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17 things you might not know about Aberdeen rowies (3)Rowies were originally made for fisherman who needed food that would keep for afortnight.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.

Who invented the rowie? ›

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.

What do you eat with Scottish butteries? ›

Best served warm with jam spread on the FLAT side, that's the proper way! They are kinda mind blowingly good!! Thankyou Aberdeen 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👏🏼 #butteries #scotland #regionaldelicacy #scottishfoodie #breakfast #recipe #jam.

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.

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. This also explains why they are so easily shipped worldwide.

How to eat a rowie? ›

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!

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 difference between a buttery and a rowie? ›

Butteries, also known as Rowies or even Aberdeen rolls, originated in the northeast of Scotland as an alternative bread roll for fishermen to eat while out at sea. A buttery could stand the test of time spent away better than bread and is packed with a high enough fat content to keep the fisherman going too.

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 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.

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 Scottish pastry resembling a squashed croissant? ›

Butteries Recipe (Also Known As Rowies and Aberdeen Rolls!)

If you've never tried a buttery, it's a bit of a cross between a roll and a croissant, as they're made with layers of pastry and a butter and lard mixture that give them a flakey texture. Some say they look a bit like a squashed croissant.

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 fish market? ›

Aberdeen flourished as a major fishing port throughout the 19th and 20th centuries with the construction of the old fish market along Commercial Quay in 1889. The port established itself as Scotland's leading whitefish port due to its large trawling fleet and equally large processing sector.

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 is the history of Aberdeen Gardens? ›

Aberdeen Gardens 158 Built By Us For US

The community was designed and built in 1935 by African Americans as part of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal Settlement. The neighborhood was established to provide African American shipping workers with modern homes in which to live and garden for sustenance.

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