Researching for this blog I opened a veritable Pandora's box of folklore.  Apparently juniper could be used for anything from Protecting your home from thieves and witches, treating burns and even a vaginal douche. Oh, and making Gin of course.

It is my job to distill the stories to the very spirit of what this seemingly powerful plant meant to our ancestors and indeed still means to many people today. This is no mean feat, as Juniper turns out to be one of the most widespread shrubs in the Northern Hemisphere, being found from the arctic tundra in the North, right to the edge of the tropics in the South, and everywhere in between.

The crab apple is the prehistoric ancestor of the apple and cousin of the rose.  There is so much myth and legend that surrounds it, not least because of the shape that lays inside - a pentagram. Slices of apples placed neatly on saucers have been found in tombs dating back over 5,000 years. The […]

Come with me now on a journey through time and space, to the fifth dimension of flavour, Umami. It’s the dawn of time.  Our ancestor is examining the remains of her charred jungle home after narrowly escaping a devastating forest fire with her life.  Just a little way from the edge of where the inferno […]

On a sunny morning, you might catch me out in the Cornish fields, filling my basket with wild edibles. I feel connected to nature and blissfully happy as I weave my way along the coast paths, stopping to pick rock samphire and sea cabbage.  For me, foraging is a hobby, a fun day out. I […]

I’ve loved Turkish Delight ever since reading Narnia as a child. It sounded almost too good to be true, and tasted even better. Inspired by the magical flavours of Elderflower, I decided to reclaim this sweet from the clutches of the wicked Ice Queen and create my own. You’ll find the recipe below- it’s almost […]

During this morning’s meeting, a bleary eyed Xanthe wandered into the kitchen, eager to see why on earth her parents were talking to their computer, rather than playing with her (a mystery indeed). Her eyes lit up as she spied treats on the table- a pack of custard creams.  “Can I have a biscuit?” she […]

If I told you that the Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil perched on your kitchen counter had probably come from the Mafia, you might look at me like I was crazy.  Crime lords swapping hard drugs for fine foods doesn’t really seem that believable. Shootouts in shady olive groves, and dodgy deals behind dairies takes […]

Last week we opened the lid of the honey pot and were shocked to find that not all was as it seemed.  As we continue our journey towards Foodtopia we dive into the milk lake and you will be surprised by what we found. Does the Dairy industry deserve the bad press that it gets?   […]

Picking up a jar of honey at the supermarket, you’d imagine you could feel pretty certain of it’s ingredients. In fact it’s often listed on the side- ‘100% Honey’.  I was shocked to find out that often honey is not what you think it is. Despite labels promising pure honey,  loopholes in international regulations mean […]

Simnel Cake has long been a staple of Easter celebrations. An irresistible combination of rich fruitcake and lightly toasted marzipan, it's easy to understand its standing as a well-loved Easter classic. Fruit cake may not be the most glamorous of the Easter treats, but you’d be a fool to overlook it. In truth it’s a […]