Lea & Perrins

Last updated

Lea & Perrins
Company type Subsidiary
Industry Food
Founded1837;188 years ago (1837)
Founders John Wheeley Lea
William Henry Perrins
Headquarters,
England
Area served
Worldwide
Products Condiments
Parent

Lea & Perrins (L&P) is a United Kingdom-based subsidiary of Kraft Heinz, originating in Worcester, England where it continues to operate. It is best known as the manufacturer of Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce, [1] [2] a condiment first invented and sold in 1837 by chemists John Wheeley Lea and William Henry Perrins from Broad Street, Worcester.

Contents

It is currently produced in the Midland Road factory in Worcester that Lea and Perrins built. The sauce was first imported to the United States by the Duncan family of New York in 1839 and they continued to be involved for over a hundred years. [3] A subsidiary in Pittsburgh currently[ as of? ] manufactures an American version of the recipe. [4] [ failed verification ]

Worcestershire sauce

American trade card for Lea & Perrins, c. 1880 Lea & Perrins' Sauce trade card front.jpg
American trade card for Lea & Perrins, c.1880

Worcestershire Sauce is produced at the Midland Road factory in Worcester, built by Lea and Perrins. Midland Road was named after the Midland Railway, the factory originally having rail sidings to provide raw materials and distribution.

Ingredients

Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce UK and US recipes differ slightly in that the UK recipe uses malt vinegar while the US version uses distilled white vinegar. Also, the US version used high fructose corn syrup until 2011 when they reverted to sugar due to health concerns; the UK version has always used sugar. The UK version is sold in Australia, New Zealand and Canada. [5] The US version contains three times more sugar and slightly more than three times as much sodium per one-third ounce. While the UK version references the 18 month aging process prominently on the front label of the bottle and in ad copy, the US bottle does not mention aging. The Kraft US website does reference aging but does not state how long it is aged for. Lea & Perrins uses a distinctive paper wrapper for the version sold in the United States.[ citation needed ] In the UK, the bottle is known to consumers for its shape and the orange and black label.

Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce
Lea & Perrins worcestershire sauce 150ml.jpg
150 mL bottle, 2011
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 405 kJ (97 kcal)
21 g
Fat
0.9 g
0.8 g
Vitamins and minerals

per 100 mL; serving size is 5 mL
Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults, [6] except for potassium, which is estimated based on expert recommendation from the National Academies. [7]

The precise recipe has been a trade secret, but an original 19th-century list of ingredients was found in a skip at the factory in 2009 and includes vinegar, molasses, sugar, salt, anchovies, tamarind extract, onions, and garlic and other ingredients which may include cloves, soy sauce, lemons, pickles and peppers. [8] [9] The current recipe includes malt (or distilled white in the U.S.) vinegar, molasses, sugar, water, salt, onions, anchovies, garlic, cloves, tamarind extract, natural flavorings, and chili pepper extract. [10]

Other products

An 1846 advertising pamphlet by Lea & Perrins showcase their pharmacy's preparation of "Dr. Locock's Lotion for the Growth of the Hair", "Taraxacum" (dandelion coffee), and "Essence of Coffee", along with Worcestershire sauce. [11]

While Kraft only markets a single variety of Worcestershire sauce under different sizes in the UK and in Canada, [5] a few more products are marketed under the L&P brand in the United States. These include a reduced-sodium version of the sauce, a steak sauce, and marinades in peppercorn and vinaigrette flavours. [12]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Worcestershire sauce</span> English fermented condiment

Worcestershire sauce or Worcester sauce is a fermented liquid condiment invented by pharmacists John Wheeley Lea and William Henry Perrins in the city of Worcester in Worcestershire, England, during the first half of the 19th century. The inventors went on to form the company Lea & Perrins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fish sauce</span> Condiment made from fish

Fish sauce is a liquid condiment made from fish or krill that have been coated in salt and fermented for up to two years. It is used as a staple seasoning in East Asian cuisine and Southeast Asian cuisine, particularly Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. Some garum-related fish sauces have been used in the West since the Roman times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Molasses</span> Viscous by-product of the refining of sugarcane, grapes, or sugar beets into sugar

Molasses is a viscous byproduct, principally obtained from the refining of sugarcane or sugar beet juice into sugar. Molasses varies in the amount of sugar, the method of extraction and age of the plant. Sugarcane molasses is usually used to sweeten and flavour foods. Molasses is a major constituent of fine commercial brown sugar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HP Sauce</span> British sauce made with tamarind

HP Sauce is a British brown sauce, the main ingredients of which are tomatoes, malt vinegar and molasses. It was named after London's Houses of Parliament. After making its first appearance on British dinner tables in the late 19th century, HP Sauce went on to become an icon of British culture. It was the best-selling brand of brown sauce in the UK in 2005, with 73.8% of the retail market. The sauce was originally produced in the United Kingdom, but is now made by Heinz in the Netherlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tamarind</span> Leguminous tree bearing edible fruit

