Curious story -- from the UK Telegraph:
Secret Worcestershire Sauce recipe foundBeen a regular consumer since the 1970's (when I learned how to cook); go through about a bottle/year -- good on scrambled eggs with fresh-ground pepper, great in marinades and for the grill. The imitations are crap -- you owe it to yourself to get the original, talking about a world of difference...
The original recipe was a closely guarded secret, but a former accountant at the company claimed that he found the notes dating from the mid 1800s in a skip by the firm's site.
Brian Keogh, who died in 2006, said that he discovered the original recipe in two leather-bound folios written in sepia ink. The recipe was written in two different styles of handwriting, which analysts believe was due to the fact that no one knew the entire recipe. His daughter Bonnie Clifford is now working with the museum to test the papers.
The classic condiment is thought to contain ingredients including cloves, vinegar, pickles and tamoraide.
Worcester City Museums collections officer David Nash said: "There has always been a lot of secrecy surrounding the recipes and pride that it is made locally.
"Not even the staff knew the whole recipe, only parts of it, which would account for the different handwriting, and some of the ingredients were written in code.
"Even with all the ingredients there is no guarantee you would be able to make the sauce as what makes it distinctive is the way it is made, which is still a secret."
"It would be significant to the people of Worcester and maybe even attract national interest if they are proved to be genuine."
