Try our selection of fabulous food and drink produce made in the county
With the absence of Christmas markets this year, why not get into the festive spirit by recreating the most popular seasonal dishes and beverages associated with traditional festive street markets - with the added twist of using finest Devon produce?
From a Thuringian sausage-in-a-bun to potato pancakes, mince pies and Baileys-hot chocolate and mulled wine, below are some of the nation’s favourite seasonal market staples, recreated using the best of the county’s produce, for your own home-market experience.
Thuringian Rostbratwurst sausage-in-a-bun
The original wursts are cooked on a twirling Schwenkgrill, but you can recreate this German classic by grilling tasty Duck and Plum or Pheasant sausages from Bampton Game – serve in a bun with Otter Vale Devon Farmhouse Cider-Mustard.
About Bampton Game – A small family-run business stocking a range of game products and locally sourced meats, along with finest deli produce including pates, olives, chutneys and cheeses. Owner Alan Loftus uses all his own recipes for his award-winning products, some of which are being enjoyed by HRH Prince Charles – simply delicious!
About Otter Vale – Producers of handmade gluten-free chutneys, savoury-jellies, sauces, marmalade, mincemeat and mustards using local produce and suppliers. All products are made from the finest ingredients with no artificial colours or flavouring.
Mulled cider with organic cider
Is there anything better than clutching a warm mulled cider during the run-up to Christmas? Try Sandford Orchards’ Devon Mist and Devon Scrumpy – for the ideal blend, add 400ml of apple juice, a clove-studded apple, a couple of star anise, the zest of one orange, a tablespoon of allspice berries and a cinnamon stick. For an extra kick, add a good glug of brandy and enjoy!
About Sandford Orchards – Sandford Orchards produce quality ciders from the finest Devon cider-apples, grown within 30-miles of the press. The cider is made using the art of traditional Devonshire methods, from naturally fermented, freshly pressed-juice.
Reibekuchen/potato pancake
Recreate this tasty classic using Quicke’s Mature Clothbound Cheddar, adding a drizzle of Hot Apple Chilli Jelly from the South Devon Chilli Farm, made solely from Bramley apples, sugar and chilies.
About Quicke’s – Quicke’s produce award-winning handmade cheeses from their own herd; crafting the very finest flavours of Devon by using time-honoured methods and recipes passed down through generations to create outstanding cheese, handmade, clothbound and slow-matured to perfection
About South Devon Chilli farm – South Devon Chilli Farm, Kingsbridge, produce unique taste-creations in the form of sauces, preserves, and chocolates with award-winning chilli goodness that ranges from mild to extreme.
READ MORE: ‘We’re backing Devon food and drink as the best,’ say campaign groups
Traditional Swiss Chocolate figures
Luder’s Swiss Patisserie in Teignmouth creates traditional handmade Swiss chocolate figures, from reindeer and snowmen to chestnuts and Santa Claus, alongside handmade Christmas puddings and decorative royal-iced cakes-to-order, and bespoke festive hampers.
About Luder’s Patisserie – a Traditional Swiss patisserie, specialising in cakes, savouries and handmade-chocolates using finest high-grade Belgian chocolate and local ingredients; all of the decorative chocolates are made on the premises by owners, Chris and Adele.
Baileys Hot Chocolate
Simply made with Willie’s Cacao Rich Dark Drinking Chocolate in Uffculme; bursting with flavour, made from single-estate cacaos in Medellin, Columbia. Just add a shot of Baileys for an award-winning festive sweet drink.
About Willie’s Cacao – Willie Harcourt-Cooze left his Cacao farm ten years ago to set up Britain’s first bean-to-bar chocolate factory. Using the world’s great single-estate cacaos - bought direct from the farmers - Willie makes them into chocolate using 100% natural ingredients.
Roasted nuts
It wouldn’t be a festive market without some tasty hand-roasted nuts. Cracking Nuts offers a delicious selection including sweet cinnamon, salty and chilli-roasted nuts, all with their own unique modern twist.
About Cracking Nuts – established in 2014, Cracking Nuts hand-roast their artisan nuts-to-order in small batches, using an ancient German recipe and all-natural ingredients from their base in Ilfracombe.
Glühwein – mulled wine
A bottle of Sharpham’s Pinot Noir is the way to do mulled wine, just add handcrafted ‘Devon Roots’ sparkling apple-cider by Four Elms, some cloves, a glass of port and a couple of cinnamon-sticks.
About Sharpham – producers of classic English wines, created at Sharpham Vineyard, Totnes. New World and traditional techniques are used to develop the unique regional characteristics that give this wine its award-winning status.
Pair your mulled Pinot Noir with a selection of handmade-cheeses from the Sharpham Dairy.
About Four Elms – handcrafted in the heart of the Westcountry, Four Elms are growers of premium quality apples and producers of multi-award-winning ‘Real Devonshire Apple Juice’ along with a range of ciders made exclusively from apples grown at their orchard in Sidmouth.
Mince Pies and Christmas Puddings
A Christmas market wouldn’t be complete without these festive staples; Riverford Organics’ organic mince pies are filled with apple, plump vine-fruits, festive spices, candied peel, flaked-almonds, and a slosh of brandy. Made to Riverford’s own unique recipe and baked-to-perfection in a wood-fired oven. Palm oil-free with vegan pastry.
Their richly flavoured fruity Christmas pudding is made with coconut oil.
About Riverford Organic Farmers – based in Buckfastleigh and known for their seasonal fruit, veg and recipe boxes, Riverford have been growing organic produce for over 30 years, with a mission to provide the very best every season, with boxes delivered straight to your doorstep.
DEVON’S FINEST HAMPER FILLERS
Pamper loved ones with a hamper, filled with the best local produce, from cheese and chutneys to pates, Christmas puddings, local beers, ciders and wines. Here’s a selection of some of the best from Devon:
Otter Vale preserves – chutneys, savoury jellies, sauces, marmalade, mincemeat and mustards.
Salcombe Gin - distilled using the finest botanicals blended together with Dartmoor water.
Aune Valley Meats - producers of premium turkey and gammon boxes, tasty baked hams and Scotch eggs, alongside delicious deli produce.
Figgy’s multi award-winning Christmas pudding – handmade small-batch Christmas puddings, to a traditional family recipe.
Salcombe Dairy - bean-to-bar chocolate, created using organic Peruvian cacao beans, roasted to specification.
Forest Fungi - specialist organic fresh and dried gourmet mushrooms, the perfect accompaniment to any hamper.
Teignmouth Brewery – unique handcrafted ales, made with finest local ingredients, each with their distinct characteristics.
After a more relaxed Christmas this year? Discover the Riverford Organics Christmas dinner boxes. Organic Christmas dinner boxes that take the hassle out of your festive food shop are delivered free to your door. No fuss, queues or crowds - they are an easy way get everything you need for the ultimate ethical and organic festive feast!
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