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Product Review - Bumble Wrap

10/12/2020

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Having received a beautiful package from Bumble Wrap we were all rather excited to try
these environmentally friendly, plastic-free, food wraps.
​Located in York, this incredibly enthusiastic and passionate company have created a
vibrant and versatile range of handmade, 100% cotton and beeswax food wraps that will
not only keep your food fresh but are non-toxic & 100% biodegradable too!
But, before we even try these eco-friendly wraps, it's pretty amazing to know that Bumble Wrap are helping towards a sustainable world by creating this natural alternative to cling film that you can wash and reuse time and time again.
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Bumble Wraps are mouldable, so even odd-shaped foods can be wrapped meaning you can use them in a number of different ways, there's even have a 'how to' section on Bumble Wraps website where you'll find simple instructions on how to make the most effective  sandwich wrap or even a gift box!
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​One of our team has recently had a baby and felt Bumble Wrap's snack pouch would come in very handy in the future when she's out and about with her baby, not only because it's
completely natural, but pliable too and so easy to clean and reuse.
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​The team particularly loved the Bumble Bee design as it plays on the nature of the product reminding us that we are helping the world by using it.​
There's a Bumble Wrap for every occasion and
these not only come in a wide range of designs but
sizes too.
From large loaf sized wraps to dinky jam pot or
bottle covers, there's a suitable size to cover any
requirement!



​​






Bumble Wraps would make a thoughtful and thought provoking gift to give to your friends & family and are sure to be well used during the festive season. 
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The teams final say is... we're converted! 
After trialling Bumble Wraps, we agree that there's absolutely no need for single use plastic
food coverings, so we're ditching the cling film and making the change!
You should too.
​
Thank you Bumble Wrap!
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Product Review - Chapman's Seafoods Haddock Bakes

28/9/2020

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Fabulous Farm Shops and our team of reviewers have been lucky enough to have
come across Chapman's Seafoods before, in fact we're quite familiar with their award-
winning and pretty darn fabulous range of fish and aside from their famous,
handmade fish cakes, wellingtons and shellfish, we had an absolute bonus this week
when Chapman's Haddock Bakes came up for review!
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​Arriving frozen and in packs of two, Chapman's Haddock Bakes consist of a generous
fillet of haddock topped with a delicious Broccoli, Leek & Cheese sauce and coated
with crushed crunchy croutons. 
​
The rich haddock flavour, paired with the tasty, unique and creamy sauce makes this
succulent bake nothing short of scrumptious. The crunchy, crumbly croutons simply
add the finishing touch to a marvellous dish
 and there was not a speck left on our
plates! ​
The mm's and ah's were coming from all and it was a 10/10 from us!

Just pop this bake into the oven for 30 minutes and hey presto, you have yourself a truly
irresistible and impressive meal. Chapman's have done all the work for you and made
it so easy, anyone can cook this!

From fish bakes to fish cakes,
​Chapman's offer a fabulous range of ready meals!

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​Chapman's use the best quality fish & ingredients in their range of products and that's 
plain to see (and taste) they're also proud to be part of the rich fishing heritage that
Grimsby is famous for.
With their strong values & superb quality, 
Chapman's offer a truly ​scrumptious &
utterly unique range of handcrafted fish & seafood dishes.
​
Chapman's FAMOUS gourmet, handmade & AWARD-WINNING fish cakes! 
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You can buy Chapman's range direct HERE and stock up your freezer.
Farm shops c
onsidering stocking Chapman's (who, by the way will support you with a wide range of marketing material INCLUDING branded freezers) enquire HERE



If you have a farm shop product & fancy a review, get in touch with
theteam@fabulousfarmshops.co.uk
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Product Review - Margot & Montañez

21/9/2020

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Alfajores are a traditional South American cookie usually filled with indulgent Dulce de
Leche however...by combining an authentic (50 year old) family recipe, artisan
producer Margot & Montañez, have recreated these wonderfully soft, dainty and
delicate biscuits with some innovative, inspiring and surprising flavour combinations.

Within their current range, Margot & Montañez offer four mixed boxes and each box
includes 6 midi Alfajores-3 each of two delightful flavours.

​Margot & Montañez's mission is to bring a redefined version of South American sweet indulgences to everyone. 

We began our review with Margot & Montañez's traditional & iconic South-
American version of Alfajores which are filled with indulgent Dulce de Leche, a rich
and delicious caramel cream and then rolled in coconut.

These gourmet cake sandwiches are indulgently buttery, delicate and crumbly. 
An ideal sweet treat to enjoy with your afternoon tea or coffee.


It was a big thumbs up from our reviewers as we all loved Margot & Montañez creamy
gourmet Alfajores, quite the perfect balance of salt & sweet and gave us that exquisite
and luxurious, melt in the mouth experience.
By using high-quality ingredients ensures the paring of the richness of the Dulce
de Leche and the Salted Caramel is no less than divine.
Margot & Montañez's fruity combo's of tangy lemon & lime and raspberry and white
chocolate Alfajores will offer a surprising new twist to your taste buds. The Lemon
& Lime
Alfjores are even rolled in lime coconut making them super-sweet, creamy and
wonderfully zingy, they're so light and crumbly but contain absolutely NO
preservatives, are naturally gluten-free and vegetarian too!

Raspberry & White Chocolate Alfajores are filled with raspberries and white chocolate
buttercream making this a light, refreshing d
electable biscuit infused with a sweet and
sharp raspberry hit.


The nutty range consists of Hazelnut Ganache & Pistachio and Orange, Chocolate & 
Almond Alfajores. 

The generously filled, rich Dark Chocolate Orange Alfajore is incredibly moreish...and
with the added flaked Almonds you need only one of these nutty, buttery handcrafted
beauties to get your sweet fix! 

If you're wanting to indulge even further, maybe impress your dinner party guests then
we recommend 
Margot & Montañez's Hazelnut Ganache & Pistachio Alfajores.
Filled with delicious hazelnut ganache and rolled in crushed pistachios, these velvety s
ophisticated and delicate biscuits are an exceptional after dinner treat.
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Margot & Montañez's artisan Alfajores would serve very well as a gift, they're
wonderfully presented in a very attractive box.  


Also available is Coco Dulche de Leche Brownies and Dulce de Leche Cake.


Trade enquiry? Please email HERE


​
If you have a farm shop product and fancy a review, get in touch with
theteam@fabulousfarmshops.co.uk
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Product Review - Exmoor Distillery

7/9/2020

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​Located in Exmoor, husband and wife team John & Nicola Smith, launched Exmoor
Distillery
back in January 2018 and have not only turned their passion (and hands) into producing small batch, premium gins but, even in their relatively short life, have
been recognised AND awarded for their handcrafted gins by seasoned experts in
worldwide spirits competitions.

The Fabulous Farm Shop team had a very special delivery this week & the immense
pleasure of sampling and reviewing Exmoor Distillery's gins. Yes, it's a tough job but
someone's got to do it!

DOUBLE GOLD was recently awarded to BOTH Northmoor Classic Gin & Northmoor Navy Strength Gin by The San Francisco World Spirit Competition, one of the world’s most prestigious spirit competitions.

Exmoor Distillery currently have two gins in their range, Northmoor Classic Gin &
Northmoor Navy Strength Gin and as it was a school night, we began with Exmoor's
 
'flag ship' Classic Gin.
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Firstly, and importantly, we feel the branding and packaging of Exmoor's bottles is
definitely worth a mention.  Each bottle ​of Northmoor Gin is carefully bottled and
labelled in house. Classy, traditional and very British are just a few of the comments
our tasters made. 
​
Only the very best berries & botanicals are sourced and handpicked for Northmoor
Classic Gin which makes t
his a premium quality and complex artisan gin, incredibly
smooth (although it IS punchy with 44% ABV) but light on the lips, citrusy and quite
simply divine when mixed with a good quality tonic.

