Cornwall has some of the best food in Britain. Surrounded by sea and blessed with a mild climate, it produces superb fish and shellfish, rich dairy, early vegetables and some unique local specialities. Here is a guide to what to try while you're here.
Fish and seafood
With fishing ports such as Newlyn, Looe, Padstow and Mevagissey, Cornwall lands a huge variety of fish. Look out for hake, monkfish, mackerel, plaice, lemon sole and turbot on menus, along with crab, lobster, mussels and oysters. Cornish sardines, caught off the coast in late summer and autumn, are another local favourite. Fish and chips by the harbour is a classic, but many restaurants serve the day's catch simply grilled, too. To buy fish to cook yourself, look for local fishmongers in harbour towns.
The pasty
Cornwall's most famous food needs no introduction. A traditional Cornish pasty is filled with beef, potato, swede and onion in a crimped pastry case, and has had protected status since 2011. See our separate guide to the Cornish pasty for its history and how to eat one.
The cream tea
A Cornish cream tea is a pot of tea served with warm scones, strawberry jam and clotted cream. The great debate is the order: in Cornwall, the custom is jam first, then a spoonful of clotted cream on top, while in neighbouring Devon it is usually the other way round. Cornish clotted cream also has protected status, and is made by gently heating rich milk so a thick, golden crust forms on top. You'll find cream teas in cafés and tearooms across the county, including at many National Trust properties.
Saffron buns and heavy cake
Cornish bakeries sell several local treats. Saffron buns and saffron cake are sweet, yellow, spiced breads studded with dried fruit, coloured and flavoured with saffron. Heavy cake, known in Cornish as hevva cake, is a dense, fruity cake traditionally said to have been baked for fishermen. Fairings are crunchy ginger biscuits once sold at Cornish fairs.
Stargazy pie
Stargazy pie is a pie of pilchards, eggs and potatoes, with the fish heads poking through the crust so they appear to gaze at the stars. It is linked with Mousehole and the legend of Tom Bawcock, and is traditionally eaten on Tom Bawcock's Eve, 23 December. You are unlikely to see it on menus the rest of the year.
Cheese
Cornwall has a thriving cheese-making scene. Its best-known cheese is Cornish Yarg, a semi-hard cheese wrapped in nettle leaves, which give it a distinctive look. You will find many other local cheeses in delis, farm shops and at farmers' markets.
Drinks
Cornwall has a long brewing tradition and a growing number of independent breweries, as well as cider makers, gin distilleries and vineyards. The Camel Valley, near Bodmin, is known for its sparkling wines. Many vineyards and distilleries offer tours or tastings in season. Check before you go.
Where to find local food
- Farmers' markets and farm shops are a great way to find local produce. Truro has a regular farmers' market. Check days and times locally.
- Harbour towns are the best places for fresh fish and seafood.
- Food festivals run in towns across Cornwall through the year, including Falmouth's Oyster Festival and the Padstow Christmas Festival. Check dates before you travel.
- In summer, booking ahead for dinner is a good idea, especially in popular towns.
Photos: A Cornish cream tea by Tuxraider reloaded, CC BY-SA 3.0; Newlyn harbour by Lewis Clarke, CC BY-SA 2.0; via Wikimedia Commons.
