Northumberland is England most sparsely populated county, and its food and drink heritage is shaped by the wild landscape, the coastline, and centuries of border history. The county most famous food product, the Craster kipper, tells the story perfectly: herring smoked slowly over oak fires in a tiny coastal village, using the same methods for generations, known across the world.
L Robson and Sons is the last traditional kipper smokehouse in Craster. In the early 1900s, up to twenty fishing boats supplied the village yards, and 2,000 herring were gutted each day. Today, the Robson family still smoke using oak fires in the same traditional way, and the smell of the smoke drifting through the village is one of the most evocative food experiences in England. Swallow Fish in Seahouses operates the last fully operational 19th century smokehouse on the site, curing salmon and kippers with oak sawdust and no additives since 1843. It is thought that the modern kipper was actually invented at Seahouses.
The dairy scene has genuine depth. Doddington Dairy in the Glendale Valley near Wooler produces award-winning artisan ice cream and cheese from their own herd in Northumberland Dark Skies country. Northumberland Cheese Company at Blagdon makes Redesdale and Elsdon goat cheese. Davidsons Dairy in Alnwick has been delivering milk, cream, and eggs from Berwick to Stannington since 1981.
Moorhouse Farm Shop near Morpeth is one of the finest farm shops in the North East, butchering their own meat and sourcing 80% within 50 miles. Turnbulls Food Hall in Alnwick stocks the largest range of Northumbrian produce in the region. North Acomb Farm near Stocksfield has sold from the farm since 1978.
The drinks heritage draws on landscape and history. Lindisfarne Mead is produced on Holy Island using the world oldest alcoholic drink recipe. Alnwick Rum was first produced during the First World War, ceased in the 1980s, and has been revived. Hadrians Wall Gin uses Roman herbs and botanicals. Allendale Brewery has been award-winning since 2006. Chain Bridge Honey Farm near the Scottish border produces pure Northumbrian honey with a visitor centre and tea room.
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