We tried this with a garnish, a simple slice of orange and the result was superb,
probably a bit too moreish...!

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Now if you're a REAL gin lover (who isn't?) we think you might want to add Exmoor
Distillery's Navy Strength Gin, 57% ABV, to your hit list...

Exmoor have created a unique recipe using a carefully selected mix of 12 botanicals
to make their multi award-winning Navy Strength Gin.
From coriander, angelica root and lemon, to cinnamon, elderberries and sweet orange,
this strong earthy gin will separate the men from the boys, so to speak!
Serve over ice or with a slice or... perhaps use this as the key ingredient for a deep and strong, cocktail?
It's seriously full of flavour, incredibly bold and yet exquisitely smooth.
An exceptional & irresistible gin, available in both 35cl and 70cl 
If you're looking for a great gift idea, Exmoor Distillery offer beautifully presented gift
boxes containing 3 x 5cl Northmoor Classic or Navy Strength Gin or perhaps you'd like to treat a gin loving friend to an award-winning (70cl) bottle of artisan gin packaged in
an attractive gift box?
All of Exmoor Distillery's wonderful handcrafted gins are available to buy online in
35cl or 70cl bottles as well as branded copa, hi-ball and tumbler glasses and
quarantine specials! 
If you're a farm shop and keen to stock Exmoor Distillery's award-winning gins, you
can contact them HERE

Keep a close eye on Exmoor Distillery as they continue to grow!
Exciting future plans involve distillery tours and even branching into rum and other
spirits. 

www.exmoordistillery.co.uk
​
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Product Review - Whitakers Chocolates Ltd

24/8/2020

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From humble beginnings way back in 1889, Yorkshire based Whitakers Chocolates Ltd
have grown into one of the U.K's leading and award-winning chocolate manufacturers
and today, Whitakers are one of the very few British chocolate companies continuing
to supply premium chocolate and confectionery across the UK, indeed worldwide, not
only to us customers but to wholesalers, restaurants and farm shops.


Whitakers mission is a very simple one really, and that is to create great tasting, quality
chocolates and confectionery using carefully sourced ingredients packed in attractive
and sustainable packaging.
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​Within Whitakers range, you can not only find Fairtrade mint chocolates, chocolate crisps, crèmes & wafers you'll find an impressive selection of vegan confectionery too!
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Whitakers Truffle Spheres are available in three yummy flavours; milk & white chocolate orange, milk & white chocolate salted caramel and milk & white chocolate mint, which is where we begin our review...
These individually wrapped, rather novel balls of solid creamy chocolate have a wonderfully smooth texture.
Being infused 
with the finest natural peppermint oil, is a match made in heaven and they taste as good as they sound, so good in fact, they were gone in a blink of the eye.
Irresistible-one is just not enough!

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Made with all natural ingredients and the finest ginger extract, you sure will indulge your taste buds with Whitakers Dark Chocolate Ginger Thins.
D
ark, deep, ​rich and wonderfully intense (the chocolate to ginger ratio is spot on) these crispy thin wafers are not only incredibly moreish, they're vegan friendly, Fairtrade, packed in good looking packaging AND boast a Great Taste award!

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​​ 

​Whitakers luxury Mint Assortment
would make a pretty fabulous gift or the
perfect and generous after dinner mint
selection box. If you can bear to dish
them out...!
​​Filled with a delicious selection of both
dark and milk chocolate mint
Neapolitans, 
Fondant Cremes, Mint Crisp
Pieces, Wafer Thins and 
Frappé Cremes,
there really is something for everyone.

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Handmade the traditional way using a copper pan and natural ingredients, Whitakers
Traditional English All Butter Fudge is, and let's not mince words here...outstanding!


This intensely creamy, melt-in-the-mouth fudge was loved by every single one of our
tasting panel.
Not only is this chunky slab of fudge vegetarian, gluten AND soya free, it's also very
attractive, being naturally wrapped, even finished off with a little artisan bow and
would 
sit very well on any farm shop shelf!
​
Whitakers supply individuals and businesses, big & small, from boxed chocolate gifts
to branded corporate chocolates and their brand new brochure features everything
they can provide, it's definitely worth a look!
If you'd like to enquire about a trade account, you can do so here.







If you have a farm shop product and fancy a review, get in touch with
theteam@fabulousfarmshops.co.uk
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Product Review - Gusto Organic

10/8/2020

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Gusto Organic's claim to fame is that they were the very first natural energy drink to hit the market and the only company to create their range of awesome & unique energy drinks using the finest, organic and Fairtrade ingredients, such as fruits, essential oils, spices and botanicals. 

It's good to know that Gusto Organic go to great lengths to find the very best
ingredients, 
never add artificial colours, flavours or preservatives and simply
sweeten 
their grown-up range of sparkling drinks with Fairtrade organic apple juice.

In 2017, Gusto Organic's great tasting natural drinks were voted the no.1 ethical cola in the UK by 'Ethical Consumer Magazine'.

​This week we've had the pleasure of sampling & reviewing Gusto's ethical range and were thrilled to discover that, within these rather snappy looking bottles we found an unusual and yet,  a most superb range of great tasting, natural drinks!

​


​With ethically sourced real kola nut for
sustained energy and ginseng to revitalise,
​not forgetting the 
14 (YES FOURTEEN)
Chinese herbs for strength, focus and well-
being, Gusto's delicious ORIGINAL 
ENERGY drink not only packs a punch but
delivers a refreshing and uplifting fizz.
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Gusto's LEMON ENERGY is quite literally bursting
with botanicals!   
This wonderfully refreshing tipple is created with
organic crushed lemons and perfect for a hot
summers afternoon OR a superb mixer.
The guarana & Siberian ginseng gives you natural
energy & stamina...sure to
 keep you going all night!



​The SICILIAN BLOOD ORANGE scored a 10
out of 10 with our panel of reviewers. 
The complex blend of organic blood orange
& agave totally hits the spot, n
ot too tart and
not too sweet. 

Overall thoughts? ​Ridiculously good!​

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​
​Being lovers of ginger, we couldn't wait
to try Gusto's organic FIERY GINGER
with CHIPOTLE.
Yes, this is a somewhat unusual 
​combination, but these flavours really
work!

The Mexican chipotle gives a deeper and
smokier dimension 
to the fresh n' tangy
organic 
ginger.




​We found that the carefully blended & subtle
taste of both the lemon and yuzu in Gusto's
SICILIAN LEMON with YUZU organic 
drink,
left us with a 
gentle, almost delicate aftertaste.
​

An aromatic and natural alternative to your
regular, and let's be honest, boring lemonade.
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​​Gusto's Naturally SLIM COLA is a much healthier alternative to the nations all time favourite summer drink (obviously) but to add more, THIS slim cola is free from artificial preservatives, full of flavour and naturally low in calories.
​
Wow!
The carefully blended organic blue agave, essential oils, spices and African cola nut, in Gusto's REAL COLA, not only makes this cola incredibly tasty, 
but healthy too!
Nope, no nasty chemicals will be found in THIS cola!

Gusto's REAL Cola tastes amazing...dare we say it, even better than the 'real thing'

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Gusto's award-winning, REAL CHERRY COLA does what it says on the bottle. 
By real, they MEAN real and if you love dark fruits then this is sure to be a winner. 
This 'very cherry' cola is not made from cherry flavourings but REAL organic cherries and BOY, you sure can taste them too.
This beauty is deep, rich, moreish & 
guaranteed to lift your spirits & boost your
energy.
 Exceptional!









