the jam on before the cream, or you’ll be bordering on Devonshire territory.
The Cornish cream tea is one of the finest ways to spend a sunny afternoon in a garden. All you need is one freshly baked scone (or two), some traditional Cornish clotted cream and locally made strawberry jam. Then, cut your scone(s) in half, lather on a layer of sticky jam, dollop on a good helping of clotted cream, pour yourself a cup of tea, and job’s a good’n!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTl-NIoFZwG/?taken-by=dannisanders_

Hevva Cake

Better known as heavy cake by those outside of Cornwall, hevva cake is made by mixing flour, sugar, lard, and butter together, then adding milk and raisins to make the dough. Then, the cake is rolled out to 1/2 inch thickness, cut out into circles and baked. To signify the nets that fishermen use, a criss-cross pattern is stamped on the top.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BVzlCGwA-Ry/?taken-by=helenrounddesigns

Stargazey Pie

With most of Cornwall being surrounded by water, it seems only natural that the sea is celebrated in its cuisine. But Stargazey pie isn’t your usual fish pie, with fish heads poking out of the pastry lid – you might need a strong stomach to get this Cornish delicacy down you!
The tradition began way back in the 16th century, when the fisherman who inspired the book, The Mousehole Cat, went out to sea in stormy weather to catch fish for the village when they had nothing. The fisherman, Tom Bawcocks, caught seven different types of fish, and baked them into a huge pie to feed everybody, and poked the heads out to prove to everyone the fish were in there.
To this day, Tom and his bravery are celebrated every year in Mousehole on Tom Bawcocks eve, which is the day before Christmas Eve. A parade of lights, music and wicker statues are walked around the harbour, and end with a giant Stargazey Pie being presented and eaten by the village.
The pie is stuffed with white fish – usually pilchards, mackerel or herring – and has a thick sauce made from milk, eggs, potato, bacon, onion and white wine. It is then topped with a pastry lid which the fish poke out of.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BOX-YdWA0pf/?tagged=stargazeypie

Cornish Yarg

Cheese, glorious cheese! Cornish Yarg is a semi-hard, fresh and creamy cheese made from cows milk and wrapped in stinging nettles. The cheese is creamy and soft just under the nettles, but then crumbly and hard in the middle.
The nettles, which were originally used to protect the cheese, cause a tasty and unusual grey mould to cover the outside of the cheese, giving it a flavour which can only be found in Cornwall. The name itself, Yarg, is Gray spelt backwards – the name of the family who first came up with the recipe for the cheese.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BV722PzFUai/?taken-by=littysfoodlovesandmakes

Saffron Bun

Saffron is a spice which is mostly associated with Eastern countries, but thanks to the Romans, Cornwall has strong ties to this yellow spice which miners once traded tin for. Saffron was once grown in Mounts Bay and the Penzance area, where the weather was warm enough for it to grow. As such, the saffron bun was born.
Although it is known as a cake, the saffron bun has more of a bread like texture, and comes in loaves as well as buns. Traditionally, these little yellow cakes were served with a thick layer of clotted cream on top, but now Cornish butter is much more widely used Enjoy with a cup of tea overlooking the sea.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTJlFXUA2gf/?taken-by=chefjoebartlett

culture trip left arrow
 culture trip brand logo

Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

women sitting on iceberg

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

culture trip logo letter c
group posing for picture on iceberg
group posing for picture on iceberg

Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

map of volcanic iceland trip destination points
culture trip brand logo
culture trip right arrow
landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

X

Holiday Sale Offers on Our Trips

Incredible Savings

Edit article