How to Make a Yorkshire Toddy

Travel Distilled explains how to make a Yorkshire Toddy using rum and brandy from an 1896 recipe book, Drinks of All Kinds for All Seasons

Yorkshire road sign — This way for a Yorkshire Toddy?

To anyone in Yorkshire ‘Toddy’ is short for Todmorden, but if you want to know how to make a Yorkshire Toddy drink then this recipe from the 1896 book Drinks of All Kinds for All Seasons will set you a challenge. What is loaf-sugar* and where do you find calf’s-foot jelly these days**?

Yorkshire Toddy Recipe

Rub the rind of three lemons on a quarter of a pound of loaf-sugar*, and place the sugar in a bowl with the thin rind of one lemon, the thin rind of one orange, the juice of four oranges, the juice of ten lemons, six wineglasses of calf’s-foot jelly, and two quarts of boiling water; mix thoroughly, strain, and add half a pint of Jamaica rum, half a pint of brandy, and a bottle of orange shrub; sweeten to taste. This is sufficient for ten persons.

* Loaf sugar was a common form of refined sugar until the late 19th century. It was produced by pouring a thick sugar syrup into conical molds, resulting in a solid, cone-shaped loaf.

Loaf sugar was typically wrapped in blue paper and sometimes sealed with wax. It was considered a luxury item and was often used for decorative purposes as well as for sweetening food and beverages.

Today, loaf sugar is less common, but it is still available in some specialty shops. It can be used as a substitute for granulated sugar in recipes, but it must be broken into smaller pieces first.

** Calf’s-foot jelly is a traditional dish made from simmering calves’ feet until the collagen dissolves, creating a gelatinous broth. This broth is then strained, flavored, and chilled to set into a jelly.It was once considered a delicacy and a restorative food, often used to recuperate from illness.

While not as widely consumed today as it once was, you can still find calf’s-foot jelly in a few places:

Specialty Food Stores: Some gourmet or international food stores might carry it, especially those that cater to specific cultural cuisines.
Online Retailers: You can find it online through specialty food websites.
Making It Yourself: If you’re adventurous, you can make it at home using calves’ feet, which you might be able to find at a butcher shop that specializes in ethnic meats.

It’s important to note that the availability of calf’s-foot jelly can vary depending on your location and the specific retailer.