17 things you might not know about Aberdeen rowies (2024)

Rowieshave been around long before many us were even born, and if you’ve never eaten one, you shouldn’t consider yourself to be from the north east. Fact.

Whether we eat them regularly, orseethem as occasional treats, as one of the north-east’s native delicacies,weought to be clued up on everything there is to know about Aberdeen’sfamous rowies.

And to build your knowledge, here are 17 facts for your reference – don’t forget to bookmark, they might come in handy at future pub quiz.

1) Rowiesare fatty. Really fatty.

17 things you might not know about Aberdeen rowies (1)One buttery accounts for almost half 49% of your daily saturated fat recommendation.

2)They are available worldwide

17 things you might not know about Aberdeen rowies (2)Some businesses sell batches on Amazon and even offer worldwide delivery. The perfect gift for any loved ones currently living overseas.

3) Theylast much longer than bread does

17 things you might not know about Aberdeen rowies (3)Rowies were originally made for fisherman who needed food that would keep for afortnight. This also explains why they are so easily shipped worldwide.

4) They make fantastic wedding cakes

17 things you might not know about Aberdeen rowies (4)

An Aberdeenshire couple love the treats so much that they even had a buttery wedding cake made for their big day.

5) Toppings must be spread on the flat side of the roll

17 things you might not know about Aberdeen rowies (5)It’s a sin to dootherwise.

6) Rowies and butteries are the same thing

17 things you might not know about Aberdeen rowies (6)Some have debated whetherrowies and butteries are different, they are not.

Rowie is the word used in Aberdeen and buttery is the word used in Aberdeenshire.

7) Terry Wogan doesn’t like them

17 things you might not know about Aberdeen rowies (7)The TV presenter said they tasted ‘like a mouthful of seaweed’. How he drew that comparison, we’ll never know.

8) But according to Facebook, he’s outnumbered

17 things you might not know about Aberdeen rowies (8)Rowieshave more than13,000 fans on Facebook. Proof thatWogan is wrong.

9) They do their bit for charity

17 things you might not know about Aberdeen rowies (9)Gordon Mitchell of Enterprie Engineering bought a rowie on Ebay for £620. The money was donated to Royal Aberdeen Children’s hospital.

11) Rowies can make anyone from the north-eastfeel right at home

17 things you might not know about Aberdeen rowies (10)The Voice contestant Terry McDermott said he felt at home after tucking into a rowie topped with jam on return to his Uncle’s house in Ellon.

17 things you might not know about Aberdeen rowies (11)

12)They have their own T-shirt

17 things you might not know about Aberdeen rowies (12)

Die-hard rowie fans, rejoice – and get these on theChristmas list immediately.

13) Someone once tried to kill them off

17 things you might not know about Aberdeen rowies (13)In 2006 health guru Gillian McKeith tried to ‘getpeople offthem’ as she felt they were ‘too unhealthy’. Outrageous.

14)Rowie is a recognised word across Britain

17 things you might not know about Aberdeen rowies (14)

It was added to Collins English Dictionary in 2012.

15) There’s even a curry flavoured rowie

17 things you might not know about Aberdeen rowies (15)Aberdeen baker John Chalmers has spiced up the rowie by creating a curry version. We welcome variety.

16) There isn’t actually butter in butteries, it’s lard.

17 things you might not know about Aberdeen rowies (16)This might be difficult for calories counters to hear, but according to professionals, the recipe calls for lard whichcontains 185g more calories than butter does. Sorry.

17) Theyinspired a phone case

17 things you might not know about Aberdeen rowies (17)

An Aberdeen designer loved the treat he based a mobile phone case on one.

17 things you might not know about Aberdeen rowies (2024)

FAQs

17 things you might not know about Aberdeen rowies? ›

Origin. Legend has it that the buttery was made for the fishermen sailing from Aberdeen harbour. The theory is that they needed a bread that would not become stale during the two weeks or more that they were at sea. The high fat content meant the bread also provided an immediate energy source.

What is the history of Aberdeen Butteries? ›

Origin. Legend has it that the buttery was made for the fishermen sailing from Aberdeen harbour. The theory is that they needed a bread that would not become stale during the two weeks or more that they were at sea. The high fat content meant the bread also provided an immediate energy source.

Is a rowie the same as a buttery? ›

The buttery (or butterie), locally better- known as rowie is a speciality from the Aberdeenshire area, especially from the city of Aberdeen. According the Scottish National Dictionary, the first written mention of buttery was in 1899 when an Arbroath street-seller's breadbasket said to have butteries.

Can you freeze Aberdeen butteries? ›

Box of 48 butteries 62p per item. Otherwise known as Aberdeen rolls or rowies, these are supplied freshly wrapped in 4's and are suitable for freezing. Price inclusive of postage & packing to anywhere in the UK & Delivered in approximately 1-2 days. Baking/despatch day for buttery orders is Tuesdays.