Tamarind is a leguminous tree bearing edible fruit that is indigenous to tropical Africa and naturalized in Asia. The genus Tamarindus is monotypic, meaning that it contains only this species. It belongs to the family Fabaceae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kraft Dinner</span> Boxed macaroni and cheese mix

Kraft Dinner in Canada, Kraft Mac & Cheese in the United States, Australia and New Zealand, Mac and Cheese in the United Kingdom and internationally, is a nonperishable, packaged macaroni and cheese mix. It is made by Kraft Foods Group and traditionally cardboard-boxed with dried macaroni pasta and a packet of processed cheese powder. It was introduced under the Kraft Dinner name simultaneously in both Canada and the U.S. in 1937. The brand is particularly popular with Canadians, who consume 55% more boxes per capita than Americans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheez Whiz</span> Trademarked processed cheese dip

Cheez Whiz is a brand of processed cheese sauce and spread produced by Kraft Foods. It was developed by a team led by food scientist Edwin Traisman (1915–2007). It was first sold in 1952, and, with some changes in formulation, continues to be in production today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tomato juice</span> Beverage made from tomatoes

Tomato juice is a juice made from tomatoes, usually used as a beverage, either plain or in cocktails such as a Bloody Mary, a Caesar, or Michelada.

HP Foods Limited, formerly based in Birmingham, England was best known as the producer of HP, Lea & Perrins, and Daddies sauce brands. It was also the UK licensee, from Heinz, of Chinese food and condiment brand Amoy Food.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">French dressing</span> American salad dressing

French dressing is a creamy dressing in American cuisine that varies in color from pale orange to bright red.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steak sauce</span> Brown sauce for seasoning of steaks

Steak sauce is a tangy sauce commonly served as a condiment for beef in the United States. Two of its major producers are British companies, and the sauce is similar to the "brown sauce" of British cuisine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henderson's Relish</span> Spicy and fruity vegan condiment similar to Worcestershire sauce

Henderson's Relish is a condiment produced in Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It is similar in appearance to Worcestershire sauce, but contains no anchovies. It is made of water, sugar and spirit vinegar with a selection of spices and colouring. It is gluten-free, suitable for vegans and is approved by the Vegetarian Society.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green goddess dressing</span> Salad dressing variety

Green goddess is a salad dressing, typically containing mayonnaise, sour cream, chervil, chives, anchovy, tarragon, lemon juice, and pepper.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Wheeley Lea</span> English pharmacist and sauce manufacturer

John Wheeley Lea was an English chemist, mayor, and co-founder of Lea & Perrins. Along with William Henry Perrins, Lea is notable for the invention of Worcestershire sauce.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbecue sauce</span> Sauce used as a marinade, basting, topping, or condiment

Barbecue sauce is a sauce used as a marinade, basting, condiment, or topping for meat cooked in the barbecue cooking style, including pork, beef, and chicken. It is a ubiquitous condiment in the Southern United States and is used on many other foods as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Preserved lemon</span> Type of pickle

Preserved lemon or lemon pickle is a condiment that is common in the cuisines of Indian subcontinent and Morocco. It was also found in 18th-century English cuisine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Velveeta Shells & Cheese</span> Brand name stovetop pasta shells and cheese product

Velveeta Shells & Cheese is a shell pasta and cheese sauce food product that debuted in the United States in 1984, as part of the Velveeta brand products. Its ingredients, texture, and flavor are very similar to macaroni and cheese. The product is a shelf-stable food.

References

  1. "Intellectual Property Office - Case details for trade mark UK00002270072". www.ipo.gov.uk. 15 May 2001. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  2. "Intellectual Property Office - Case details for trade mark EU002552107". www.ipo.gov.uk. 28 January 2002. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  3. "When Ransom Duncan Hits the Sauce, You Can Bet It's His Family's Famous Worcestershire | PEOPLE.com".
  4. Lea & Perrins, Inc., P.O. Box 57, Pittsburgh, PA
  5. 1 2 "Products - Lea and Perrins Worcestershire Sauce". Kraft Canada. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  6. United States Food and Drug Administration (2024). "Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels". FDA. Archived from the original on 27 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  7. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Food and Nutrition Board; Committee to Review the Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium (2019). "Chapter 4: Potassium: Dietary Reference Intakes for Adequacy". In Oria, Maria; Harrison, Meghan; Stallings, Virginia A. (eds.). Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium. The National Academies Collection: Reports funded by National Institutes of Health. Washington, DC: National Academies Press (US). pp. 120–121. doi:10.17226/25353. ISBN   978-0-309-48834-1. PMID   30844154 . Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  8. "Worcestershire Sauce". Cook's Info. 17 October 2002. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  9. "Recipes for Secret Sauce Emerge". BBC News. 2 November 2009. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  10. Lea & Perrins, The Original Worcestershire Sauce, Product Information
  11. Dr. Lockon's Lotion for the growth of the hair: prepared by Lea et Perrins, chemists. Le Blond and Company print. 1846.
  12. "Products". leaperrins.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2019.

52°11′25″N2°12′33″W / 52.1902°N 2.2092°W / 52.1902; -2.2092