​If you have a farm shop product and fancy a review, get in touch with
theteam@fabulousfarmshops.co.uk
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Product Review - Wild & Fruitful Preserves Ltd

3/8/2020

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For over 20 years, Wild & Fruitful have been creating their jams, chutneys, marmalade's and relishes from deep in the heart of Cumbria.
By using fresh and locally sourced Cumbrian produce and ingredients, Wild & Fruitful hand-make their preserves & relishes in small batches using the traditional 'open pan'
method and every single jar is gluten & dairy free, vegan friendly AND 
100% natural!

​​Cumbrian Preserves with Provenance

​​We received a range of Wild & Fruitful's very attractive jars of traditionally handmade,
jams, chutneys and marmalade's and began our review with Wild & Fruitful's 
Extra Strawberry Jam.

This jam is...well, JAM packed with summer-sweet & succulent Cumbrian strawberries.
It sure is full of flavou
r and tastes like summer, just in a jar! 
Best served on hot buttered crumpets, toasted tea cakes or even in your cake creations!
 
The chocoholics among us can and will indulge in the rich and dark, Raspberry & Dark Chocolate Jam. The deeply satisfying chocolate intensity contrasts brilliantly with
the sweetness of the raspberries.  A match made in food heaven for sure!


By using locally sourced damsons and with a generous splosh of Cumbrian gin, the
boozy Damson & Gin Jam offers a wonderfully rich & fruity flavour.
We served and sampled this (quite a lot actually!) on warm buttered bread and loved
both the tartness & the
 texture. 
​
The Pear & Stem Ginger Jam offers a sweet, deep warming flavour, making this a great
alternative and a natural sweetener in your porridge on a cold winters morning!
The chunks of ginger within Wild & Fruitful's Seville Orange & Ginger Marmalade gives
us a powerful and welcome kick, add this to the delicious combination of spice &
citrus, for a mouth watering & moreish toast topper. Great for baking too!


Just a twist of the lid and you'll immediately detect the whisky in the Seville Orange
& Whisky Marmalade
!
This zesty marmalade is deliciously mellow and warming. We recommend serving on
warm toast for a decadent and boozy breakfast.
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The fruity, yet spicy Curried Cumbrian Relish is packed with apricots and apples
making this a 100% natural, mouth watering AND an interesting accompaniment to
any meat dish, especially to your curry.​
The dark and deeply spiced Cumberland Chutney has to be the favourite for the
traditional Ploughman's and we all readily agreed that this would complement any
cheeseboard... 
A staple for every fridge. 

​The tropical flavours of Wild & Fruitful's Mango Chutney combined with the 
wonderful blend of garlic, chilli, ginger and spices makes this the tastiest mango
chutney around. 
 You can either stir in a spoonful to liven up your curry OR just
add
 poppadoms!

The perfect combination of fruits, spices and locally brewed ale goes into Wild &
Fruitful's hearty Keswick Ale Chutney. 
This chutney is simply delicious as a sandwich filling and terrific with cold meats,
cheese or pies.
 
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You can taste the sweet apricots and juicy apples in the Fruity Lakeland Chutney.
This well balanced chutney is sweet & spicy (with a little punch) and an excellent
condiment for cold meats and burgers too!
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​We believe that the Wild & Fruitful range is a pretty fabulous option for farm shops who are looking for artisan, handmade, perfectly natural preserves & refined relishes...


​
If you have a farm shop product and fancy a review, get in touch with
theteam@fabulousfarmshops.co.uk
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Product Review - The Cornish Cheese Company

27/7/2020

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Situated on the edge of Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, lies a family-run working farm,
home to The Cornish Cheese Company.
With their highly trained team of cheese makers, the Cornish Cheese Company
traditionally, hand-make their award-winning Cornish Blue Cheese using milk
supplied by the farms resident Holstein Friesians.
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If you're a cheese lover (as we are) I'm sure you can imagine our sheer joy when the Fabulous Farm Shop team received this rather smart gift box stuffed with scrumptious
​ artisan cheeses.
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No encouragement was needed as the team got stuck in to sample these wonderful
cheeses on simple hunks of crusty bread.

Make no mistake, The Cornish Cheese Company's 'Cornish Blue', is FAR from being the
traditional blue cheese that we imagined it would be, as not only is it mild in taste, it's
wonderfully creamy too! 
Being made from pasteurised cows milk and designed to be eaten as a young cheese,
Cornish Blue is incredibly tasty with the most superb texture and a buttery
flavoursome tang, and although not quite spreadable, we reckon there's many more
uses to be had in the kitchen with this semi soft cheese, such as salads, snacks, sauces
and desserts.

Yup, it didn't take us long to all agree that this artisan cheese is not only ridiculously
moreish, it is, simply put, divine...!

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Cornish Blue Cheese has been internationally recognised and won an incredible amount of accolades and awards, including World Cheese Awards Champion Cheese and Best Blue and English Cheese!


The Cornish Cheese Company also produce this award-winning artisan Cornish Blue goats' cheese. 
 The wonderfully earthy and creamy 'Cornish Nanny' is, of course, made the traditional farmhouse way and available in 2 weights. 

​BUT....that's not ALL!
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Say hello to these two utterly delicious & creamy pâtés!

Cornish Blue, Pear and Walnut pâté is handmade with natural ingredients and​ would make a fabulously indulgent  addition to any cheeseboard and the Cornish Blue and fig pâté is delightfully fruity n' juicy!
An ideal appetizer, dip or snack.
​

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You have the opportunity to build your own West Country cheeseboard with The Cornish Cheese Company. Simply handpick your cheese, chutneys & crispbreads and have it delivered to anywhere in the UK. Surely, a gift your recipient will never forget!

How does a Cornish Blue Cheese, cheesy gift box for the cheese lover in your life, sound? Delivered to you door, beautifully presented in an attractive & sturdy branded gift box.

If you're wanting to stock a WORLD CHAMPION, then look no further...The Cornish Cheese Company can offer support, including sample packs ​so your customers can sample and discover this truly tasty blue cheese.
​
Sounds like a WIN/WIN don't you think?






​


If you have a farm shop product and fancy a review, get in touch with:
theteam@fabulousfarmshops.co.uk
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Product Review - Genie Living Drinks Co

6/7/2020

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Genie Living Drinks Co create delicious, grown-up soft drinks with a difference!
Yes, the clue is in their name...Genie's drinks are packed with live probiotics &
vitamins that will not only boost your immunity but will love your gut too!
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Made in the U.K, Genie's multi ​award-winning and magical range of sparkling LIVE
sodas & 
Kombuchas are naturally low in calories and are made with real & natural
ingredients.
You'll find no added sugar OR sweeteners in Genie drinks and they're even
vegan friendly, so the team were pretty excited to try these out!

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​We began our review with the lip-smacking
Lemon & 
Ginger LIVE Soda.

This wonderfully refreshing & sparkling
alternative to a sugary fizzy pop,
 delivers a
moreish, fresh n' zingy lemon taste
with a subtle ginger tang, making it quite the
perfect and thirst quenching tipple on a hot
summer's day.
 












​It's a thumbs up from us, for Genie's real
fruit, Original Orange LIVE soda.

If you're wanting a grown-up soft drink
that
 delivers flavour and refreshment
without the calories, then this is for you!

Give this a little shake to disturb the 100%
natural sediment in the bottle and serve
ice cold. 
Alternatively, you could use as a low
calorie mixer!



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​By fermenting their kombuchas using the finest black tea and a centuries old recipe, Genie Living Drinks Co have mastered three wonderful and award-winning flavours!
​
Genie's Crisp Citrus kombucha is a blend of fermented tea & natural citrus juices,
which makes this a rather punchy number and a much healthier 
alternative to soda.
The probiotics provide your gut with healthy bacteria and the fizzy & tingling fruit
flavour will clear your pallet....we all thought this was incredibly refreshing and, as it
states on the bottle, so very crisp!



