Proof is in the pudding

A North Berwick butcher has been crowned Scotland’s top black pudding maker.

The prize was given to Anderson’s Quality Butchers at the Scottish Black Pudding Championship in Edinburgh, with the East Lothian butcher fending off competition from regional winners across the country, including puddings from Largs, Strathaven, Inverness and Kinross.

Mystery shoppers purchased black pudding from all the regional champions, and they were then put to the test in a final cook off where Anderson’s came out on top.

A panel of experts were drafted in to judge the sausage-based products, including Fiona Burrell, principal at the Edinburgh New Town Cook School, and two of her staff members.

Black pudding maker Ryan Anderson said he was dumbfounded by the win.

“This is fantastic since it is the first time that we have entered the competition,” said Anderson.

“We have only been making black pudding for about a year. 

“We played around with the recipe, did taste tests with customers, and now they feel that it is much better than anything we sold before. 

“It has proven very popular, with customers even taking it abroad.”