Worcestershire sauce has been around for quite some time. It’s a popular condiment used in many dishes and recipes, but is it vegan? This blog post will cover what Worcestershire sauce is made of and if the ingredients are animal-based or not. We’ll also provide some alternatives that vegans can use to replace Worcestershire sauce in their cooking.
What is Worcestershire Sauce?
Worcestershire sauce is a tangy, slightly sweet condiment that originated in England and was named for the city of Worcester. It’s very popular in certain dishes and drinks like Bloody Mary’s.
What is the history behind the first brand of Lea and Perrins Worcestershire sauce?
The Lea and Perrins’ Worcestershire sauce brand was first sold in 1837. It’s a traditional recipe that has been handed down from the creators, John Wheeley Lea and William Henry Perrin’s time spent as chemists at Broad Street in Worcester. The company began when Marcus Sandys, 3rd Baron of Sandys asked them to recreate the fish-based sauces he had tasted while living abroad. They could not get it quite right until three years later after much trial and error with fermenting for long periods of time. The final result is what we know today as one of England’s most popular condiments: Worcestershire sauce.
Is Lea and Perrins the only brand of Worcestershire sauce?
The English High Court of Justice ruled that Lea & Perrins did not own the trademark to “Worcestershire” in 1876. These days there are many brands of Worcestershire sauce, including vegan versions.
What are the typical ingredients in Worcestershire sauce?
While the exact ingredients and quantities that come in a bottle are kept secret by the manufacturers, the ingredients list gives us some clues.
- Barley malt vinegar
- Spirit vinegar
- Molasses
- Sugar
- Salt
- Anchovies
- Tamarind extract
- Onions (originally shallots)
- Garlic
- Spice
- Flavorings
So, is Worcestershire sauce vegan?
There is only one ingredient commonly found in Worcestershire sauce that isn’t vegan, which is anchovies (a small fish). Anchovy extract is found in most brands of Worcestershire sauce and is used to give it its distinctive taste. The inclusion of anchovy extract in this condiment makes it not suitable for vegans. Don’t worry though as there are vegan versions available which are usually labeled as vegan.
What does Worcestershire sauce taste like?
Worcestershire sauce is a tangy, salty and slightly sweet condiment often used to flavor ingredients. It has a pungent and umami taste profile which adds a depth of flavor to many dishes. This is why it is a popular ingredient in some dishes and drinks.
Dishes, drinks and products that commonly use Worcestershire sauce
If you are vegan, you will want to know where you can find Worcestershire sauce so you can avoid it. Worcestershire sauce is a key ingredient in many dishes and drinks in many dishes around the world. One of its best known is as a key ingredient in a Bloody (or virgin) Mary.
Worcestershire sauce is usually used as a condiment in many dishes that are obviously not vegan (like steak, burgers and steak tartare). It’s unlikely most vegans are asking the server about Worcestershire sauce when they see these dishes on the menu.
Because anchovies are fish, and fish are considered a common allergen, it should be easy to identify anchovies when looking at any ingredients list or a product you find at the store. You’ll usually find any of these common allergens in bold and larger text.
It’s also worth noting that many Worcestershire Sauce flavored potato chips (a popular variety of potato chips in the UK) does not contain anchovies. We presume this is because they want as many people as possible to be able to eat them, so they shelved the fish and kept them vegan.
Are there vegan alternatives to the traditional Worcestershire sauces?
There are other regular pantry staples ingredients that you would use to add a savoury or umami flavour like soy sauce, tamari, coconut aminos and miso. However because vegan versions of these items can be easily purchased (and last for a long time in the fridge), anytime you need the ‘hair of the dog’ after an amazing night out with friends – make yourself some Bloody Marys!
Here are some vegan Worcestershire sauce brands:
Wizards Worcestershire Sauce
Annie’s Worcestershire Sauce
Homemade versions of Worcestershire sauce
There are lots of recipes online to make vegan Worcestershire sauce. We like this one. A tip is to freeze the sauce in an ice cube tray and keep the cubes in the freezer to help prolong the life of the sauce as homemade ones do not last as long as the shop bought ones.
Let’s Discuss!
We’d love to hear from you! Do you have any questions? Or a favorite brand or recipe of Worcestershire sauce we need to know about? Let us know in the comments below!
