Introducing our newest luxury Welsh artisan preserve, a really delicious extra-jam Welsh Damson Preserve. It’s our limited edition extra-jam and it’s simply packed full of plump Welsh damsons. Autumn fruits both orchard and hedgerow grown are carefully harvested by hand. This delicious autumn preserves is grown and made all within 10 miles of our kitchen.
This is one of our most nostalgic luxury Welsh seasonal preserves. Bringing back wonderful childhood memories of eating juicy damsons straight from the trees growing in our orchard set beneath Cordon Hill. Enjoying the tart dark fruits plucked from the low hanging branches and then stretching ever higher to reach the next delicious one. We have many treasured memories of these dark-fruit beauties. