A survey of 2,000 adults commissioned by Costa Coffee has uncovered the top 20 weird and wonderful food combinations loved by Brits. The research, conducted via OnePoll.com, found that 27% of respondents enjoy apple slices paired with cheddar cheese, while 18% relish fries dipped in milkshake. A surprising 8% admitted to eating eggs with jam.
Unusual Pairings Gaining Popularity
Other unconventional combinations making the top 20 include cheese and chocolate spread, hot sauce on chocolate desserts, and banana with mayonnaise. Some Brits even enjoy mango dusted with chilli powder or pizza crusts dunked into soft serve ice cream.
However, not everyone is adventurous. Over half (56%) of adults said they prefer to stick with traditional flavours and avoid quirky culinary experiments altogether.
Generational Divide in Food Experimentation
The study revealed a stark generational gap: 66% of 18-to-24-year-olds enjoy mixing sweet and savoury flavours, compared to just 15% of those aged 65 and above. Conversely, 78% of over-65s favour traditional tastes, versus only a third of Gen Z.
When confronted with unconventional menu options, 29% of all adults would only try them if offered a free sample, and 26% said they would consider it but ultimately order their usual choice. Despite this, three-quarters of respondents are open to trying new food pairings.
Coffee and Chocolate Orange: A Winning Combo
The research was commissioned by Costa Coffee, which has partnered with McVitie's Jaffa Cakes to launch a ready-to-drink frappe blending their signature coffee with classic chocolate orange flavour. A spokesperson commented: "Some pairings strike the perfect balance between familiarity and discovery. Coffee and chocolate orange is a great example – bringing together two flavours people already know and love in a way that feels both comforting and exciting."
The data also showed that 43% of all adults believe the best food combinations are the ones you least expect to work. The Costa Coffee spokesperson added: "We're delighted to see coffee and chocolate orange recognised as one of the nation's favourite flavour combinations. While some of the pairings in the research might divide opinion, it is a pairing that feels instantly familiar and enjoyable."
Top 20 Weird and Wonderful Food Combinations
- Apple slices with cheddar cheese
- Fries and milkshake
- Drizzling honey over fried chicken
- Coffee with chocolate orange
- Garlic bread with ketchup
- Watermelon and feta cheese
- Strawberries and black pepper
- Noodles and peanut butter
- Eggs and jam
- Mango and chilli powder
- Cheese and chocolate spread
- Crisps with jam
- Hot sauce with chocolate desserts
- Popcorn and hot sauce
- Avocado and chocolate
- Salt on watermelon
- Peanut butter with pickles
- Banana with mayonnaise
- Dunking pizza crusts into soft serve ice cream
- Ice cream with olive oil and sea salt
