Suffolk
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Suffolk is bursting with tasty food and drink products - that you are encouraged to seek out and enjoy. You can be sure that it will add something truly special to your visit.
The landscape, coastline and inland waterways really do influence the variety and quality of food and drink produced. From fresh Lowestoft fish, through to prize-winning lamb and the ever present breeding of pigs - the diverse nature of the county's unique and beautiful landscapes and its varied growing conditions really does shape what is grown and reared to produce quality food and drink.
Suffolk is ‘pig country', and it's estimated that 20% of the UK's outdoor reared pork originates from here - so it's not surprising that Suffolk hams have maintained a deserving appreciation with food lovers. Traditionally sweet-cured in molasses (black treacle), brown sugar and hot beer - pick one up at the village butchers of Emmett's in Peasenhall (nr. Saxmundham) or Neaves of Debenham. The Five Winds Farm
Smokehouse and Butchery at Melton (nr. Woodbridge) uses oak chippings to add a subtle flavour to their range of award-winning meats.
Newmarket sausages are equally renowned - using the recipe created by James Musk in 1884. They are hand made in small batches, with pork shoulder meat, locally baked bread and a secret blend of spices. A greater awareness in rare breeds has led to a great deal of interest in the native Red Poll cow, whose fine grained meat is of the highest quality. Whilst Jimmy's Farm (nr. Ipswich) rears the Essex pig, a direct descendant of the Anglo-Saxon/Norman ones which foraged our great forests.
Once one of the east coast's most important fishing ports - Lowestoft was noted for its catch of herrings. Heading south, Aldeburgh's freshly caught fish is sold each morning direct from the black-tarred huts on the beach. Enjoy some of the country's best fish and chips here too. For the seafood connoisseur, oysters are grown in the creeks at Orford by the Pinney family - then served up in their restaurant. The neighbouring Richardson's Smokehouse has delicious local eels.
In 1722, author Daniel Defoe called cheese made in Suffolk the worst in England. Thankfully, things have changed for the better - with Suffolk Farmhouse Cheeses (Coddenham, nr. Stowmarket) rich and creamy 'Suffolk Gold'. At nearby Alder Carr Farm in Needham Market they make award-winning fruit cream ices, such as refreshing Gooseberry and Elderflower. Look out also for the greengage, a small round green plum which was introduced to Britain in the 18th C. by Sir Thomas Gage of Hengrave Hall (nr. Bury St. Edmunds).
The wheat and barley grown is typically used in brewing - and Suffolk has some big players such as Greene King at Bury St. Edmunds; Adnams at Southwold; and St. Peter's at St. Peter South Elmham (nr. Bungay). But an interest in micro-breweries and specialist ales will also no doubt secure the emotions of any keen ale drinker.
A range of vegetables are produced in key areas where the fertile soils are evident - the sandy soil in some parts enables the growing of asparagus where drainage is vital. This has also led to a concentration of small vineyards producing award-winning English wines - such as Ickworth at Horringer (nr. Bury St. Edmunds); Shawsgate at Framlingham; and Wyken at Stanton (nr. Bury St. Edmunds). For something hot, the award-winning Chilli Company at Mendlesham (nr. Stowmarket) grows over 5,000 chilli plants. Pick up one of their firey sauces.
Suffolk still has a number of orchards, both large and small, whose apple juice and cider is extremely wholesome and fresh in taste. An English apple eaten when in season really needs to be appreciated for its depth of flavour. Pick up this delicious produce at one of the counties numerous farm shops - such as Alder Carr at Needham Market; Hollow Trees at Semer (nr. Hadleigh); and the Suffolk Food Hall at Wherstead
(nr. Ipswich). The Woodbridge Fine Food Company offers an Aladdin's cave of gastronomic delights.
Aspall Cyder at Debenham goes back eight generations to 1728, when Clement Chevallier fermented his first batch of cyder. Set around the village of Boxford (nr. Hadleigh), the orchards of Copella have provided delicious produce for their freshly press juices since 1969.
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