Wrekin Sauce. Something to relish

Wrekin Sauce is a traditional British condiment, often associated with the region surrounding the Wrekin Hill in Shropshire. 

While there may not be a universally recognised recipe for Wrekin Sauce, it's typically a savoury sauce made from a combination of ingredients such as vinegar, spices, sugar, and sometimes fruit. Here's a basic recipe that you can tweak to suit your taste preferences:

Ingredients:

1 cup malt vinegar

1 cup brown sugar

1 onion, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon mustard powder

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground allspice

1 teaspoon ground cloves

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Optional: chopped apples or raisins for sweetness and texture

Instructions:

In a saucepan, combine the malt vinegar and brown sugar. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved.

Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the saucepan. Cook for a few minutes until the onion is softened.

Stir in the mustard powder, Worcestershire sauce, ground ginger, allspice, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and black pepper. If you're using chopped apples or raisins, add them now.

Simmer the sauce gently for about 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it has thickened to your desired consistency.

Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning if necessary. You can add more sugar for sweetness or more vinegar for tanginess.

Once the sauce is done, remove it from the heat and let it cool before transferring it to a sterilized jar or bottle.

Store the Wrekin Sauce in the refrigerator. It will keep for several weeks.

Feel free to adjust the ingredients and quantities to suit your taste preferences. Some variations of Wrekin Sauce may include additional ingredients like tamarind paste, anchovies, or different types of vinegar. Experimentation is part of the fun when making homemade condiments!

During the 19th century and perhaps even into the early 20th century a version of Wrekin Sauce was produced commercially and proved quite popular locally.