Haggis is 'offal', not 'awful'

I love to eat. I also love to travel.

Traveling serves up new sights, smells, sounds, and tastes. As a foodie, I personally enjoy experiencing the culinary delicacies of the places I visit, even if it’s a little out of the ordinary. After all, it’s important to immerse yourself into the culture of your destination.

On a recent trip to Scotland, I tried their national dish called “haggis”.

If you Google “Scotland” or have done any research on the country, you are likely to have read the word “haggis”. It’s a word that’s quite synonymous with Scotland.

But what exactly is it?

No, it’s not an animal, although that is a national joke in Scotland among the locals. There are even children’s books and stuffed animals honoring the fake creature. If you ever visit Scotland, don’t let the locals fool you.

(Note: If you have a weak stomach, you might want to skip the next paragraph.)

Actually, the main ingredient of haggis is “offal”, the internal organs (heart, lungs, etc.) of a sheep or calf. This is mixed with suet, oatmeal, and seasoning. The mixture is then placed in a bag, traditionally one made from the animal’s stomach, and then boiled.

Sounds yummy, right?

I thought so. My wife did not agree.

Haggis was an option at one of the restaurants our tour group went to in Scotland. Only three of the 30 tour members were adventurous enough to order the Scottish delicacy. I was one of them, though my wife ordered something else.

The waiter soon brought our food, including my haggis which resembled meatloaf with gravy on top. It was paired with “neeps” and “tatties” – in American terms that’s mashed turnips and mashed potatoes.

I picked up my fork and sliced through the gelatinous loaf, which is like a marriage of creamy oatmeal and meatloaf. Once I put that first bite in my mouth, I was greeted with a delicious and pleasant taste of spices. This paired nicely with the creamy neeps and tatties.

My official review is that haggis is “offal” but it’s not awful. For me, it was quite enjoyable. That was evidenced by my empty plate.

After posting my meal on Facebook, several of my friends commented that it sounded "disgusting". Others said they would pass or just take my word that it was tasty after Googling the ingredients. One said she didn’t have “the nerve” to try it when she visited Scotland years ago. However, some did say they are officially adopting the term “tatties” when they talk about potatoes from now on.

I also ate the black pudding, which is a breakfast staple in Ireland and Scotland. It’s a type of blood sausage. I won’t tell you what’s in it, but you can take a guess from the name.

I know everyone isn’t as adventurous as me, but I do encourage you to try new things. You never know, you might like it. If not, at least you can say you tried something new.

Next time you travel, be sure to take your tongue along for a culinary adventure.