CATEGORY FOCUS
Start with stalwarts
pickles & chutneys Ouse Valley Foods says its new Spread the Word trio has generated lots of interest from outlets in historical settings thanks to its unusual branding, which marries food and literature. The jars feature fruity Shakespearean illustrations and a lighthearted plot summary. Henry V themed Potager Pickle (RRP £5.60) is a deep golden pickle, made with courgettes, onions, apples and apricots. ousevalleyfoods.com
Paxton & Whitfield has become the latest producer to tap into the black garlic trend, with the launch of a pickle with a caramelised, savoury umami-infused profile. Said to be a showstopper with Alpine cheeses and Territorials, Black Garlic Pickle is made from whole cloves that have been slowly cooked for 45 days. RRP £5; trade price £3.25. paxtonandwhitfield. co.uk
We kick off the New Year with a round-up of launches in two categories that are staples in the independent trade. We begin with pickles & chutneys, followed by sweet & savoury biscuits (pg 31)
Packs a rich smoky punch
Prices Spices has tweaked its spiciest pickle – Naga Raja Special Reserveto – to modulate the bitter taste of the extremely hot chilli peppers it uses. It says the addition of fenugreek, paprika and freshly squeezed orange juice helps to balance the recipe. The Special Reserveto edition is aimed at the chilli aficionado who knows what flavour they are looking for. RRP £7.50; wholesale price £4.55. pricesspices.com
Sri Lankan food brand RUCI has launched two fish pickles. Tuna Achcharu preserves tuna chunks in a spicy and aromatic tomato sauce (RRP £6 for 250g) whilst Brinjal Moju (RRP £5 for 175g) is a local favourite made with aubergine, fried sprats, green chillies and onions. The fish is bought directly from fishermen who are registered with RUCI and follow sustainable practices. rucifoods.com
The London Fermentary, whose kimchis and krauts can be found in Planet Organic, Selfridges, Ottolenghi’s and Neal’s Yard Dairy, has launched two new raw, fermented products. Smoky Kraut (RRP £6.99 for 460g) packs a rich, smoky punch with garlic and smoked spices, whilst Umami Kimchi (RRP £7.90 for 460g) combines the nuttiness of soybean paste and sesame seeds with earthy shiitake mushrooms to create a milder, umamipacked twist on its Classic Kimchi. londonfermentary.com
Greek producer Mam Ellada has developed a new fourstrong range of no-addedsugar chutneys sweetened with fruit sugars. The Orange, Apple, Smoked Pepper and Pepper chutneys are not yet on sale in the UK. RRP is €5.50 for 250g. mamellada.gr
Brigid Killen aka Mrs Picklepot has used balsamic vinegar to give silverskin onions an earthy and indulgent flavour, earning a Bronze Award at the International Cheese Awards 2021 along the way. Pickled Onions with Balsamic have an RRP of £3.99 for 440g. mrspicklepot.co.uk
September saw the launch of three new chutneys from The Carved Angel: Punch (platter chutney), Wicked (apple chutney with orange, carrot & spices); and Harmony (sticky fig chutney). All three have a trade price of £2.75 per unit; RRP £4.50-4.75. thecarvedangel.com
Compiled by Lynda Searby
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January-February 2022 | Vol.23 Issue 1
