A BLACK pudding recipe tweaked by five generations of butchers has secured a title for a Peebles business. 

WTS Forsyth & Sons beat off fierce competition to be crowned champions of the south east region in the 2024 Scottish Black Pudding Championship, going on to be awarded third place in the whole of Scotland.

“This is just amazing,” said Callum Forsyth, who owns the business with cousin Mike and younger brother Norman.

“We’re so chuffed to have taken this title and do so well against some of the country’s biggest hitters when it comes to black pudding.

“The whole team is buzzing. They really deserve this recognition for all the hard work they put into the product.”

Callum declined to give away any secrets about the award-winning recipe, but said it was one known by his great great grandfather – a shepherd in the Lammermuir Hills – that had been tweaked by every generation since.

“It’s a real family recipe with a little something extra added or removed throughout the years,” he said. “Everyone’s had a hand in keeping up with changing tastes and public demands.”

The champion black pudding is handmade by the team in small batches.

But a major win has always proved elusive – until now.

“We’re thrilled that we’ve got a winner,” said Callum. “The black pudding awards are the ones every butcher wants.”

More than 60 of the country’s leading independent Scottish butchers entered this year’s Black Pudding Championship, run by Scottish Craft Butchers.

Scottish Craft Butchers’ executive manager, Gordon King, said WTS Forsyth & Sons was a worthy regional winner.

“Every butcher in Scotland wants to win a title in the Black Pudding Championship,” he said. “It’s an iconic product.

“We had an extremely strong field of top entries from across Scotland and those who won regional titles were of an exceedingly high standard.

“Callum and his team produced an outstanding product that captured the votes of our judges – many of whom are top industry leaders – and was worthy of a regional championship and a third place in the whole of Scotland.”

Meanwhile, the Peebles butcher also had success in the recent Craft Butcher Awards evaluation for home cured bacon products.