Fancy a cider but without the hangover?
The whole team enjoyed the Dry Apple kombucha and agreed that this is a 
delicious alternative. offering all the taste of a sweet & tart apple cider...but that's
where the similarity ends! 

THIS sparkling apple drink is naturally low in calories and contains active cultures
which a
id digestion & help boost the immune system.  
It's a win/win!



The Fabulous Farm Shop team are all lovers of ginger, so we were very keen to sample
Genies Fiery Ginger kombucha.
This scrumptious, sparkling kombucha is blended with fresh organic
ginger, but
having been named 'Fiery' we decided to sip with caution! (initially. at least) 

We love the natural fizz this drink offers, it's full of bubbles and big on flavour.
This really is a genieous drink... Top marks from the Fabulous Farm Shop team! 
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​Show your gut some love with Genie Living Drinks - the healthy soft drink.
There really is a GENIE in every bottle.
​





​If you have a farm shop product & fancy a review, get in touch:
theteam@fabulousfarmshops.co.uk
Comments

Product Review - Saffron Tree

29/6/2020

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​Based in Harrogate, Saffron Tree create a delicious range of authentic and award-
winning, Indian chilled meals.
At the start of lock-down this year, Monalisa, founder of Saffron Tree, decided to
create 
something of use to us all.  
Something to bring people and families together. 
Something that would enable us to make incredibly tasty meals that we could cook &
enjoy TOGETHER.

Introducing...The TOGETHER blends!

​The TOGETHER range consists of four wonderful blends that will revolutionise and
transform your cook-at-home curries!

​We were delighted (and rather excited) to receive this brand new ​range of blends.

Make no mistake, these 
aren't a 'quick' jar or a 'cook in sauce' that you just add your chosen meat or fish to.
The TOGETHER range is an actual kit to create a 'complete' and authentic Indian meal.

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When these attractive tins arrived our first thought was, how smart these would look on a farm shop shelf! 
We began our review with Saffron Tree's TOGETHER Rice blend. This snazzy tin is packed with Basmati rice and a blend of mild, authentic spices.
By simply just adding oil and water, we created the most wonderfully aromatic, perfectly fluffy Basmati rice and there's plenty enough for four!
To create an authentic, medium curry to serve along side the rice, try using Saffron Tree's TOGETHER Spice blend, We did!
And with this incredibly versatile blend of spices, we created a wonderful aromatic,
delicious tasting curry. 

We all loved and appreciated the nifty peel-back recipe & recipe ideas under the label
(what a fabulous touch) and after a quick read over the clear & simple instructions,
we were ready to cook!


Now I'm no Gordon Ramsey, BUT I created the most perfectly spiced and crispy
ONION pakoras with the TOGETHER Pakora blend, but of course there's many  more
​options you can create in YOUR kitchen. 
​Why not try chicken or seafood? 
N
o one can resist this classic finger food that are now so simple​ to make, thanks to
Saffron Tree's helping hand!
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We had fun creating hot & fresh Naan breads with the TOGETHER Naan blend. This
easy-to-mix tin made four deliciously light n' fluffy breads, which make a warming
side dish...if you don't eat them immediately!  

The whole family can get involved & easily create a 
sumptuous feast using Saffron
Tree's recipes. The TOGETHER range states it serves four, we concur,
 there's more than
enough for even a hungry four.

Yes, it takes a little while to put together but BOY, the end result is incredible...authentic AND delicious.
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To become a stockist & for all enquiries, click HERE





​


​If you have a farm shop product & fancy a review, get in touch with
theteam@fabulousfarmshops.co.uk
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Product review - Slightly Different Foods

22/6/2020

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Let's face it, most of us know someone who suffers with a food intolerance.

It's estimated that in the U.K, 2 people in 10 suffer with IBS, which not only can be
embarrassing for the sufferer, but incredibly painful OR at the very least,
uncomfortable. IBS sufferers often have to make drastic changes to their diet to help
relieve the pain & symptoms.


Thankfully, clever Sonia Fox, Director of Slightly Different Foods took matters into
her own hands when faced with a narrowing diet and has helped relieve the pain of
IBS sufferers with her fabulous
 range of delicious, low-calorie, gluten-free, no-
fuss sauces & condiments that can be confidently enjoyed by anyone that suffers
from food intolerances, vegetarians, vegans as well as those following a low FODMAP
diet. 


​Let's begin with Slightly Different's Italian range...
ITALIAN RANGE
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If you love your Italian dishes as much as I do then you'll appreciate just how much
Italian sauces are very much a kitchen essential.

My 'go to' is always a bolognese. I've tried pretty much every jar of bolognese sauce
you can find, so I was more than keen to sample Slightly Different's
Smooth Bolognese sauce!
I found this rich tomatoey sauce, thick and hearty with an authentic Italian
'homemade' taste and ​let's not forget that this is vegetarian AND vegan, so this
proved to be HUGE hit and a brilliant all-rounder to many of the team.

The Arrabbiata with chilli sauce is packed with a punch and can be used in any
number of dishes.  This sauce has more than enough flavour to stand on it's own
such as a breadstick dipping sauce, while the Tomato and Basil sauce is as simple as
it is delicious and oozes traditional Italian flavours.
CURRY RANGE
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So many specialist food products lack flavour, but NOT so for Slightly
Different's range of curry sauces. Simply by opening the jar of the Thai Red Curry,
the aroma was mouth-watering. This low calorie sauce is a beautiful creamy

consistency laced with spices and coconut milk, whilst the fragrant and fruity
flavour of the Tikka Masala not only tastes authentic, it's a welcome replacement
(and relief) to IBS sufferers. 
The sweet Tropical Curry sauce is perfect for a quick, healthy and incredibly tasty
meal. ​It's full of fruit; pineapple, banana and coconut and a flavourful blend of
spices, use this to instantly tropicalise any dish!
MEXICAN RANGE
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The Slightly Kickin' Medium Chilli sauce is simply delicious with tacos. Slightly
Different have hit the nail on the head with this bold flavour, as you get the sense of
the REAL chillies without  breaking a sweat.
​The Red Pepper and Chilli sauce is a perfect alternative to any tomato based sauce. 
Try it poured over some roasted veg, I did, and it's absolutely divine.  If you fancy a
pizza with a kick, then I highly recommend using this
 as your base sauce.
STIR IN/STIR FRY RANGE
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I was very keen to try Slightly Different's Vibrant & Syrupy Sweet & Sour sauce....
I wasn't disappointed either.
It's pretty incredible to think that this fruity sauce is Fodmap Friendly and has no

artificial preservatives, flavouring OR colouring!
I used this tangy sauce in a vegetable stir fry.  Why not try it with chicken or Quorn?
​
The Sweet Chilli Sauce does what it says on the tin (well, jar) it's vibrant and zingy!
It makes a superb condiment for many Thai dishes and is excellent with chicken,
quorn and fish. However, if you're looking for recipe ideas, then look no
further. Slightly Different's recipe page will inspire you!
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Slightly Different's NEW Orange, Ginger & Chilli dressing proved very popular with
the Fabulous Farm Shop Team. I'm not going to say we came to blows over it but it
was close...

This fabulous and lightly spiced dressing is a refreshing change to your boring
mayonnaise or vinaigrette and the easiest way to add a drop of ZING to your dull
salad. 
​
The Team summed this dressing up in just one word.... Phenomenal!
We're already looking forward to trying new sauces from this innovative & award-
​winning company!






​If you have a farm shop product and fancy a review, get in touch with
theteam@fabulousfarmshops.co.uk 
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Product Review - Banhoek Chilli Oil

8/6/2020

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What began as a project in a kitchen from the fear of average chilli oils, then
trialling dozens of variations of chillies, oils and production methods in pursuit of
perfection... 
they finally got it right and The Banhoek Chilli Oil company was born.  
By selecting top quality canola oil and sun-ripened chillies, Banhoek Chilli Oil
now handcraft their authentic and well loved oil from within their custom-built
production kitchens and by using induction heating, Banhoek can ensure the
consistency of their infused oil's quality and flavour.

