British Baked Beans

Britain's Daily Mail newspaper recently quoted a report revealing that the British eat 97% of the world's baked beans. Baked beans are an American invention originally sold in the UK as an expensive foreign delicacy. Nowadays, beans are regarded as a staple, but downmarket, part of the average British diet. Canned baked beans are a preparation of haricot, otherwise known as navy, beans in a sweetened tomato-based sauce. Baked beans are a good source of protein, fibre, vitamin B1 and a selection of minerals. Each can provides about 165 calories and a whole lot of good taste.

There are many differences between the baked beans sold on either side of the Atlantic Ocean. The baked beans sold in Britain (and, of course, at Blighty's in Canada) are less sweet than their North American counterparts. North American baked beans are generally "mushier" than British baked beans. A Blighty's customer recently told me he had insider's knowledge that haricot bean producers in the UK select the highest grade beans for Heinz.

If you open a can of British baked beans you will notice that the contents contain a higher proportion of sauce than Canadian beans. Of course, that means you get fewer beans in the British can. But, ask yourself; "am I buying this can of beans for the quality of its flavour, or the quantity of its calories?" To Blighty's customers there is only one answer and they buy a lot of British baked beans.

You can choose from among four brands of British baked beans at Blighty's Tuck Store:

1. HP Baked Beans
2. Crosse & Blackwell Branston Baked Beans
3. Heinz Baked Beanz
4. Marks & Spencer Baked Beans

Incidentally, the Heinz brand name is not mis-spelled. The word "beanz" derives from a 1960s TV commercial which included the jingle:
"A million housewives every day, pick up a tin of beans and say 'Beanz Meanz Heinz'". Do you remember it?