World Nettle Eating Championship in Marshwood (Dorset)
Well, I’m not quite sure if this qualifies as “culinary travel”, it may be a fun day out!
The annual World Nettle Eating Championship to be held on 21st June 2008 at the Bottle Inn in the idyllic West Dorset village of Marshwood, is a guaranteed hoot when competitors from all over the world gather together to risk fat lips and swollen tongues in a bid to earn this coveted title.
Entrants are required to munch their way through huge bunches of stinging nettles and the one who consumes the most in the space of one hour, is crowned the winner.
These oddball Championships, now in their 22nd year started over an argument in a pub back in 1986, when two farmers argued about the length of each other’s nettles. The Longest Nettle competition was planned and very quickly turned in to the Nettle Eating Championships when one of the farmers pledged to eat any nettle longer than his!
The World Nettle Eating Championships, which now attracts competitors from as far afield as Australia, also offer a chance to learn more about the humble nettle and pick up some great ideas for cooking with this quintessentially English leaf.
Nettles are a great source of iron and make a hearty soup, can be used as an ingredient for a tasty risotto, or can be brewed up to make a delicious, distinctive tea.
Filed under: England, Events | Tagged: Dorset, England, Events, June 2008, UK