- Breakfast
- Brunch
The Rise of the Avocado
You could argue that avocados are iconic of this generation. They dominate Instagram, feature on every self-respecting Brunch menu and are supposedly the reason why so many millennials can’t get on the housing market.
So how did this humble green fruit rise to fame?
Its origins lie in Mexico, where it is known to have been consumed in the region for thousands of years. It’s believed that as early as 5000 BC, indigenous South American people were growing and eating avocados just as they are.
The avocado may have historically been a dietary staple in various regions such as South America (and rightly so, because it’s incredible), but it took some time for the West to recognise its star quality.
When introduced to the UK in the 1960’s, customers were left baffled by the ‘avocado pear’ sold in Sainsburys and M&S. Consumers didn’t understand that avocados need to be ripened and that they couldn’t be poached like a regular pear.
The 1970’s saw the avo’s first shot at superstardom in the West. This modest fruit inspired many green-hued and badly judged kitchens and bathrooms, yet its tasty potential was left unrecognised. You could probably find a rock-hard avocado half hiding under some prawn cocktail at a dinner party, or an ‘avocado ritz’, but sadly, avocado toast would be nowhere to be found in the UK.
From around 2013 and onwards, the avocado has seen a renaissance and has become the best-loved Brunch ingredient. At the time of writing, #avocado has over 8 million aesthetically pleasing posts on Instagram. Avocado cafés are popping up all over the place, from London to Amsterdam. You can buy pretty much anything with an avocado on it from Urban Outfitters. Apparently, the UK bought more avocados than oranges in 2015.
Why are we so obsessed with this creamy fruit?
The easy answer is that it is quite simply delicious. The more complicated answer is that we have been subject to long drawn out marketing campaign. From 1995 to 2013, British PR firm Richmond Towers worked to increase avocado sales in the UK. From consumer education to pushing the health benefits of avocado and christening it a ‘superfood’, the campaign was part of the avocado’s rise to fame in Britain.
Regardless, whether it is mashed into guacamole, smashed with chilli on toast or used as a receptacle for lattes, the avo has become a staple on our menus and it is unlikely to go anywhere.
Share this article
Find the perfect brunch
Start your search now ›Related Articles
- London
- Offer
- Brunch
- Bottomless
Complimentary ‘Negroni Sbagliato’ at Mercante Restaurant with Free-Flowing Weekend Brunch
Enjoy a free-flowing weekend brunch with a complimentary Negroni Sbagliato at Mercante Restaurant, including authentic Italian dishes and prosecco for 90 minutes! This exclusive offer is available every Saturday and Sunday between 12pm - 5pm until 31st August 2024. Read more- Vouchers
- Sunday Lunch
- Brunch
- Guide
- Breakfast
Brunch in Wimbledon
Game, Set, Match! Serves Up: The Best Wimbledon Brunches Read more- Brunch
- Offer
- Giveaway
- London
- Luxury
Giveaway: Studio Sundays Brunch at Studio Franztén, Harrods
To celebrate the launch of Studio Sundays Brunch at Studio Franztén at Harrods, we're gifting one lucky winner Brunch at Studio Franztén! Read more- Father's Day
- Vouchers
- Sunday Lunch
- Brunch
- Guide
Up to 24% off Top 10 Father's Day Experiences
Looking for Father's Day inspiration? We've rounded up the top 10 Father's Day experiences, now with up to 24% off! Read more- Brunch
- Offer
- London
Brunch with a Complimentary Glass of Prosecco at The Hari Hotel
Enjoy a delicious Italian Weekend Brunch at Il Pampero at The Hari Hotel, and receive a complimentary glass of Prosecco, with this exclusive offer available until 31st July 2024. Read more- Brunch
- Breakfast
Whispering Angel Brunch Experience at All Bar One
Enjoy a little bit of rosé-tinted luxury at All Bar One, with the new Whispering Angel Brunch Experience. Treat yourself and one of your faves to a brunch dish each, whilst sipping on a bottle of chilled Whispering Angel rosé, from just £52. Read more- Brunch
- London
- Sunday Lunch
- Sunday Lunch London
- New Openings
Introducing Brunch & Sunday Lunch at The Kensington Hotel
Experience the culinary essence of The Kensington. Discover an array of dining options from elegant brunch to family-style Sunday roasts, all nestled in the heart of South Kensington. Join us for an unforgettable journey of taste and sophistication. Read more- Bottomless
- Brunch
- London
London Bottomless Brunch with Free-flowing Drinks - From £25
Save up to 79% on a bottomless brunch with a difference at award-winning Inamo, voted Best Brunch in Central London by TimeOut. Read more- News
- Brunch
- Vouchers
Sign up to our Newsletter for a chance to win Bottomless Brunch for Two!
