The deep-fried Mars bar is often described as a traditional Scots dish but fewer than half of us have tried one – and most of those who have didn’t like it.
Despite having some of the world’s best salmon, venison and beef, our best-known cuisine is usually considered to be fried treats and dishes such as haggis or lorne sausage.
But while the savoury dish, containing a sheep’s heart, liver and lungs, and the breakfast favourite are popular among Scots, our affection for battered chocolate bars is something of a myth.
Research by polling firm YouGov showed that haggis and lorne sausage are liked by 69 percent of Scots.
But the battered Mars bar, which is said to have been invented at a chippie in Stonehaven near Aberdeen , is only liked by one in nine Scots (11 per cent), despite nearly half having tried it at least once (44 per cent).
The calorie-packed treat – just three or four of them would cover the recommended intake for a whole day – has often featured in discussion’s about Scotland’s obesity crisis.
YouGov’s Connor Ibbetson said: “Scotland certainly has some unique culinary offerings and it’s great to see that so many have at least tried the classic foods from home.
“The foods liked the most and least by Scots are the two most well-known foods outside of Scotland – haggis and battered Mars bars.”
Just over two thirds of Scots say they like oatcakes and Scotch broth (a hearty soup containing lamb), leaving them tied for second place on 68 per cent.
The two dishes featured high on the list Scots are most likely to have tried, having been sampled by
95 per cent and 94 per cent of people respectively.
Scotch pie (61 per cent) is followed by cranachan, a sweet dish of fruits, oats, cream and whisky made to
celebrate harvest season, which is favoured by just under half of Scots (44 per cent).
Black bun (a type of pastry-covered fruit cake) tied with grouse (a game bird), both being liked by about a fifth (22 per cent) of Scots.
In addition to the battered Mars bar, another fried dish – rumbledethumps – proved to be highly unpopular.
The potato and onion-based meal, which originates in the Borders and is similar to Irish Colcannon or English bubble and squeak, came joint last on 11 per cent.
