Traditional British dishes facing extinction

Traditional British delicacies such as bath chaps, jugged hare and brawn are under threat of extinction, says a UK poll.

Traditional British delicacies such as bath chaps, jugged hare and brawn are under threat of extinction as youths in the kingdom haven't even heard of them, a survey published Sunday showed.

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Just one percent of those surveyed under 25 recognised bath chaps - pigs' cheeks covered in breadcrumbs - while only 1.6 per cent had heard of jugged hare - hare meat served in a sauce of its blood mixed with port.

Brawn (jellied pig's head) came third on the list, while squirrel casserole was fourth.

By contrast, the survey of 2,021 people carried out for British television channel UKTV Food showed that 40 per cent of over-60s here were aware of bath chaps while a third of older respondents recognised jugged hare.

"While pigs' cheeks and squirrel casserole are clearly not to everyone's tastes, they are a powerful link to a bygone culinary era," said Paul Moreton, the food channel's head.

Then-foreign secretary Robin Cook said in 2001 that chicken tikka masala, an adaptation of an Indian dish to suit the British palate, was Britain's "true national dish".