Kippers: A Traditional British Breakfast with Modern Health Benefits

Once a staple of the British breakfast table, kippers are a traditional food that has stood the test of time. But what exactly is a kipper? Kippers are herrings that have been split from head to tail, gutted, and then salted or pickled to reduce water content. After this, they are cold-smoked over hardwood chips, often oak, giving them their distinctive flavour. Traditionally smoked kippers have a beautiful pale-golden hue, though some varieties may be artificially coloured.

Most UK supermarkets source their kippers from sustainable fisheries in the North Sea, Norwegian Sea, West of Scotland, and West of Ireland. Kippers have long been enjoyed as part of a hearty breakfast, but they were also popular for high tea or supper, particularly among the working-class populations before World War II...