​Canola oil has a low amount of saturated fats and cholesterol which makes it one of
the most healthiest cooking oils in the kitchen. It's rich in omega-3, omega-6 and
vitamins E and K and of course, chillies are an excellent source of vitamins A, B, C & E!
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Well, the lucky Fabulous Farm Shop Team received a couple of 'good looking' bottles of
Banhoeks' Chilli Oil and I have to admit, I tend to play it very safe when introducing
myself to new spices, so I first used this sparingly
 but I needn't have worried as it
produces a perfect balance of flavour and heat.
​
I know what you're thinking, what meals can I create? I thought this too, until I

read Banhoek's words...'USE YOUR IMAGINATION' so I ran with it and from
tentative beginnings, I've now introduced this wonderfully versatile oil into many
dishes; drizzled over vegetables, seafood AND meats and I have not once been
disappointed.


The smooth taste and tingling sensations are just the intro to the full experience - just
give it a second or two... and phwoar!


However, if you should need any inspiration, Banhoek Chilli Oil have their own
suggested meals to try on their 
recipes page. I have my eye on the Charred Green
Vegetables
 with Poached Egg, why don't you give it a try?
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Don't just take our word for it! 
​Great Taste Award Winner!
Not only is this Banhoeks' Chilli Oil fun to experience with or try out at dinner parties,
it looks top notch... no doubt about it Banhoek's bottle is aesthetically pleasing....
I WANT this on my kitchen shelf. 

It's bold, it's healthy and it's 100% natural and ​you can buy your bottle here.
📷
Why settle for less when you can have Banhoek, the best?




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Product Review - Ramus Seafood

1/6/2020

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For almost 50 years, Ramus Seafood have built the most excellent reputation for
​supplying eateries, chefs and retailers with premium and wonderfully fresh fish &
seafood.
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Proudly being a member of the Sustainable Seafood Coalition (which sets the strictest standards of ethical sourcing and sustainable fishing in the UK), Ramus have been recognised and named Fishmonger of the Year in 2017 by The Farm Shop & Deli Awards, and rightly so!
The team at Fabulous Farm Shops HQ were lucky enough to receive fresh fish boxes
from Ramus and I can tell you, we were more than thrilled with the wonderful range
and quality we received!  

The fish arrived well packed and cool with ice and I immediately dived onto the
Smoked Mackerel Fillets. 
I know my Smoked Mackerel...well, I thought I did!

Ramus's superb Mackerel fillets are i​ncredibly moist and the fish flakes wonderfully,
with an intense smokey taste to boot!
The best and by far the freshest I've ever tasted.


The generous salmon en croute was incredibly succulent, encased in mouthwatering
flaky pastry whilst the Salmon & Pepper skewers proved a big hit and a welcome
change from the usual boring burger at the family BBQ.

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​
​I wanted a quick, easy and healthy
dinner so I simply oven roasted Ramus's
fresh Scottish 
Salmon. This salmon is
the most tender of fillets and the deep
orange colour coupled 
with its light and
delicate taste is a melt in the mouth
experience, I shan't forget in a 
hurry. ​
  

Ramus's fresh and smoked range of fish & seafood offers a wonderfully freshly caught
range such as Sea Bass, Raw Peeled Tiger Prawns, Cod Fillets & Fish Pie Mix.
And that's not all!
​Ramus ALSO offer oven-ready seafood dishes which are presented, ready-to-cook
and have a long shelf-life of seven days.
​​

This oven-ready range combines the freshest fish with Ramus's chef's delicious
complimentary flavours such as Chilli Salmon & Pepper Skewers, Smoked
Haddock with Mustard Butter and Salmon Fillets with Pesto Butter to name but a few....


Ramus is proud to support retailers across the UK & ​​their retail packs (both fresh AND
oven-ready) are 
available with small MOQ's, so if you're considering extending your
range to include the finest fish & seafood from a highly respected supplier, then look
no further! 
BECOME A STOCKIST
​Ramus's fishmonger & delivery team guarantee that your order will arrive to you, on
time and in outstanding condition! ​​ ​
Can you get a better service than that?





If you have a farm shop product & fancy a review, get in touch with 
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Product Review - Joypots

25/5/2020

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I know my chocolate and certainly have my preferences. No one had to ask me twice when asked to sample and review Joypots confectionery...EASY!
Or so I thought. Joypots say that they are "on a mission to bring joy through their fantastic range of confectionery"
​
Turns out, that's actually the truth!
I honestly don't know where to start with this review, mainly because of the incredibly
wide and varied range of sweet treats on offer.
But first off, I need to be thorough and professional about this, so I shall begin by
loosening my belt a notch before I delve in & sample this wonderfully exciting variety
​of confectionery.

If you're a lover of nutty chocolate and let's face it, who ISN'T,  then you're in for a real
treat with Joypots Golden Nut Crunch, or Dark Chocolate Brazils... perhaps the
Tiramisu Cashews, Cinnamon Dusted Milk Chocolate Almonds or maybe the heavenly
Peanut & Popcorn Crunch is more your thing?       
  

It's not all about the chocolate though, as Joypots boast a whopping 26 (no, that's NOT a
typo) mouth-watering varieties to tingle your taste buds, so there really is something
​for 
everyone.
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Joypots have even created a 'grown up' range of retro cola style bottles...
Gin Fizz, Pink Fizz & Mojito gummies.
​Joypots fun & exciting range are produced using only the finest ingredients, are
handpacked in the U.K and available in small or large pots. The pots are made from
recycled materials, which are in-turn, recyclable & reuseable.
​
Joypots are perfect for snacking or given as a gift and with resealable lids your treats
will be kept joyfully fresh, which is great....but only if you have willpower!
And now for something completely different!
​Joybags
Joybags are Joypots babies and they come in a quirky and rather fabulous range too, all
36 of them, including Milk Chocolate Orange Peel, Milk Chocolate Banana Slices,
Yogurt Honeycomb Bites and Dark Chocolate Gooseberries to name but a few.
I have to add (admit) here that I havent physically been able to put the Dark Chocolate
Gooseberries
down as yet. 
So be warned, these are NOT run-of-the-mill chocolates, prepare for a taste
explosion, these are truly out of the ordinary, something special! 
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I know many a vegan and it would be wrong of me not to draw attention to this!
Vegan gummie and chewy sweets are hard to come by, but good old Joypots have
thought of you and created this wonderful tub of vegan fruity 'n' fizzy, Pick 'n' Mix. 
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I've thoroughly enjoyed reviewing and sampling Joypots flavours and whilst I'm
indulging myself with another Tiramisu Brazil, I'm already thinking of what great
stocking fillers these would make! 
​
​Joypots claim that they recreate traditional sweets with a twist. They mean it.


Want to become a Joypots stockist? (you should) you can enquire HERE. 
​Both Joypots and Joybags have attractive and free-standing, point of sale stands and
you can request a brochure HERE.









​If you have a farm shop product and fancy a review, get in touch with
​theteam@fabulousfarmshops.co.uk
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Product Review - Aberffraw Biscuit Co

25/5/2020

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The Aberffraw shortbread is a traditional, handmade shortbread in the shape of a
scalloped shell and it's said to originate from the 13th century...making it quite possibly,
the oldest biscuit in Britain! 
​

The Aberffraw Biscuit Company have recreated this traditional rich, buttery shortbread
and have not only received much media attention (even appearing on TV) but have also bagged themselves some prestigious awards including The Great Taste Award!
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​Make no mistake when I say this handmade shortbread is a LUXURY all butter shortbread, Aberffraw's traditional Welsh, shortbread is 
made with just 3 top quality ingredients; butter, flour and sugar. 
​​But hold on, you'll be very pleased to hear that there's more than just ONE variety in
Aberffraw's range...

