I have never actually visited the island of Jersey, but I do know that it is well-known for its local produce and that it has become something of a hot-spot for award-winning restaurants and producers. It’s definitely on my rapidly growing ‘must-visit’ list! Every year I look forward to the new season’s Jersey Royals, which in my opinion, are pretty hard to beat as far as potatoes are concerned. As an island, Jersey is also historically known for its apple orchards. Farmers used to be paid in cider and following the winter apple crop, communities would gather to make Jersey Black Butter or Le Niere Buerre made from cider apples. Production of the butter would not only involve peeling mountains of cider apples, but also singing, dancing, storytelling and I am quite sure, a glass of cider or two!
It’s always a pleasure to review items that have a little bit of a story behind them, especially products that are handmade, made to a very traditional recipe and feature local produce, such as Jersey Black Butter.
The Jersery Black Butter that I ate my way through over the weekend was made at the La Mare Wine Estate and carries the “Genuine Jersey” mark as well as being the proud winner of three gold stars in the 2009 Great Taste Awards.
Jersey Black Butter is a jarred preserve, made by boiling cider apples for up to two days and then reducing it down by half, adding sugar, lemon, spices and liquorice. It has a very distinctive black colour and it smells and tastes almost like mince pie filling, but without the bits! The mixture has to be continually stirred, so aside from peeling all the apples, it is something of a labour of love. The National Trust for Jersey and Jersey Heritage also host annual events around the black-butter making process.
It was a good job then that I managed to put it to such good use. It was delicious on hot buttered toast and its sweetness (reminding me of maple syrup) prompted me to use it to make a lightly spiced and extra-sweet version of Eggy Bread or French Toast. I made it by lightly spreading some of the black butter on bread, before dipping it in beaten egg and pan-frying it for a minute or two on each side in some butter for a luxurious and rather indulgent breakfast treat.
Black Butter Eggy Bread
Jersery Black Butter also goes very well with scones and it can be mixed into other recipes to add a twist of flavour, such a ice cream, cheesecakes and apple pies. It is also great served alongside a cheese board, or with cold meats. There are a couple of delicious recipes on the La Mare Jersey Black Butter website for Jersey Black Butter Crème Brulee and Jersey Black Butter Cheesecake. It is available to buy online and can be easily shipped to the UK.
Jersey Tourism Competition
Happily, Jersey Tourism are currently running a ‘Food Week’ special on their Facebook page until this Thursday 21st June. You could be in with a chance of sampling Jersey’s culinary delights for yourself, including a three-night stay, some of the freshest seafood, dairy produce made from creamy Jersey milk and hopefully some of the island’s famous black butter, too. You could also win a hamper full of black butter goodies from La Mare Estate.
Pop over to the Jersey Tourism Facebook Page for more details.
Image: Jersey Tourism
Thank you to Jersey Tourism for sending me some Jersey Black Butter to try. I was given no other incentive to write about the product in a positive way and this is not a paid post.
Had you ever heard of black butter? Have you visited and would you recommend a trip to the Channel Isles?
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Kadie-Anne Evans says
This is such a great idea. Black butter is fantastic, but it can get a bit boring just having it on toast every morning. I’m definitely trying this tomorrow.
Oh, and as for visiting Jersey it’s a beautiful place. I’d say come in summer if you can because that’s when all the tourist-y stuff is open and have activities on, and obviously that’s the best time for going to the beaches as the weather is good and the life guards are about. I’m gonna stop myself now, before I go on one and start listing where to go and where to avoid. It’s a beautiful island though and I throughly recommend visiting us.
Thanks for the food inspiration. 🙂
Em says
Wow – now I want some eggy bread this weekend, yum yum! And I’ll keep my eye open for black butter, a rare treat since we’re trying to reduce our dairy intake.
Mark Willis says
Hi Ren; I’ve never heard of Jersey Black Butter (though it sounds delicious). Presumably it is fairly rarely found on the UK mainland. On the other hand, I have been to Jersey (and Guernsey, which is fairly similar), and found it very nice. Food was excellent of course. And there is plenty to sse (particularly the WW2 relics). If you are thinking of going, I strongly advise hiring a car since public transport seemed a bit thin on the ground.
Ren says
Hi Mark, thank you. Yes, I think it is mainly found in Jersey but you can order online. I am looking forward to visiting both islands, one day!
Sally - My Custard Pie says
I’ve never heard of black butter and love the story behind it – this artisan product is now on my wish list. The first thing I seek out when I get to the UK in the summer is a bag of Jersey Royals – I miss good potatoes so much. They had some in a local supermarket here in Dubai recently (in aid of the Jubilee) and they sold out straight away.
Ren says
You need to start you own import/export business out of the UAE I think! The British Artisan Gift Shop!
Jacqueline says
I have never heard of black butter before, so this was an interesting post for me. I won’t show my husband this as we have an ongoing argument as to whether eggy bread should be sweet or savoury.
Ren says
Sweet!!! The more maple syrup or black butter now the merrier!