Carmarthenshire has been described by The Daily Telegraph as a worthwhile destination for foodies, and the county ambitions to become the premier food-producing county of Wales are backed by substance. Known as the Garden of Wales, the county combination of rich fertile farmland and productive coastline supports a food culture that runs from the oldest cheese tradition in Wales to the newest coffee roastery.
Caws Cenarth is the headline story. The oldest established producer of Welsh Farmhouse Caerffili, the business draws on a six generation tradition of cheesemaking dating back to 1903. Gwynfor and Thelma Adams started the commercial operation in 1987 in response to milk quotas, reviving a centuries-old family recipe. Thelma became a leading light in the renaissance of Welsh artisan cheesemaking. Their son Carwyn now runs the business and has developed Perl Wen (a brie-like cheese), Perl Las (a creamy blue that has supplied British Airways and Twickenham rugby stadium), and Golden Cenarth (a washed-rind cheese that won Supreme Champion at the British Cheese Awards). The Caerffili itself recently received PGI status, and the original recipe has won Champion Cheese at the Royal Welsh Show seven years running.
Felinfoel Brewery, founded in 1878, is the oldest brewery in Wales and was the first brewery in Europe to can beer in 1935. Evan Evans in Llandeilo brews with Brecon Beacons water. Jin Talog distils small-batch gin with foraged botanicals. Coaltown Coffee Roasters in Ammanford turned a former coal mining community into the home of Wales new black gold.
Llandeilo has emerged as one of the most exciting food towns in Wales. Wrights Food Emporium near the National Botanic Garden stocks artisan Welsh produce. Pitchfork and Provision crafts additive-free sourdough taking 36 hours. Heavenly is a chocolate emporium. The town weekly changing menus, pop-up food evenings, and independent shops make it a destination in its own right.
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