Friday, 18 September 2015

Northumbrian Food and Drink


Northumbrian Food and drink Northumberland Northumbria tea beer kippers ice cream Alnwick rum Doddington Dairy Craster

 

After our annual holiday I shared some of our favourite tastes of Northumberland. With such a big expanse of land making up the county it's not hard to find some fine examples of local food and drink producers. So this this what we have found this year on our search through Northumberland's coast and country.
Tea 
 
What's one of the first things many people do once they arrive at their holiday destination? Put the kettle on of course! Since I live in Yorkshire I do like a brew of Yorkshire Tea but when in Rome, or Seahouses at least, I thought I would try out the local tea for our morning cuppa. The Northumberland Tea Company is based in Corbridge the company was only founded in 2013 by Bill and Helen Logan. Assisted by tea expert James Pogson the company aims to source tea leaves from producers who actively try to improve the lives of their workers. Unlike cheaper teas Northumberland Tea contains no reducers which affects the quality of the tea. With every box bought a donation is made to cancer charity the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.
Beer 
 
Mr JibberJabber does enjoy his real ale whether it is on draught in a pub or in a bottle. On each visit to Northumberland he always looks out for Farne Island from the Hadrian Border Brewery. Along with this favourite he also tried out Northumbrian Gold and Tyneside Blonde. If you fancy trying out some on these on draught I would recommend the ever popular The Olde Ship Inn in Seahouses.
Kippers
 
Onto the coast and it's hard to ignore the importance of the sea to Northumberland as a source of food and employment. For years Northumberland has been known for its herrings which once smoked turn into kippers. For over 130 years the fishing village of Craster has been home to the smokehouse of L. Robson and Sons. To this day it is still run by the Robson family and incorporates the working smokehouse, shop and restaurant. If you can't make it to Craster a mail order service is available and my mother assures me that Craster kippers are sold in Waitrose.
Ice cream

You can't have a trip to the seaside without having an ice cream. Back in 2000 Jackie and Neil Maxwell launched Doddington Dairy after realising there was no other company that produced handmade ice cream between Yorkshire and Aberdeen. The milk used in the ice cream comes from the cows on their own farm at the bottom of the Cheviot Hills. When sourcing the ingredients for the ice cream flavours other local producers are also used. Honey from the Chain Bridge Honey Farm near Berwick and some Northumbrian rum...
Rum

If you're looking for a special treat to take back from Northumberland to help warm you through the cold, winter months then look no further than Alnwick Rum. It was originally produced by the Alnwick Brewery in the early 1900s. The brewery creased trading in 1986 and when the company director died in 2001 the recipe for Alnwick Rum was found in his papers. His son Ian Linsley decided to bring the spirit back to life and start producing it again. The still secret recipe is based on a blend of rums from Guyana and Jamaica.

Where are your favourite holiday food and drink destinations?


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2 comments:

  1. Mmmmm- looks like a lot for Northumbrians to enjoy! Wish I could join you!
    I hope you'll join US at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2015/09/nighttime-paddle-on-jordan-lake.html

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  2. Oh I think anywhere by the sea, then you can have fish and chips! Thanks for linking up to #TheList x

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