Menu
Sign In Search Podcasts Libraries Charts People & Topics Add Podcast API Blog Pricing
Podcast Image

The Food Chain

Why do we love smoky flavours so much?

17 Jun 2026

Transcription

Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.

Chapter 1: What historical role did smoking play in food preservation?

0.031 - 43.814

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. Hei, mä lähden nyt oikeesti. Mä oon lomalla. Pekka on Pekka, eikä mikään pikasso. Kun Pekka maalaa grillikatoksensa, pitää sudin pysyä kädessä maalin seinässä ja naapurin kateellisena. Siksi Pekka luottaa parhaisiin välineisiin ja osaamiseen. Niinpä hän suuntaa K-rautaan, jolloin maalaus onnistuu pinnalla millä hyvänsä.

0

43.834 - 47.058

Maaliostoksilla voit voittaa myös 10 tonnia rempparahaa.

0

47.859 - 60.643 Ruth Alexander

K-rauta. Auttaa alkuun ja eteenpäin. Smoke is one of the most complex flavours we know.

0

60.683 - 65.589 Professor Heather Smyth

There's aroma, there's taste, there's texture. We're feeling all of it at once.

0

66.13 - 82.89 Ruth Alexander

Once the by-product of an ancient preserving technique, today smokiness is everywhere. From the traditional smoked salmon and Lapsang Souchong tea through to smoky pasta sauces, snacks, cocktails and, well, almost anything.

83.123 - 87.428 Michael Price

We've done water. We've smoked water. Smoked water? Honestly, it's bonkers.

87.728 - 106.811 Ruth Alexander

This is The Food Chain from the BBC World Service. I'm Ruth Alexander, and this week we're exploring how smoking food went from a practical necessity to one of the world's most sought-after flavours, beloved by top chefs, global food manufacturers and backyard enthusiasts.

107.812 - 112.337 Ken Albala

There's a tonne of smoke already over here. As you can see, I'm being smoked myself.

112.942 - 119.893 Ruth Alexander

At the Port of Lancaster smokehouse in the north-west of England, owner Michael Price is taking in the morning's delivery.

Chapter 2: How is smoked food made at Michael Price's smokehouse?

515.843 - 523.071 Ruth Alexander

A process happening back in Michael Price's smokehouse, inside what look like large stainless steel industrial ovens.

0

523.832 - 539.542 Michael Price

The smaller smoke is here, or you can look in the big smoke. Oh, it's opening now. Which is here. The mackerel, that's your mackerel there. which is going to swap a few trays, because you get different... Oh, it smells like a bonfire.

0

540.183 - 549.117 Michael Price

Well, I'd hope it smells better than a bonfire, because the woods that we selected that we used to smoke the fish, they are carefully chosen to give a unique flavour.

0

549.498 - 550.72 Ruth Alexander

Oh, it's a beautiful smell.

0

551.521 - 560.645 Michael Price

Same on that side, there's another batch there. There you go, look at this one. You've got your salmon there, curing and smoking.

561.406 - 563.468 Ruth Alexander

It's got a darker colour, the orange flesh.

563.488 - 568.954 Michael Price

It does look darker once you've taken the moisture out of it. But if you look here, can you see the oils just starting to come out there?

569.154 - 569.995 Ruth Alexander

Yep.

570.015 - 570.896 Michael Price

That's what we're looking for.

Comments

There are no comments yet.

Please log in to write the first comment.