If you look in my fridge you will find that’s it’s 80% full of sauces and pickles. I get a lot of takeaways or fresh food that I eat that day so I’ve ended up being a bit of a condiment queen instead! So I was pleased to review a big selection of little jars from independent company Posh Pickles and Preserves.
The company consists of Steph and Rob who grows some of the ingredients on his allotment. The range includes jams, chutneys, pickles and sauces with 12oz & 80oz jar sizes available, plus they also do delightful little wedding favours with traditionally printed cloths and bows.
Sa va Turong ot (I’m sorry I’ve massacred the pronunciation but I don’t know how to do the accents over the letters) this is a Vietnamese sauce that would work brilliant as a base for stir fry or a marinade. The complex flavour is tangy and unique, yet traditionally Vietnamese.
Raspberry and Redcurrant Jam OMG this is heavenly! Ate it all, with a spoon – yup.
Salsa Borracha – Drunken Sauce This a classic Spanish cooking sauce which is seriously hot! I love hot food but oh my gosh! I would only use a little of this in place of an actual chilli. I think The Bloke best handle this one.
Claret, Red Onion, and Balsamic Relish For a moment I thought this relish was rather plain and then a wonderfully deep and rounded flavour became apparent. Not too sweet and not too sharp. Perfect on my spinach and riccotta pizza!
Balsamic Shallots Tiny onions in balsamic vinegar, perfect for posh salads, with cheese and crackers or on a sandwich. The balsamic vinegar is sweet and less harsh on the tongue compared to some other vinegars used for pickling.
Fiery Chilli Extra Jam I love the name ‘Extra Jam’ and it is definitely extra. The Bloke asked me if this was more fiery or more jam. I’d say it’s a 50/50 split. This reminded me of a spicy sweet tomato chutney. Steph and Rob suggest this will go well with mature stilton or as a base for sweet and sour sauce.
Bloody Mary Chutney I got as far as putting this on one piece of toast and then I just had to dive in with a spoon! This tastes exactly like a Bloody Mary cocktail and not a virgin one either. I loved the big chunks of tomato in this – I just wish that I’d had some celery to dip.
Steph has had kidney failure so Posh Pickles and Preserves donate a £1 from the sale of each Tangy Braeburn Apple Chutney to the National Kidney Federation. I think is a wonderful idea, one which more companies should do in their own way.
I’ve been gifted these items for review, which in no way effects my opinion – as always.
Which one’s do you fancy trying?
Chrissie xx
Vamp It Up 