Pork scratchings
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
Pork scratchings must be unique in being the only thing you can buy in a snack packet that is actually made out of meat. This is quite worrying, since naturally it leads to the assumption that they are so loaded with the necessary artificial preservatives that to bite into one would be to consume the byproducts of an entire era of laboratory food processings.
For those who are unsure, pork scratchings are small pieces of pork rind (some with chewy and frankly unpleasant fat on the underside) which are crispy, salty and usually only eaten in pubs or bars; the reason for this is that they can only possibly be enjoyed in tandem with an equally unhealthy pint of lager. For some unknown reason, the two contrasting flavours complement each other perfectly, and all other experiments (pork scratchings downed with a cup of tea in front of the television, pork scratchings provided as finger-buffet component, etc.) have proved unsuccessful.
The other major mystery about pork scratchings is their cost. A small bar packet containing a dozen or so pieces costs about 50p in the UK; which, considering its hardly distinguished origin, seems frankly preposterous.
For those who are unsure, pork scratchings are small pieces of pork rind (some with chewy and frankly unpleasant fat on the underside) which are crispy, salty and usually only eaten in pubs or bars; the reason for this is that they can only possibly be enjoyed in tandem with an equally unhealthy pint of lager. For some unknown reason, the two contrasting flavours complement each other perfectly, and all other experiments (pork scratchings downed with a cup of tea in front of the television, pork scratchings provided as finger-buffet component, etc.) have proved unsuccessful.
The other major mystery about pork scratchings is their cost. A small bar packet containing a dozen or so pieces costs about 50p in the UK; which, considering its hardly distinguished origin, seems frankly preposterous.
