#LoveWalesLoveTaste #CaruCymruCaruBlas this St David’s Day
Before we know it, the festive season will have already been and gone and we’ll be ringing in 2022. The past couple of years have been difficult for obvious reasons, but that makes pausing for a moment to appreciate the rich culture of food and drink in Wales that bit more special. The new year will have only just got started by the time the 1st March rolls around - and that means the next big date in the Welsh food and drink calendar will be upon us: St David’s Day. The days and the weeks leading up to it are marked by a plethora of events and initiatives around the world, many of which use the opportunity to also celebrate our nation’s food and drink. Not least is the Welsh Government’s #LoveWalesLoveTaste#CaruCymruCaruBlas campaign, so let’s embrace the opportunity to shout about all that’s great in our country - from its gastronomical greatness to the perfect producers that work so hard to get it on our plates and in our glasses. After COP26, the importance of sustainability and buying local has perhaps never been more prevalent in the food and drink industry. The situation in Wales is no exception, but the Welsh people need not see this as a problem. Rather, this is a challenge for us all to overcome together through creative solutions. And it’s an opportunity that we’re well placed to seize - with many of our producers, ably supported by the Welsh Government, already pursuing sustainable strategies.
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www.taste-blas.co.uk
As we explore all the following produce right on our own doorstep, one can rest assured that our small but proud country has more than enough food and drink to feed our bodies and minds. If there’s anything that the past few years has taught us it’s that we can overcome any obstacle by simply sticking together and working in unison as a community.
The natural phenomenon So what is it that makes Wales such a bountiful country when it comes to cultivating a rich culture of food and drink? Some might point to those living and working in rural areas adopting a way of life that intrinsically complements the surrounding rolling hills, clear waters and fertile fields. Others might emphasise the importance of the Gulf Stream and its effects on the waters along our west coast. The stream provides nutrient rich and warm currents, ensuring that the local climate is a temperate (if wet) one suited for growing grass and rearing livestock - with few extreme weather events. As a result, the surrounding marine environment is positively teeming with life, while along the coasts and further inland an abundance of minerals in lowlands and uplands creates a varied biodiversity. This variety makes perfect habitats and