How to eat Aberdeen buttery? ›

They are usually served toasted with either butter or jam but can also be eaten cold with no topping at all. You'll find these treats in almost any bakery in the North East of Scotland and beyond, but we have a delicious recipe so that you can make 16 in your own kitchen!

What are some facts about Aberdeen? ›

Aberdeen is home to Scotland's oldest bridge, the Brig O'Balgownie that dates from the Wars of Scottish Independence. The city is the home to the UK's oldest newspaper. The Press and Journal has been in operation since 1747. There are many places around the world called Aberdeen after this city.

What is Aberdeen famous food? ›

Scotland's Finest Traditional Dishes
  • Aberdeen Rowie. A buttery, also known as a rowie or Aberdeen roll, is a savoury Scottish bread roll. ...
  • Cullen Skink. ...
  • Sheep's Head Broth. ...
  • Stovies. ...
  • Lorne Sausage. ...
  • Scotch Pie. ...
  • Bridie. ...
  • Haggis, neeps and tatties.
Nov 29, 2022

How long do Rowies last? ›

3) They last much longer than bread does

Rowies were originally made for fisherman who needed food that would keep for a fortnight.

Who is the owner of rowie? ›

ROWIE The Label was founded by its namesake designer, Rowie Moore, in her hometown of Byron Bay, Australia, where she first began selling handmade pieces at market stores as early as 2003.

What is the famous Scottish bread? ›

Bap is a soft bread roll that's enjoyed throughout the United Kingdom, but its origins are Scottish. This bread roll is often made with a combination of flour, milk, sugar, salt, yeast, and vegetable oil or butter (or lard). In Scotland, a bap is a favorite morning bread roll.

How many calories are in a Rowie? ›

Energy: 230 calories
Protein3.9g
Carbs19.2g
Fat14.1g

How to heat up butteries? ›

Please note: Aberdeen Butteries require reheating. We suggest putting them in a 375 degree oven for 8-10 minutes. Do not eat your Butteries without reheating as they will not taste like they should.

What was a buttery used for? ›

In the Middle Ages, a buttery was a storeroom for liquor, the name being derived from the Latin and French words for bottle or, to put the word into its simpler form, a butt, that is, a cask. A butler, before he became able to take charge of the ewery, pantry, cellar, and the staff, would be in charge of the buttery.

Can you put butteries in the toaster? ›

Beyond the first day they are just about acceptable if heated and I would do so either under the grill or in the toaster - either is fine and has never caused me any issues! Microwave is not a great option - it's about as successful as puff pastry in the microwave!

What is the history of the rowie? ›

The rowie was originally made for fishermen going out to sea and become very popular due to their perishability as traditional bread and rolls went stale quickly whereas the rowie stayed edible for up to two weeks. Here are links to various resources on the iconic Aberdeen rowie.

How many carbs are in Aberdeen buttery? ›

Nutritional Information
Typical ValuesPer 100gmPer Buttery
Carbohydrate39.4g19.7g
of which sugars5.4g2.7g
Fibre1.8g0.9g
Protein5.2g2.6g
5 more rows

Is Aberdeen Irish or Scottish? ›

Aberdeen (/ˌæbərˈdiːn/; Scots: Aiberdeen [ˌeːbərˈdin]; Scottish Gaelic: Obar Dheathain [ˈopəɾ ˈʝɛ. ɪɲ]; Latin: Aberdonia) is a city in North East Scotland, and is the third most populous Scottish city.

What is the history of Aberdeen Docks? ›

Port of Aberdeen, previously Aberdeen Harbour, was established in 1136 by King David I of Scotland. According to the Guinness Book of Business Records, it is the oldest existing business in Britain, with a history that has spanned almost 900 years. We are proud of our past and telling our incredible story.

What clan is from Aberdeen? ›

Aberdeen – Gordon

Aberdeen's territory was presided by Clan Gordon, who had Anglo-Norman descent in contrast to the Gaelic clans of the Hebrides. Therefore, as they didn't have Gaelic Ancestry, they often are referred to as the 'House of Gordon'.

What is the history of Old Aberdeen? ›

Old Aberdeen is one of the oldest parts of the city and was originally an independent town from Aberdeen from 1499 to 1891, and it retains a wonderful sense of history and place. There is an intriguing mix of architecture and street planning, ranging from medieval to fine examples of Georgian and Victorian buildings.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Duncan Muller

Last Updated:

Views: 6331

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (79 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Duncan Muller

Birthday: 1997-01-13

Address: Apt. 505 914 Phillip Crossroad, O'Konborough, NV 62411

Phone: +8555305800947

Job: Construction Agent

Hobby: Shopping, Table tennis, Snowboarding, Rafting, Motor sports, Homebrewing, Taxidermy

Introduction: My name is Duncan Muller, I am a enchanting, good, gentle, modern, tasty, nice, elegant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.