What Is Scottish Tablet? And Why Is Everyone Suddenly Buying It?
We’ve noticed something lately at Brown’s that we weren’t necessarily expecting.
Our Scottish Tablet has gotten really popular.
Some customers come in already knowing exactly what it is. Others pick up a package, look at us and ask, “Okay...what is Tablet?”
So, if you’ve seen it on our website or in the shop and wondered the same thing, here’s the answer.
So... what exactly is Scottish Tablet?
Scottish Tablet is a traditional Scottish candy made primarily with sugar, butter and milk.
At first glance, you might think it’s fudge. But if you’re expecting a piece of traditional fudge when you take your first bite, you’re in for a surprise.
Tablet is firmer and more crumbly, with a slightly grainy texture. It breaks apart when you bite into it and then almost melts away in your mouth.
And yes, it’s sweet. Very sweet. That’s part of the charm.
Scottish Tablet has also been around for a very long time. Recipes for versions of Tablet date back centuries, and it has remained a traditional Scottish sweet ever since.
Is Scottish Tablet the same as fudge?
Nope!
This is probably the question we get most often.
Fudge tends to be soft, smooth and creamy. Tablet is firmer, more crumbly and has that distinctive sugary texture that makes it completely different.
We actually make fudge at Brown’s too, so you can try both and decide which camp you fall into.
Although we should warn you: choosing a favorite may require several samples. For research purposes, obviously.
The three kinds of Tablet we make at Brown’s English Toffee
We currently make three varieties, and every batch is made by hand right here in our Glendora kitchen.
Traditional Scottish Tablet is where we’d recommend starting if you’ve never had Tablet before. It’s simple, buttery, sweet and lets that classic Tablet texture shine.
Vanilla Scottish Tablet has the same crumbly texture with a little extra warmth from vanilla.
And then there’s our Single Malt Scottish Tablet, made with a smooth Single Malt Scotch for a distinctly Scottish twist on the traditional candy.
We also make a Scottish Tablet Collection Tin with half-a-pound of all three varieties, which is probably the easiest way to try them without having to choose just one.
Why do people love it so much?
We’ve been wondering that ourselves lately.
Part of it may simply be that Scottish Tablet is still pretty unusual here in the U.S. A lot of people who walk into Brown’s English Toffee have never tried it before.
But once they do, quite a few come back for it.
And then there are the customers who grew up with Tablet, traveled to Scotland and remember eating it there, or have Scottish family members who immediately know what they’re looking at.
We especially love those reactions.
There’s something fun about making a candy that can be completely new to one person and incredibly nostalgic to the person standing next to them.
A little taste of Scotland, made in Glendora
Brown’s may have started with English Toffee, but our Celtic candies have become a pretty special part of what we do.
We make our Scottish Tablet in small batches using traditional candy-making methods, right alongside our English Toffee, fudge, caramels and other sweets.
So whether you already know and love Tablet or you’ve spent this entire article wondering what on earth this stuff tastes like, there’s really only one way to find out.
You’ll have to try some.
