🥄 What Do Brits Mean by “Pudding”?

1. So, what exactly is a “pudding”?

If you ask a Brit what’s for pudding, they might mean dessert, but that’s only part of the story. In the Philippines, pudding usually means something sweet like leche flan or bread pudding. In the UK, however, the word pudding can mean anything from a baked batter served with roast beef to a sausage made from pork blood. Confused yet? Let’s break it down.

2. A short history of the British pudding

The word pudding goes back hundreds of years. It originally came from the French boudin, meaning “sausage”, referring to dishes made by boiling or steaming ingredients inside a cloth or casing. Early British puddings were mostly savoury, made with meat, fat, flour, and oats. Over time, as sugar became cheaper, puddings evolved into sweet dishes served after a meal.

Today, the term simply means “comfort food”, whether it’s hearty and savoury or rich and sweet.

3. The savoury side, Yorkshire and Black Pudding

Not all puddings are desserts.

Yorkshire Pudding
A true British classic, Yorkshire pudding is a light, crispy baked batter made from eggs, milk, and flour. Traditionally served with roast beef and Bisto Best Gravy, it’s part of the famous Sunday Roast that families enjoy across the UK. You’ll find ready-to-make mixes and Bisto Gravy Granules at Buy British PH, making it easy to recreate this at home in the Philippines.

Black Pudding
Despite the name, this one’s not sweet at all. Black pudding is a type of blood sausage made with pork fat, oats, and seasoning. It’s sliced and fried, usually served with eggs, beans, and toast as part of a Full English Breakfast. It’s an acquired taste, but many who try it end up loving its deep, savoury flavour.

4. The sweet side, comfort in every spoonful

The sweeter puddings are what most Filipinos will find familiar, rich, creamy, and perfect for a warm or chilled treat.

Rice Pudding
Made from rice slowly cooked with milk and sugar, Rice Pudding is one of Britain’s most nostalgic desserts. Many grew up with brands like Ambrosia Rice Pudding, now available from Buy British PH. It’s comforting warm from the tin, or chilled with a sprinkle of cinnamon, and yes, it tastes amazing with tropical fruit like mango or banana.

Sticky Toffee Pudding
A modern British favourite, a soft sponge cake soaked in caramel sauce, served warm with cream or custard.

Christmas Pudding

Perhaps the most famous pudding of all, Christmas Pudding is rich with dried fruit, spices, and a splash of brandy. It’s steamed for hours and traditionally set alight before serving on Christmas Day. Even in the tropics, you can enjoy this festive staple with a scoop of ice cream, a drizzle of Joe & Seph’s Brandy Butter Caramel Sauce, or a generous pour of Ambrosia Deluxe Custard, all available seasonally at Buy British PH. 

5. Why Brits say “What’s for pudding?”

Over time, “pudding” simply became another word for “dessert”. Ask a Brit after dinner what’s for pudding, and they might mean cake, trifle, custard, or anything sweet. It’s part of British everyday language, warm, homely, and familiar.

6. How to enjoy British puddings in the Philippines

You don’t need cold weather to enjoy a good pudding. Try these local twists:

• Serve Yorkshire pudding with roast chicken and Bisto gravy.

• Chill Ambrosia Rice Pudding and top with local mangoes.

• Warm Christmas pudding and serve with ice cream or caramel sauce.

All these items are stocked by Buy British PH, your source for authentic UK groceries delivered nationwide, from Yorkshire Pudding mix to Ambrosia Rice Pudding and festive favourites.

7. Final thoughts

Only in Britain could one word mean so many delicious things. Whether savoury or sweet, baked or steamed, puddings reflect everything people love about British food, tradition, comfort, and a touch of nostalgia.

So the next time you hear a Brit say “What’s for pudding?”, you’ll know it could mean anything, and you can find it all right here in the Philippines.