The Best Local Produce from Somerset & Exmoor - Delivered to You
Somerset & Exmoor Local Producers - Foodie Escapes at Home
Although we are all unable to travel right now, this doesn’t mean that we still can’t experience and enjoy the best local produce our country has to offer from the comfort of our own home.
As part of my ‘Foodie Escapes at Home’ series, I’ve been showcasing some of the best local producers who deliver their fantastic foodie treats UK wide. I’ve reviewed producers from Wales, and Devon, and here are my favourite local, independent producers from beautiful Somerset and Exmoor.
Best Wine Producers:
Alder Vineyard
Over the past year I’ve discovered and grown to love English wine. Alder Vineyard is one such family run vineyard which was set up over 10 years ago with the aim of producing a fantastic of English wine, and they’ve done just that.
Grown on the foothills of Dartmoor, Alder Vineyard produces a delicate white Madeleine Angevine and a crisp Rondo Rosé, which is ideal for bright Spring and Summer days. Both wines can be bought as a mixed case and can be gifted wrapped too.
They also offer ‘Eat at Home’ sets that can be ordered alongside the wine for a the full experience!
Oatley Winery
Oatley Winery is a small family-run and eco-friendly vineyard located in the beautiful Somerset countryside. With a focus on sustainability and low-intervention, Oatley have been producing award-winning wines for over thirty years.
I tried two of their ‘Independent English Wine Award’ winners; Jane’s 2018, which is a deliciously dry, white wine with tropical notes, as well as the ‘Fraîcheur’ Barrel Matured 2018/9. Only 575 bottles of this wine have been made and each is hand numbered, which makes owning a bottle feel very special indeed!
The wine can be ordered as a 6 or 12 pack as well as a mixed case selection, giving you the chance to try a variety of their wines.
Best Seafood: Porlock Bay Oysters
Who knew you could get fresh British oysters delivered straight to you? That’s exactly what Porlock Bay Oysters do! This independent oyster farm is based in West Somerset and delivers pacific oysters to your door all year round.
I tried the Oyster Gift Box which includes everything you need to enjoy oysters at home. It arrived with shucking knife and all the fresh ingredients needed to make a variety of dressings.
I loved not only the flavour, but also the whole experience of having oysters at home, as it felt like a special night-in. In fact, their wide variety of gift sets available are perfect for a date night at home!
Best Local Meat Producer: Higher Half Farm
Higher Half Farm is a traditional Exmoor farm producing high quality, organic, grass fed Red Ruby beef and Closewool British lamb.
At Higher Half Farm they believe in high standards of animal welfare and the best environmental practices, which results in their premium quality meat. Their cattle and sheep are given time to mature, producing a marbled texture and deliciously fuller flavour.
I tried the lamb cutlets which were bursting with flavours, and I also tired lamb neck fillet, which isn’t normally a cut I would try. However after cooking it in a slow-cooked tagine following their own recipe, the meat was tender and succulent and definitely one I would try again!
Order your premium Red Ruby beef and Closewool British lamb from Higher Half Farm.
Best Tea & Coffee Producer: Miles Tea & Coffee
Miles have been blending and brewing delicious teas and coffees since 1888. They still use traditional methods to produce a range of fantastic teas including traditional a rich West Country, Earl Grey and Smugglers’ Gold. Their premium teas include unique and tantalising flavours such as rooibos, baobab and chai and lavender, limeflower and rose.
I also tried their coffee, which when they arrived filled the room with the gorgeous scent of coffee! I ordered the ‘Cheerfully Columbian’ freshly ground coffee which has a rich and smooth flavour, perfect for espressos.
Miles Tea & Coffee is also a founding member of the Ethical Tea Partnership - even more reason to give them a try!
Best Sweet Treats:
Choc-O-Honey
Choc-O-Honey produces deliciously decadent honey truffle chocolates. Located in Somerset, each truffle is made-by-hand and individually dipped in a creamy ganache which is made with at least 20% Somerset Honey.
Using their very own honey from their own beehives, the honey used in their truffles is extracted using traditional methods which evoke wonderful flavours. Their range includes dark and milk covered toffee honeycomb, honeycomb bars, and my favourite, their delightful chocolate truffles.
These make ideal gifts as they are shipped in beautiful gold packaging, and some even come in Easter themed packaging too.
Grown Up Marshallow
Grown Up Marshmallow produces a range of absolutely divine luxury marshmallow, which are free from gluten, egg, dairy, fat, palm oil and GMO.
Each marshmallow is handmade in small batches and flavoured with organic fruit grown in nutrient rich soil on Exmoor National Park. They offer 6 flavours within the range, including Sicilian Lemon, Summer Fruit and Just Gin, and my favourite Dipped Chocolate.
Their ingredients are sourced as ethically as possible and each stage of the process takes into consideration the impact on the planet. As a result Grown Up Marshmallows is a conscious ethical purchase, and a delicious one too!
Home-made Frozen Meals: Croft and Cottage
Croft and Cottage offer a range of delicious homemade frozen meals which can be cooked in the oven and are ready to enjoy.
The range is home-cooked and prepared in their Exmoor kitchen, which has received a 5 star food safety rating. Their current menu includes scrumptious and homely dishes such as pulled pork stroganoff, roasted pepper and spinach lasagne and even desserts such as grown-up‘s ice cream pot and seasonal crumble.
This is an ideal alternative to an unhealthy takeaway, as the meals are great for celebrating special occasions at home, without having to do all the cooking too.
Kitchen Essentials: Sharpham Park
Sharpham Park are Somerset based producers of premium spelt products. Their vast range includes UK grown Spelt grain, pasta, cereal, flour and more.
I particularly like the range of flour they offer, which includes organic white spelt flour, organic spelt and rye flour, and even organic spelt, emmer and einkorn heritage flour.
They also have a host of recipes on the websites for each of their ingredients, to inspire you to get creative with spelt!
What are your favourite local food and drink producers? Let me know in the comments below!
Her Favourite Food & Travel x