TRADITIONAL Christmas puddings have fallen out of flavour in East Lancashire.

The puddings, made with raisins, currants, sultanas and, of course brandy, are being replaced by more exotic versions — or even alternatives.

Blackburn food manufacturer Bright Blue Foods, formerly McCambridge Foods, has withdrawn its Mrs Peek’s branded traditional Christmas puddings from the market, a spokesman said.

And Lancashire supermarket Booths has also seen a decline.

Company buyer Julian Valentine said: “The Christmas pudding is still very much a staple on many British dinner tables at Christmas. However, it is fair to say that there has been a decline in interest in traditional Christmas puddings in recent years as customers are faced with a much wider range of options, such as panettone, which is becoming increasingly popular, as well as an inconsistency in the quality of Christmas puddings on the market.”

Booths still sells muslin-wrapped puddings that come in ceramic bowls — the ‘old fashioned’ way — Mr Valentine added.

“We have two camps of customers at Booths; those who prefer a very traditional Christmas pudding that reminds them of one their mother or grandmother used to make, compared to those looking for a more exciting alternative to the traditional pudding which has contributed to an increased interest in our premium chocolate and cherry Christmas pudding,” he said.

“We have also experienced an increase in demand for smaller sizes of Christmas puddings.”

A recent survey found just 54 per cent of adults like the dessert. It means the puds are more unpopular than Brussels sprouts, which 64 per cent said they enjoyed.

The survey of 1,184 adults, carried out by BBC Good Food Magazine, said a third will tuck in to trifle, sticky toffee pudding, or chocolate instead.

At the Millstone hotel and restaurant in Church Lane, Mellor, Christmas puddings that contain cask ale Thwaites Nutty Black, as well as alternatives, will be served.

Chef patron Anson Bolton, said: “I have not noticed a massive decline but it’s probably because it’s such a heavy dessert, and people have cottoned on to that.

“There’s lots of nice puddings out there at the minute And the last thing people want after a big meal is a heavy pudding.”

Celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal is also a fan of experimenting with the traditional pudding.

His contain English cider, Spanish sherry, and a whole candied orange in the centre.

They can be found in Waitrose stores.