The Taste of Christmas
Local food and drink is a delicious choice for a foodie and makes a great flavoursome addition to the festive feasting. Food and drink tastes better when it has been made with care and passion, and it feels so much more special when we know the people and the stories behind the produce.
Coffee & Tea
For a gift for a coffee connoisseur or create a wonderful festive aroma in your home first thing, pick up a locally roasted seasonal coffee. Moonroast’s Festive coffee has notes of dark chocolate, dried fruit and black cherry while Mozzo’s Festive Spirit beans taste of toffee, panettone and dried apricots in every sip.
River Coffee have a special Coffee Lover’s Gift Pack or what about putting together a selection of local coffees as a gift, choosing from the likes of Big Hand, Little Hand Coffee, Forest Edge Roasting Co, Island Roasted and Hocombe Coffee Company. Tea lovers aren’t forgotten. There’s always a cup of San-tea Claus flavoured with notes of cinnamon and clove from New Forest Tea Company, or Christmas Green Tea or Christmas Black Tea from Portsmouth-based Tea Mountain.
Sauces & Chutneys
Cooks will love a jar of a good homemade chutney, pickle or sauce as they add so much texture and flavour to any dish. Ewelina’s Home Pantry’s latest addition is a cranberry sauce which is an excellent accompaniment to turkey and pigs in blankets. Another to try is cranberry and apple chutney.
A local cheese board, with award-winning blue cheese, washed rind, smoked and hard cheeses from Hampshire Cheese Company, Laverstoke Park Farm, Lyburn Farmhouse and Two Hoots, deserve a local chutney or pickle. The Garlic Farm have a Celebration Chutney with dried fruits. Ewelina’s Home Pantry’s favourite for a Christmas feast has to be Christmas Pudding Chutney, although the Beetroot and Orange chutney cuts through any richness and Quince Jelly is a perfect match for cheese.
Cake & Pudding
For those who prefer something lighter than the traditional pud, what about a moist brownie or blondie from Homemade Brownie Company which come in a host of traditional festive flavours including a Gingerbread Blondie, Christmas Cake Brownie, Stollen Blondie, Chocolate Orange Brownie and Salted Caramel Brownie. Pop a box as a present or the post. Otherwise serve warmed with a scoop of local ice cream for a quick Christmas dessert.
To find local food and drink, visit your local butcher, deli, farm shop, village store, or Southern Coop’s stores stocking their Local Flavours range, to find local food and drink – or contact direct. Don’t forget to search the Hampshire Fare website for more ideas and suggestions.