Worcestershire Sauce Secret Recipe Found in Trash

by Sarah LeTrent, Posted Nov 3rd 2009 @ 2:00PM

Photo: Lawrence Loo, Landov.

A 170-year-old food secret was almost lost to the trash heap.

The original recipe notes for Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce have been unearthed in a dumpster near the sauce factory by former company accountant, Brian Keogh. It was unclear why he was digging through the trash.

The accountant passed away in 2006, but his discovery only recently came to light after his daughter Bonnie Clifford brought the notes to Worcester City Museums.

The ingredient list originally read as vinegar, molasses, sugar, salt, anchovies, tamarind extract, onions and garlic. The secret ingredients -- until now unknown to the public -- were simply listed as "spices" and "flavorings."

The recovered notes reveal that the secret ingredients include soy sauce, cloves, pickles, peppers and lemon.

Before the discovery, no single person in the Lea & Perrins staff knew the entirety of the recipe. Much of it was written in code using terms such as "1 lb. of bulldog," David Nash of the Worcester City Museums told the Daily Mail.

Despite the find, the notes still fail to disclose how to blend the sauce, as well as how much sauce the recipe makes.

Love Worcestershire sauce? How do you use it? Tell us in the comments below.

[Via The Daily Mail]

Tags: condiments, LeaandPerrins, LeaPerrins, secret recipe, SecretRecipe, worcestershire, worcestershire ingredients, worcestershire sauce, WorcestershireIngredients, WorcestershireSauce, worchestershire sauce secret recipe, WorchestershireSauceSecretRecipe

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Reader comments (Page 5 of 6)

11-03-2009 @6:53PM jsarson said... My dad born in 1916 near London always dripped Lee & Perrins Worstershire sauce into his fried eggs. I today still break open the yolks and drip some on my eggs. The store brands don't taste the same.
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11-03-2009 @6:59PM RetiredCorrectionOfficer said... cody you can get Lea & Perrins traditional Steak Sauce online at ShopFoodEx.com
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11-03-2009 @7:03PM Buzzito said... Lee & Perrins Worstershire sauce in the US is nothing like that bought in Canada is completely different. For some reason, allergy or whatever, they do not sell the Canadian recipe here in the States. I called the company several years ago and allergies was the reason they gave (as best as I can recall) as to why they don't sell the superior blend found in Canada. It is far better and if you can get it, compare them. You'll thank me later --consrvenow@aol.com Scott
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11-03-2009 @7:03PM Lucy said... I totally agree!!!!
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11-03-2009 @7:01PM sbhappe34 said... A must for oyster stew.
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11-03-2009 @7:07PM Duetta said... Sometimes, ye know, I dip me roids into the sauce and boy, what a delight to the taste buds!
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11-03-2009 @7:08PM Buzzito said... It may sound like, maybe people sharing their experiences??? Ya think? Mine was accurate, but it in Canada nad the flavor is different from the UD formula.
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11-03-2009 @7:08PM Lucy said... I totally agree!!!
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11-03-2009 @7:11PM Buzzito said... It may sound like, maybe people sharing their experiences??? Ya think? Mine was accurate, buy it in Canada and the flavor is different from the US formula and is different.
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11-03-2009 @7:32PM Paul said... I use it on hamburgers. WHen you flip the burger over, pour on a modest amount of Lea & Perrins (no other brand). It improves the taste and appearance of the burger.
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11-03-2009 @7:33PM VG1982 said... i use w. sause to marinate my steak
i couldnt be able to without it
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11-03-2009 @7:35PM Alan said... Aside from adding some to the chicken breast marinade before grilling or sprinkling some on my steak ("don't put any on mine!" she says) while BBQing I cover our bedroom doorknobs with it to make them slippery to keep the kids out during those "special" times. Works great and leaves a nice aroma afterwords. ;>)
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11-03-2009 @7:36PM dixielynn said... I got one for ya! Ok wait for it wait for it
"1905 Salad" from The Columbian Rest in Ybor City in Tampa, Fl. This is made at tableside when ordered. I have the recipe from their book and website!

'1905' Salad

Salad Ingredients

½ head iceberg lettuce
2 ripe tomatoes, cut in eighths
½ cup Swiss cheese, cut in julienne strips
½ cup ham, cut in julienne strips (or turkey or shrimp)
¼ cup green Spanish olives, pitted
2 teaspoons grated Romano cheese

Salad Dressing Ingredients

1/8 cup white wine vinegar
½ cup extra-virgin Spanish olive oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon oregano
2 teaspoons lemon juice

Preparation

Toss together all salad ingredients in a bowl, except Romano Cheese.

Mix garlic, oregano, and Worcestershire sauce in a bowl. Beat until smooth with a wire whisk. Add olive oil, gradually beating to form an emulsion. Stir in vinegar and lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.

Add dressing to salad and toss well. Add Romano Cheese and toss one more time. Serves 4.

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11-03-2009 @7:39PM The Edge said... Just a couple of shakes in your pre-scrambled eggs with heavy whipping cream instead of milk...GREAT!
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11-03-2009 @7:45PM Christina said... I loooooooove Lea and Perrins, specifically. The other brands of worcestshire sauce don't taste as good to me. I won't eat a steak without it!
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11-03-2009 @8:11PM Mark said... I agree. The others just don't have the punch that L&P does.
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11-03-2009 @7:58PM Cal said... Lea & Perrins W. sauce is awesome. There are so many things it can be used with, and not just meats. As others have said, it is great w/ baked potato. I love it w/ meat loaf, hamburgers, steak, salmon, chicken and most any other meats. I have not tried it on hot dogs, but that sounds good. I grew up in a household where it was used frequently. In fact, my father had a secret marinade sauce for his steaks and it was part of this recipe. He made the best grilled steaks around and I use the same recipe today on mine. It is also good with a lot of vegetable dishes. There aren't many things that it can't be used w/ to improve the flavor.
I never tried it straight from the bottle very much.
As someone has already said, don't punish yourself by doing w/out Lea & Perrins due to the HFCS as they truly aren't harmful in and of themselves.
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11-04-2009 @7:49AM tonya said... I found the steak sauce in a waffle house @ Daytona Florida
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11-03-2009 @8:08PM Francis said... In my country, El Salvador, Lea & Perrins is served in every table in every restaurant and is used for all seafoods and steaks, salads and even sone fruit, by adults and children all over. It is the most consumed and produced seasoning in the country and it makes it the most consuming Lea & Perrins country in the world.
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