The NEW 
ginger Aberffraw biscuit is handmade using crystallised and ground ginger,
giving this beautifully buttery shortbread a wonderfully warm finish, so beautiful in
fact, that this new to the range flavour won itself a prestigious 'Great Taste' award.

Created with a mix of tea, spices and raisins, the Bara Brith shortbread is packed full
with flavour with its delecatble
 mix of sweet n' spice.

The deeply rich and buttery chocolate shortbread is baked to absolute perfection and
quite impossible to resist.


Aberffraw's lemon shortbread is a real treat & incredibly moreish...created with grated
lemon zest it's really no surprise this shortbread has also won itself an envious Great
Taste Award.
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And The Great Taste Award goes to...
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​Treat someone special to one of Aberffraw's super-duper gift tins...
​...if you can bear to part with it, that is!
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​By demand, Aberffraws traditional Welsh biscuits are now available in twin packs and
proving to be an incredibly popular, authentic Welsh wedding favour and treat or gift
for hotel & holiday cottage guests.
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Luckily for you, you can satisfy your taste buds & indulge in Aberffraw's award-
winning shortbread and buy online HERE

The only casualty during this review was my waistline and you'll understand why
when you try these scrumptious (and rather special) shortbread yourself!







​If you have a farm shop product and fancy a review, get in touch!
theteam@fabulousfarmshops.co.uk
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Product Review - Charles Sainsbury-Plaice

17/10/2019

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If you're looking to stock quality stationary in your farm shop or country store, then this company is sure to be of interest to you!
​

Charles Sainsbury-Plaice offer the most fabulous range of inspired gifts and cards for all us countryside lovers, from vintage humour greetings cards, traditional birthday cards, ​Christmas cards, wrapping paper, wall planners, British made Aga covers, notebooks & much, MUCH more.   
  
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​
​Firstly, ​I have to say, that this review has been one of my most difficult as I love so many of the wonderful designs that it's nigh on impossible to choose which one to hone in on!

Take '​Hare' for example...
How beautiful is this? And so fashionable too! 
This stunningly bold greeting card is 15cm x 15cm,  ​(individually wrapped with envelope) & printed on woodland carbon board. 


You'll find a superb range of artistic greetings cards such as these...
The Goose and Hen are painted by Clare Brownlow using pheasant feathers!
Ot
her artists featured include Bryn Parry, Alex Underdown, Heather Blanchard, Debbie Harris, Colin Blanchard and of course, Charles Sainsbury-Plaice himself.
And it's not just our feathered friends that are featured either.
There's a whole range of quality images and prints to choose from including dogs, wildlife & landscape, farming & country, sports, equestrian and cats.
Simply put, there's a greetings or Birthday
card suitable for anyone and everyone!
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​I've found that Charles Sainsbury-Plaice's range of cards, makes me feel rather proud. These images truly celebrate the beauty of Britain's countryside and the pleasures of rural living...
We all recognise this, don't we?
Thelwell has to be the most popular countryside cartoonist in Britain and Charles Sainsbury-Plaice is the U.K's main licence holder.
You'll find many timeless Thelwell gifts that aren't 
available anywhere else, including mugs, door signs, wrapping paper, books and greetings cards.
Absolutely the PERFECT gift for pony lovers.
Take a look at the brilliant selection of Christmas cards and gifts available, there's so much to choose from!
From cutesy, festive cards & British farming related mugs to humerous calender's & topical hardback books.
Hear the sound of  the countryside with this brilliant range of  'noisy cards'.
​Birdwatchers will love the 
nightingale card as it bursts into birdsong!
These terrifically fun cards are totally unique, are blank (with envelope) and the batteries will last at least 150 openings. You'll hear the sheep dog barking, the tractor engine revving and the Mallard duck quacking when opening these thoughtful greetings cards.
Spot on
 for Birthday, Father's Day, Valentines and numerous other occasions, don't you think?

Why not have a browse through Charles Salisbury-Plaice's ​brochure and then apply for a wholesale account?










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Product Review - Tractor Ted

3/10/2019

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​If you've yet to come across Tractor Ted's series of books then your kids have been missing out...well, the kids AND you!

This week, I thought I'd try Tractor Ted's 'Who Goes Moo' story book. I say TRY because to sit my 'very busy' 3 year old nephew down quietly for more than 2 minutes is no mean feat!
WELL, blow me down, a miracle occurred, he was immediately engrossed!
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The story, in short, is about Midge the farm dog, a gorgeous little terrier & friend of Tractor Ted's.
Midge needs to find milk for his owner's morning cuppa and good old Tractor Ted gives Midge clues as to where he can find it! 

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Along the way, in his search, Midge encounters a range of farm animals. The imagery is fabulous and any child and certainly any budding young farmer, would be enthralled & mesmerized by the detailed and 'real life' pictures all photographed within the heart of the countryside, in the West Country.

​It's educational, engaging and entertaining and I have to admit, a really fun read. 
​​
Personally, I love the fact that both Midge and his owner, Farmer Tom, really ARE a genuine, real life, bonafide, farmer and his dog!  
How novel is THAT?
Tractor Ted is a tractor...obviously, BUT he's a bright green, loveable, tractor and this I believe, goes a long way in helping children get in touch with caring for our
countryside, our animals and to understand at the very heart, of where some of our foods come from...our U.K farms. 
​

Tractor Ted stories are not only educational, they also bring REAL farm adventures to life and it's easy to see why this little green tractor is already loved by millions of
children.
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I can guarantee that reading any one of Tractor Ted's books will lead ​to the purchase of his whole series.
Tractor Ted isn't just loved by tractor fanatics you know...
​...I'm rather looking forward to his next adventure myself!


​If you have a farm shop product and fancy a review, get in touch!
email theteam@fabulousfarmshops.co.uk
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Product Review - Silver Swift

19/9/2019

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This fabulous company is just a baby at only 2 years old, but their vision to create a unique range of completely natural, low calorie, ready-to drink spritzers has already come to fruition. 
​

We all know, many ready-to-drink beverages are packed full with sugar & additives, but you can rest assured, that Silver Swift's range of 100% natural botanical pre-mixed
spritzers have NO artificial nasties, no gluten and they're vegan friendly too!


By using the delicious fruits and berries Britain's countryside has to offer,  Silver Swift actively support home-grown industries and are dedicated to operating with the lowest carbon footprint possible.
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​

Wild Rose Gin is a light and refreshing, beautiful blend of premium British gin, sparkling water, rose, raspberry, blackberry and a dash of lemon.
This is absolute, floral perfection when served icy cold, better still, garnish with frozen raspberries for a very civilized and very British, tipple.
​

​


​At just 98 calories you can really indulge with Silver Swifts smashing, Orchard Pear Gin Tonic.
This  gently sparkling, deliciously fresh n' juicy blend of gin, tonic water, pear & elderflower has NO artificial flavourings or colourings and is best served with ice & a slice!
​A perfect alternative to a regular G&T.


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​Tipsy Iced Tea Vodka Spritz and Basil Blush Vodka Spritz have won Silver awards in The Global Speciality Spirits Masters.
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Tipsy Iced Tea Vodka is created using 5 x distilled vodka, sparkling water, gooseberries, elderflower & Earl Grey.
Sounds interesting doesn't it?
It is! 
This delicious and somewhat unusual sounding blend is not only refreshing and light, it's also an award-winning tipple. At just 98 calories and only 5% alcohol, I reckon this is the perfect bottle of fizz to accompany your BBQ,
​


​Being rather partial to vodka based products, Basil Blush Vodka is what I was most keen to try....and I wasn't disappointed! 
By blending premium vodka, sparkling water, strawberries and basil, Silver Swift have really created an exciting an innovative flavour here.
Not only is this low in calories, but by being only 5% alcohol, I can happily sip away at these until the cows come home, and I do, with zero guilt!
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All of Silver Swift's pre-mixed spritzers are created using British Vodka or Gin, contain 100% natural ingredients and are available in glass bottles and handy 250ml, slim cans.

