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Sausage rolls introduced to America for first time in New York Times recipe

Britons also 'introduced' US citizens to UK bakery chain Greggs

Jess Staufenberg
Saturday 07 November 2015 13:28 EST
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A New York Times article drew attention to the history of the sausage roll in British history
A New York Times article drew attention to the history of the sausage roll in British history (Rex Features)

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Britons and Americans have reacted with confusion and disbelief on finding that sausage rolls exist on only one side of the Atlantic.

A recipe for sausage rolls in the New York Times prompted the internet to quiz their neighbours across both sides of the pond about the cultural difference.

The article - perhaps incorrectly - explained to US readers that sausage rolls are a British favourite on Boxing Day.

"Though the concept of sausage wrapped in pastry exists in every cuisine in one way or another, the British have claimed sausage rolls as their own," it claimed.

"Boxing Day, a national holiday in Britain, celebrates the traditional post-Christmas servants' day off, when upper-class families were forced to fend for themselves [...]

"Sausage rolls were often part of the spread."

Confused Americans began asking for more details on Twitter and Reddit, with Britons helping provide clarification.

Other UK tweeters demanded to know what Americans bought from chain bakery Greggs - only to discover Greggs also does not exist in the US.

Bewilderment increased online and was soon followed by that other supposedly British export, sarcasm.

The internet then introduced the New York Times to Greggs, a UK bakery chain.

Greggs was selling 2.5 million sausage rolls a week in 2012, The Guardian reported at the time.

Other countries which have sausage rolls are Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

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