The Emerald Isle's Latest Export Success
First it was passports, now Brits have developed a serious obsession with Irish butter. While Jedward, the submarine, Guinness, and cream crackers have long been cherished Irish exports, a new favourite from the Emerald Isle is capturing British hearts and taste buds. The Irish butter brand Kerrygold has exploded in popularity, becoming a viral online sensation featured in countless social media videos and praised by influencers for its distinctive golden creamy texture.
Why Kerrygold Stands Out From The Crowd
One particularly enthusiastic content creator, @ashling, boldly claimed that Kerrygold is 'the best thing you will ever put in your mouth.' This isn't just social media hype – the brand has become the fastest growing major butter brand over the last year, with a company spokesperson revealing to Metro that sales have tripled since they began going viral on TikTok.
The butter's superior quality received official recognition when The New York Times named Kerrygold the 'best butter' in 2024. The publication praised its 'pronounced buttery flavor and aroma', with the salted variety specifically highlighted as 'golden, grassy, and velvety'.
What makes Kerrygold so special? The butter is produced using milk from grass-fed Irish cows, which gives the product its signature golden colour. Additionally, Kerrygold contains a higher butterfat percentage than most competing brands, resulting in its notably creamier texture that consumers adore.
The Irish Cultural Wave Sweeping Britain
Beyond its culinary qualities, Kerrygold is riding a wave of Irish cultural popularity in Britain. The 'Green Wave' continues to dominate pop culture, with House of Guinness becoming Netflix's autumn smash hit. The Devonshire pub, famous for serving London's best pint of Guinness, remains packed most nights, while the Guinness Open Gate Brewery prepares to open in Covent Garden next month.
Brits' fascination with Irish culture extends beyond entertainment. Following the 2016 EU referendum, interest in Irish passports has skyrocketed. Applications through the Foreign Births Register reached 23,456 in 2024, compared to just 873 in 2015.
Kerrygold has cleverly capitalised on this cultural moment by taking content creators on tours of the Irish countryside and introducing new flavours like Maple Syrup Spreadable and Garlic and Herb Butter Stick, further expanding their fan base.
More Than Just Butter - A Taste of Home
For the Irish diaspora, Kerrygold represents something deeper than just a spread. Carmel Lindsay, 58, originally from Offaly, told Metro: 'Being Irish and having left home many years ago there are certain foods I always miss that I couldn't always readily buy in other countries. One of those things is Kerrygold butter.'
She explained the emotional connection: 'It has a standalone taste that no other butters seem to be able to replicate, but it's also a sentimental thing; the taste conjures up memories of cosy family night's making toast by the fire.' Such was her dedication that she used to 'smuggle a few pounds of it away' after visits home.
Metro's Consultant Editor Alice Murphy consulted her Irish group chat for insights, with one member noting: 'It's the saltiness. People go mad for French butter, but that's unsalted and then they end up adding salt on top. Kerrygold is naturally salty, and I guess it's got that quality from the cows it comes from, who are fed on grass that's always drenched in rain.'
Another Irish butter enthusiast captured the national pride: 'It makes us feel patriotic and superior when we see non-Irish people agree about how delicious it is. It can solve any problem, a bit like a McDonald's after a hangover.' High praise indeed for a simple stick of butter that's become Britain's latest must-have Irish import.