The big, BIG advantage and what I love the most (apart from their unusual flavours that is) is that Silver Swifts range are low enough in alcohol that you can have a few without feeling too tipsy, whilst being light & refreshing – pretty perfect for those warmer days.



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Product Review - Cuckoo Gin

5/9/2019

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The family-owned Brindle Distillery produce lovingly handcrafted, 'grain to glass' gins.
From their base in the heart of Lancashire, Brindle's small batch and award-winning Cuckoo gins are not only distilled using fresh, natural spring water from their own spring but EVERY ingredient used is ethically & locally sourced or home grown on their farm...even the waste materials are used to heat their still! 
​How's THAT for
 sustainability?
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Currently, there's 3 gins in Cuckoo's range, although there's also limited editions and gin gift hampers available. I've been lucky enough to sample Cuckoo's 'Collection' which consists of Cuckoo Signature Gin, Spiced Gin and Sunshine Gin. 

Available in a good range of bottle sizes Cuckoo Signature Gin is a classically smooth, juniper gin with a creamy orange note and a rather unique and lingering peppery aftertaste, a truly spectacular tasting gin.

If you're considering a winter warmer, look no further.
Let me introduce
 Cuckoo Spiced Gin! 
Made with Tellicherry black pepper, this delicious tipple 
will heat you up from the inside out. 
It sure is bold, certainly warm and really does offer a superb spicy twist!
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​​The Cuckoo Collection arrived in this super-duper gift pack and what a fabulous gift this would make...We all know a gin lover, right?
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I was really keen to try Cuckoo's 'Sunshine Gin' and we can confirm that its name lives up to my high expectations!
This summery gin is smooth, sweet and wonderfully refreshing.
By being infused with Lancashire honey and fresh raspberries this mouthwatering gin gives a zingy, fresh n' fruity taste. 
It's not shocking to learn that Cuckoo's Sunshine Gin' has been voted the BEST flavoured gin by the renowned 'The Gin Guide'
​I couldn't agree more!
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​....AND THERE'S MORE!
​
Brindle Distillery offer tours AND even a workshop where you can really be 'hands on!

This 3-4 hours experience is a wonderful opportunity for any gin lover to not only learn, but also see, just how a distillery works, and by selecting your own botanicals you can create your very own gin recipe.
Obviously you'll be served a few gins along the way (hic!) AND you take home your creation once it's been signed off by the Master Distiller, of course.
Brindle will also keep your recipe on file so you can re-order your creation via their website in the future!  How brilliant is that?
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This fantastic eco-friendly company are clearly committed to making a difference whilst creating their sustainable gins and it comes as no surprise that they've already bagged themselves a ridiculous amount of awards including The World Gin Awards, The Spirit Masters Award & The Gin Guide Award (to name but a few!)



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Product Review - Thornleys Natural Foods

25/8/2019

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Located in Lancashire, Thornleys Natural Foods is family run business and produce terrifically tasty, gluten AND wheat-free, recipe mixes. 
Not only that, 
​each product in Thornleys range has been approved by the Coeliac Association and are lovingly handcrafted using only 100% ​and carefully sourced,
natural ingredients that are free from additives, colourings, MSG and preservatives!

Sounds good, right?
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​Every sauce and mix is suitable for vegetarians and Slimming World approved...

The light and deliciously creamy Parsley Sauce is the perfect accompaniment to a fish dish, whilst the rich Spaghetti Carbonara recipe mix, laces your spaghetti with a
scrumptious garlic coating.
 

Thornleys Creamy Chicken & Herb sauce mix is rich and creamy with a delicate hint of herbs & garlic and the well balanced Chilli Con Carne mix will add a little kick to your dish.
​
​Thornleys sauces give you the ability to cook the tastiest of meals in the most convenient way possible and it's good to remember, that all these well thought out mixes are 100% natural, so if you follow a gluten & wheat free diet or you've chosen to simply say NO to the usual and excessive chemicals, additives & preservatives found in your foods, then the Thornleys range is definitely for YOU!
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If, like most of us these days, your time is precious....cheat!
​
A
s it's a firm favourite in my house, I've sampled Thornley's Tuna Pasta Bake recipe.
You simply add milk to create this incredibly tasty sauce which contains a carefully selected blend of herbs and spices. 
This really 
is packed full of natural flavours & the subtle taste of the herbs brings out the flavour of the tuna. I added a sprinkling of cheese to my creation but you could add any crunchy or crispy topping...scrumptious!

​​​This quick & ridiculously easy mix will provide your whole family with a hearty,
healthy and homemade meal, in a jiffy.
​
 
BUY ONLINE
     See all in Thornleys
  range. Buy online here.
THORNLEYS RECIPES
       Get inspired with recipe
           ideas & share yours!

​
Do you have a farm shop product?
​Fancy a review?
Get in touch with theteam@fabulousfarmshops.co.uk
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Product Review - Garbanzo Gourmet Snacks

8/8/2019

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You know what they say about little pickers & what they wear don't you?
Well, if you're not overly happy wearing those, you might well want to check out Garbanzo's healthy range of gourmet snacks.

All of Garbanzo's snacks have been approved Vegetarian & Vegan by the Vegetarian Society and Garbanzo state that they take the Chickpea, the whole Chickpea and nothing but the Chickpea...
I've taken their advice this week and have had the pleasure of sampling three great flavours.
Firstly & importantly, you can put the lid back on that biscuit tin!
​Garbanzo's Chickpea snacks are packed with fibre & protein, helping keep your tum fuller for longer, which makes them an incredibly healthy alternative for those in-between meals, nibble.
By working closely with local farmers, Garbanzo can ensure the very best crop of Chickpea's are selected for their gourmet snacks.


If you're looking for a light snack that's still a crowd-pleaser, rest assured, I've found it! 
P
acked full of good stuff: antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, Bombay Twist has a spicy curry flavour with a hint of ginger and these nutty and crunchy Chickpeas will have everyone munching... They're wholesome AND addictive!

Chickpeas are a fabulous source of fibre and great for maintaining a healthy digestive system and Garbanzo's Mediterranean inspired, Tomato Salsa is bursting with flavour.  
These filling & 100% natural beauties can even help with weight loss. ​they're
deliciously tasty, low in fat and full of protein, what's not to love?
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Garbanzo's Sweet Chilli is definitely my bag....no, it really is, hands off!
These are incredibly moreish. I'm not sure if it's because I can't resist the unique blend of sweet n' spice (these are seasoned perfectly & have a great kick) OR if it's because I know these crunchy nibbles are actually HEALTHY, low in calories and I can actually enjoy a snack without the guilt?
Whatever my reasons... I'm throwing caution to the wind!
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​If you have a farm shop product and fancy a review, get in touch!
​Email theteam@fabulousfarmshops.co.uk
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Product Review - The English Cream Tea Company

5/8/2019

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​On my travels, I came across this...

