FOLLÁIN: MO GRÁ MÓR

FOLLÁIN: MO GRÁ MÓR

August in a sunny field picking blackberries. Boys and girls all around. Loads of mature briars growing, lots of black berries. Bees and wasps whizzing. Jar in hands as we push into the briars. A big can standing on the margins, probably the same can that is used to bring the milk from the farmer every evening.

Just a little reverie. Brought on after tasting the magical Blackberry jam made by Folláin in West Cork. It is the real thing. Gorgeous. Just like homemade. The only problem is that it could lead to eating too much bread.

And then I move on to the Blackcurrant in the sample box. That reminded me of the fields of blackcurrants and the gangs of us picking them at Dring’s Farm. And also all the more exotic fruit  in the high walled garden.

Looking forward to eating more of the quality Folláin jams! Perhaps the strawberry will remind me of days at the Rathcooney Fruit Farm. The raspberry of visits to Carriganarra.

By the way, where have all the fruit farms gone? Are there any left in Cork? Well, at least we have Folláin and their marvellous range.

Folláin, the Irish for wholesome, was started close on thirty years ago by Peadar and Máirín O'Lionáird in Cuil Aodha. Didn't realise they have been around since 1983. But they have, and their products, widely available, have won many awards.

They have a smashing website at http://www.follain.ie. It is well worth a visit. It even contains a whole bunch of recipes with loads of ideas of how to use their jams, preserves and relishes.

MARMALADE. If I can make it, anyone can!

EASY MARMALADE  

Last week, on a whim, bought some Seville Oranges at

SUGARLESS SEVILLE ORANGE MARMALADE (2)

Tipperary apple grower Cornelius Traas of Tipp's Apple Farm has been in touch after our recent article where apple juice concentrate was used in the making of marmalade instead of sugar. (read original post (a short one) here)

Cornelius wrote: "We now have one apple grower (Calderpotts Highbank Farm and Orchard near Kilkenny) making an apple juice concentrate that could be used as a sugar substitute like you suggest Billy. However, the low cost of Chinese concentrate (which is probably what Meridian are using) compared to the high cost of growing the apples and making the concentrate here would probably push that jar up by about 4 euros, almost trebling the price to the consumer. At the moment I use the Highbank apple syrup in Glenilen natural yoghurt. Beautiful, and a great way to get small kids to eat natural yoghurt." 


Reply: Thanks for that. Can't beat inside knowledge. I was just highlighting it in case there was an opportunity. 

Cornelius: "And I would not rule it out in the future Billy. Things change over time, and we may become more competitive as our costs fall and their costs rise. It's good to be considering things all the time." 


Just in case you don't know, Cornelius makes what I consider one of the best Irish artisan products. It is a Sparkling Apple Juice. Do yourself a favour and try it out.

SUGARLESS SEVILLE ORANGE MARMALADE

SUGARLESS SEVILLE ORANGE MARMALADE 

Was walking through the English Market one recent Saturday afternoon when I remembered that I needed some marmalade. I was just passing the Good Food Shop and spotted a few jars and checked them out.

One that caught my attention was the Meridian Organic Seville Orange Fruit Spread sweetened, not with sugar, but with Organic Apple Juice Concentrate. It cost €2.98 so I said to myself that it was worth a try.

And it certainly was. It is more or less a paste but with small bits and pieces of peel intact and scattered throughout. The label: Delicious spread on bread and toast or stir into natural yogurt and muesli for additional flavour.

I like a fairly strong tasting marmalade and this certainly matched my specification, nice and tarty. And no sugar! Maybe there’s an opening here for Irish apple companies.

More info at www.meridianfood.co.uk.