The humble Arbroath smokie has added another destination to its global fanbase as it was given the seal of approval from visiting Ghanaians.
The Rev Albert Addae, Charles Agboklu and Nelson Okai got a taste of the freshly fired delicacy during a week-long visit hosted by the Old and Abbey Church.
Tucking in to the warm fish, the visitors from Elorm Evangelical Church in Ho, southern Ghana, gave their whole-hearted approval and quickly polished off the meal.
Charles said the technique of smoking fish in Arbroath was quite similar to the method in Ghana.
He said: “At home, the women who sell smoked fish have a drum on which they put a grill and underneath they put firewood. They cook it for hours, turning it to get it well done.”
Tam Swankie, from Stuarts Fresh Fish, showed the group how the fish are hung in pairs from their tails while they are smoked.
He said: “The best way to eat a smokie is straight off the fire. We salt it overnight then cook them in 40 minutes to an hour.”
Mr Addae said afterwards: “It is very exciting to visit a place like this and especially to see how it is made. You can’t avoid the scent although we are in our best clothes!
“Arbroath is a very good place and I will encourage a lot of Ghanaians to come.”
Their visit is the first step towards a twinning arrangement between the Old and Abbey Church and the church in Ho.
Andrew Dawson, of the Old and Abbey Church, said: “This is the first time they have been to Scotland and the first time they have been in Arbroath so we wanted them to have a good impression of all the things for which Arbroath is known.”
He added that smokies wasn’t the only first as the group also learnt the Scottish word ‘dreich’ during their visit.