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Who'd have thought you could receive BY POST, a 'typically British' afternoon tea, packed neatly in its own cool gift tin? 
And can you imagine a chilled, luxury cream tea hamper box arriving by courier to your door?
​No, me neither, BUT guess what?
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​....The English Cream Tea Company do just that & it's not only cream tea's they offer either, no sirreee.
There's bake at home kits, jams, scones, specialist tea tins, even Prosecco hampers, you name it! 
Brilliant if you want to recapture that childhood picnic experience (in the drizzle obvs) or you're really stuck on what to give Auntie Flo for her Birthday?
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I'm treating the love of my life to an award winning, Valentines Brownie heart kit.  It's definitely NOT for the 'chocolate' faint-hearted & sure to get her all in a flutter!
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These handpicked hampers are freshly made & packed to order by gnomes. 
Honest.  Check their website.
You choose your date for dispatch & add a personalised message - make this a super duper thoughtful gift for the tea lover in your life!
Come onnn....what could be nicer than traditional, afternoon tea with friends?
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Product Review - SMART INFUSED FÜD

25/7/2019

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The Smart Infused Füd team have created a fabulous new range of nutritious ready meals that are perfect for primary school age kids...BUT, with a difference!

With 1 in 8 children in the UK experiencing mental health issues, Fúd's mission is to create delicious recipes that support healthy brain function, energy & development in children.
​Being developed by nutritional therapists, Fúd's ready-meals optimise key nutrients, vitamins & minerals, helping children's cognitive function, concentration, energy, immune & nervous system support. 
Their well thought out recipes go above & beyond the ‘5-a-day’ thinking, as each meal, not only contains 5 different vegetables, they are also enriched with minerals such as iron, omega 3 and Magnesium.
​
Busy mum's (and lets face it, there's a lot of them) who don’t want to compromise on taste or nutrition and simply don't have TIME to cook from scratch, can finally feel guilt free with Smart Infused's frozen meals.

​There's six healthy and convenient ready meals in Fúd's range, including Salmon, Mackerel & Haddock Fishcakes, Iron Rich Chilli Con Carne and vitamin A Sausage Casserole.
Fúd's vegan, lentil Shepherds Pie certainly has a modern twist as not only does it contain vitamins A, C and B9, it's 100% meat free (shhhh, they'll never know) and the generous portion of the slow cooked Lamb Tagine is laced in a scrumptious, lip-smacking, sweet apricot sauce...
​
WOW! What a fabulous menu to offer the little ones.
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I've been lucky enough to sample Fúd's Fruity Chicken dish. 
This naturally brain boosting & mouth-watering dinner is not only generous in size ​(it actually serves 2, but hey...)
It's sweet, succulent AND it's packed with vitamins and nutrients. 
Good to know that all the ingredients in Fúd's range are natural and ethically sourced 
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Here's something for the super-busy mummy in your life! 
Why not help her out with an incredibly thoughtful gift such as a Smart Infused, Gift Box?
Each box contains 8, 100% natural, frozen ready meals, one of each dish (you choose the remaining 2). Mum can serve up a brain boosting and guilt free dinner in 35 minutes!
Better still, how about signing up to Fúd's brand new subscription service? You can order 12 brain boosting meals & have them delivered straight to your door every month!

​There's FREE delivery on orders over £35 AND a further 10% off your first order when you sign up to Fúd's newsletter!
​
​
​

If you have a farm shop product & fancy a review, get in touch!
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Product Review - Greensand Ridge Distillery

11/7/2019

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​We all know that 'GIN' is 'IN' don't we?
...I mean it's the nations favourite tipple right?

But, what's different about Greensand Ridge's gin and what stands out, is their ability to create their gin from surplus produce or byproducts. 
Not ONLY that, but Greensand Ridge have actually built their own carbon-neutral micro-distillery with the mission to reduce food waste by fermenting and distilling quality produce that those big chain supermarkets just wont take.

Located in the heart of the Weald of Kent, Greensand Ridge Distillery create & craft unique & wonderful Gins, Fruit Brandies & Rums, all of which are distilled with 100% renewable energy... How fabulous is THAT?
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Greensand Ridge Distillery's aim is t​o build a truly sustainable business & produce the finest spirits possible that reflect the flavours of the Kentish woods, orchards, fields & hedgerows. 
With 
their quest for great flavours and by rediscovering, long forgotten ingredients, Greensand Ridge have created an unusual set of spirits.
London Dry Gin, Raspberry Ghost, Wealden Rum, Apple Brandy, Rye Cask Gin and PX Cask Gin
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​Greensand Ridge's London Dry Gin is distilled in small batches from a carefully selected combination of fifteen botanicals, 8 of which are found on their doorstep, in the heart of The Weald, such as poppy seeds and cobnuts, and each one plays an important role in creating this delicately balanced flavour.  

This premium and incredibly flavoursome gin
 is very well balanced, it goes down smoothly and leaves a pleasant sweetness on the tongue*
It's wonderfully fresh, spicey, zingy AND moreish (probably a little TOO moreish as I'm trying to write)
​It's really no surprise to me, that this bottle of loveliness has already bagged itself some pretty prestigious awards. 
Well deserved, I say!


*NB No arms were twisted when asked to review this product
Check this out!
On top of all that Greensand Ridge Distillery create and make, they also offer a fabulous gin experience.
This has to be the PERFECT gift for any gin lover? 
Take a tour of their fantastic distillery, learn about the art of distilling and the different gin botanicals and THEN (this is the best bit) you'll distill your own full bottle of gin on an individual copper pot still, selecting from their amazing range of over 40 botanicals, whilst enjoying a complimentary G&T!
When the day is done and if you're still standing, you will take home your very own handmade bottle of gin...brilliant...SIGN ME UP!








If you have a farm shop product & fancy a review, get in touch with THETEAM!

​
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Product Review - Old Curiosity Distillery

6/6/2019

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Once upon a time, set in an enchanting botanical nursery at the foot of the Pentland Hills, just outside Edinburgh, the Old Curiosity Distillery was founded. 
Creators of unique gins that are 100% natural, Old Curiosity have the passion AND knowledge to grow, hand-pick, harvest and infuse over 600 different kinds of herbs and flowers & are forever experimenting and creating new & exciting magical colour-changing gins.
Every bottle is naturally distilled and free from chemicals, sugars & fruit extracts.
Sounds like a fairy tale?
​I reckon it is...
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Just how aesthetically pleasing is this?
I feel somewhat 'Alice in Wonderland' when I pop the stopper. This beautiful bottle will never be hidden at the back of my dusty old drinks cabinet as, let's be honest here, it's a work of art!

The aromatic Lavender and Echinacea gin not only boasts the restorative qualities of the lavender but the medicinal petals of the echinacea flower too, all 100% natural of course.
Serve this chilled, add a splash of tonic whilst watching the miracle of nature unfold with its colour-changing reaction.
If ever a gin could heal the soul, this would be IT...! 
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Old Curiosity's Apothecary Rose Gin is a superbly elegant, fresh n' floral gin.
The unique and delicate rose flavour makes this an incredibly soft tasting tipple.  
The Rose, of course is freshly picked from the Secret Herb Garden. 
You could really jazz up your cocktail evening with this little beauty as it's pretty perfect to add to cocktails with its magical colour-changing qualities.
That said, this is neat...NEAT!
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How's this for a special & unique 'gin lover' gift? 
​Three magically & deliciously natural gins within this gorgeous miniature gift set.
This wonderful, handcrafted gift set contains colour-changing, Apothecary Rose, Lavender & Echinacea and Chamomile & Cornflower. 

I mean, REALLY, who in their right mind, would be disappointed to receive THIS on their birthday?
​​

By subscribing to Old Curiosity's GIN CLUB,  us gin lovers are in for a treat! 
We can expect a monthly delivery of a brand new and exclusive gin such as 'Hot Pink Tulip' & White Heather & Rose (for example), along with garnishes, mixers and exclusive offers and events.
​Sign me UP!


If THAT'S not enough, then how about spending an hour touring The Old Curiosity Distillery where you can wander around the beautiful secret gin garden and see behind the scenes with the distillery tour?  





If you have a farm shop product & fancy a review, get in touch:
theteam@fabulousfarmshops.co.uk

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