Lincolnshire sausage

Lincolnshire sausages are a distinctive variety of pork sausage developed in and associated with the English county of Lincolnshire.

Lincolnshire sausage
CourseMain
Place of originEngland
Region or stateLincolnshire
Serving temperatureHot, or cold in sausage rolls
Main ingredientsPork, sage
VariationsChipolata

A widely available variety at most UK butchers and supermarkets, the sausage is commonly dominated by the herb sage, rather than the more peppery flavour balance found in other regional English sausages such as the Cumberland sausage. Other herbs such as parsley and thyme are often used, although these are not considered authentic Lincolnshire sausages. Lincolnshire sausages are also characterised by their open, chunky texture, the result of the constituent pork being coarsely ground rather than minced.

Ingredients and manufacture

Lincolnshire sausages are made with coarsely chopped or ground pork mixed with binders, seasonings and preservative. Traditionally, the dominant seasoning flavour has always been that of the herb sage,[1] but some recipes include other herbs, such as parsley or thyme, and flavourings such as onion. Efforts to standardise and control the manufacture of Lincolnshire sausages have resulted in a proposed ingredients list to which future manufacturers of Lincolnshire sausages may have to adhere:[2]

Ingredients
  • British pork, coarse cut, minimum meat content 70%
  • Maximum fat content 25%
  • Breadcrumbs/bread rusk
  • Sage, salt and pepper
  • Natural pork casings (or sheep casings, for chipolata-style sausages)
  • Sulphite preservative (to 450 ppm maximum)

Variations
A Lincolnshire sausage, manufactured in the unlinked style more commonly associated with the Cumberland sausage

Unlike the Cumberland sausage, there is no standard width or length for a Lincolnshire sausage. Commonly, the variety is associated with a broader style, but Lincolnshire chipolata sausages are also widely available.

Some manufacturers produce meat-free sausages that use sage as the dominant flavouring and these are commonly sold as vegetarian Lincolnshire sausages.

European protected status

In 2004, a group of 13 Lincolnshire butchers, led by the large sausage-producing firm of George Adams & Sons, began moves to protect the name of the Lincolnshire sausage, applying for Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status under European Union law.[3] In support of the PGI application, the Lincolnshire Sausage Association was formed in early 2006. Under these proposals, to qualify as a 'Lincolnshire' sausage, not only would a sausage have to be manufactured in the county, but it would also have to conform to the standard ingredient list, above.[2]

In 2010, a group of Lincolnshire butchers introduced a voluntary 5 pence 'tax' in support of the PGI application, and to fund the fight against Lincolnshire sausages being manufactured elsewhere or making too much use of seasonings other than sage.[4]

However, objections to the PGI application were raised by other producers of the sausage, who claimed that more than 95% of existing commercial sausage production would be excluded under its terms.[5] The PGI application was rejected by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in 2012, who cited a lack of strong ties to the county.[6]

Competitions

Every year, a competition is held in Lincoln to find the best Lincolnshire sausage.

See also

References
  1. "Sausage Facts and Stats" (PDF). British Sausage Week. Retrieved 2009-10-27.
  2. "SUMMARY COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006 on protected geographical indications and protected designations of origin: "Lincolnshire Sausage"" (PDF). www.DEFRA.gov.uk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-11-18. Retrieved 2009-12-22.
  3. "Lincolnshire sausages bid to be the new champagne". sausagefans.com. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-05-11.
  4. Lincolnshire 'sausage 'tax' is introduced
  5. Watson, Elaine (26 August 2010). "Samworths: Lincolnshire Sausage PGI will exclude producers accounting for 95% of sales". Food Manufacture. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  6. "Lincolnshire sausage appeal rejected by minister". BBC News. 18 October 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
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