Sign up to our newsletter and be in with a chance to win Bottomless Brunch for two people! Read more- Brunch
- Bottomless
- Vouchers
Bottomless Brunch Gift Vouchers
We've brought together over 40 fabulous Bottomless Brunch Gift Voucher Experiences, with prices from just £35 for two people, with free-flowing drinks! Read more- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Sunday Lunch
- Vouchers
- Bottomless
Brunch, Breakfast & Sunday Lunch Gift Vouchers
We've brought together over 70 fabulous Breakfast, Brunch & Sunday Lunch Gift Voucher Experiences, with prices from just £39 for two people! Read more- Vouchers
- Breakfast
- Luxury
Breakfast at Tiffany’s Gift Vouchers
Treat someone to a special Breakfast experience with a touch of glamour, at The Tiffany Blue Box Cafe, located inside London's iconic department store, Harrods. Read more- Bottomless
- Brunch
Pitcher & Piano Bottomless Brunch for only £36!
With a focus on instagrammable food and cocktails, neon lights and a relaxed environment, Pitcher & Piano have bars nestled in the heart of your favourite vibrant towns and cities across the UK. Read more- Recipes
- Breakfast
5 Easy Croissant Breakfast Recipes
Happy croissant day! What better way to celebrate than by eating your body weight in these buttery curls of deliciousness? Read more- Brunch
- Bottomless London
- Reviews
REVIEW: Bottomless Brunch at Ayllu
We visited Ayllu to try their new look Japanese-Peruvian Bottomless Brunch! Read more- Breakfast
- Sunday Lunch
Introducing The Queens Hotel Portsmouth
Located in the heart of Southsea and housed in a grade II listed building, The Queens Hotel is the perfect venue for breakfast and Sunday Lunch, offering uninterrupted views of Southsea Common and the Solent, all the way over to the Isle of Wight. Read more- Brunch
- London
Introducing Brunch at The Capital
Located in the heart of Knightsbridge, Restaurant at The Capital introduces a new Brunch menu combining everyone’s favourite breakfast dishes, with hearty lunch items, in the recently refurbished restaurant. Read more- Brunch
- Reviews
- London
REVIEW: Brunch at BBar London
This fantastically located, cheekily sophisticated spot gives a decadent and unusual hat-tipping to South African cuisine. Read more- London
- Bottomless London
- Bottomless
- Brunch
Enjoy a Delicious Weekend Brunch at Aqua Nueva and Aqua Kyoto
Enjoy a decadent Brunch with a twist! Read more- News
- Breakfast
Study: Eating A Big Breakfast Burns Double The Calories
Eating a big breakfast is good for you? Well, we hate to say we told you so! Read more- Brunch
- Recipes
How to Throw a Brunch Party!
Cos there ain't no party like a Bruncher party... Read more- Recipes
- Breakfast
Chia Seed Pudding Recipe
As quick and easy it is to grab a McMuffin on the way to work, it's not exactly the healthiest breakfast. Resist the siren call of fast food in the morning and start the day properly with our chia seed pudding recipe- it's simple, no-fuss and delicious! Read more- Recipes
- Brunch
How to make your own vegan Brunch condiments
Ever wondered how they make those delicious sauces at your favourite meat-free spots? Bruncher has got you covered, with a round-up of the easiest and tastiest brunch condiments that you can make from the comfort of your own kitchen. Bon Appetit! Read more- Recipes
- Breakfast
You have to try these Overnight Strawberry Smoothie Chia Bowls
Feeling sluggish in the morning? Don't have the energy for a proper cooked meal? Food and Baker have the solution to your breakfast woes, with a delicious and nutritious smoothie bowl... Read more- Breakfast
- Brunch