Top 20 quirky British food combos – from fries with milkshake to eggs with jam

Top 20 quirky British food combos – from fries with milkshake to eggs with jam Brits are embracing bizarre food pairings, from dunking pizza crusts in ice cream to combining peanut butter with noodles - here are the top 20. New research has revealed Brits are keen on experimenting with their food combinations, blending sweet and savoury alongside some rather unconventional choices. The survey of 2,000 adults discovered 27% relish apple slices paired with cheddar cheese, while 18% love chips and milkshakes. A surprising 8% even eat eggs with jam. Other unusual combinations to make the top 20 included cheese and chocolate spread, hot sauce on chocolate desserts and banana with mayonnaise. Yet experimenting isn't everyone's cup of tea. Over half (56%) would rather stick with traditional flavours and avoid quirky culinary combinations entirely. The research was commissioned by Costa Coffee, which has teamed up with McVitie's Jaffa Cakes to launch a ready-to-drink frappe merging the brand's signature coffee with the classic chocolate orange flavour. A spokesperson said: "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 study revealed 66% of 18-24-year-olds relish mixing sweet and savoury flavours compared to just15% of those aged 65 and above. Meanwhile, 78% of over-65s favour sticking to traditional tastes, compared with just a third of Gen Z. When confronted with unconventional menu options, 29% of all adults would only sample them if offered a complimentary taste and 26% confessed they would contemplate it but eventually opt for their regular choice. However, that doesn't mean they aren't willing to try. Three quarters have said they are open to trying new food pairings. It also emerged 43% of all adults believed the best food combinations are the ones you least expect to work, according to the OnePoll.com data. A spokesperson for Costa Coffee 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. "As consumers continue to seek out flavours that offer both comfort and a sense of discovery, we're excited to bring together two iconic brands in a drink that celebrates exactly that." 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.