To celebrate St Patrick’s Day on 17 March, we’ve rounded up some of the best goodies from Northern Ireland, a place long admired by those in the know as a fount of quality produce
SALSA WITH SOMETHING EXTRA
Pretty Rathlin Island, off the coast of Ballycastle, is a spot for discerning tourists – and also a haven for organic kelp farming. Craic Foods, a brilliantly innovative producer we’ve featured in delicious. before, uses the kelp to craft this palate-awakening salsa verde. Made with capers, herbs, red wine vinegar and the not-so-secret ingredient, it’s fantastic with roast meat, egg dishes, on steamed new potatoes, grilled veg and more. Islander Rathlin Kelp Salsa Verde, £4.20 for 100g, craicfoods.com
A tribute through tea
Thompson’s has been blending award-winning tea in Belfast for over 120 years, so it’s fair to say the company knows a thing or two about what makes a good brew. Created in tribute to founder Robert S Thompson, the Signature Blend combines the finest leaves from Africa and India for a simply great cuppa: rich and tannic, full of body.
On a mission to create the ‘perfect everyday cuppa’ for this classic blend, the buyers chose leaves picked when sunshine and rainfall are in harmony, slowing growth to produce a richer taste. £2.50 for 80 teabags, Ocado
Triple treat
Five generations of the Wright family farming the lush fields of Ballylisk, Armagh, have led to the creation of their first cheese: the decadent Triple Rose, a single-herd triple cream cheese. The food chain starts and ends in Ballylisk, with the morning’s milk in the moulds by lunchtime. Taste-wise, it’s like a brie on steroids – it has an immense melted texture with sweet and salty undertones, but it’s the sharp streak of lemony notes that sets it apart. £4.99 for 130g, mfcheese.com
Bag a taste of the seaside
Shindigs, in the beautiful Glens of Antrim, creates next-level crisps with bold flavours. With a liberal dusting of Port Oriel sea salt and white wine vinegar, these crisps taste like a seaside chip shop. Smartly boxed
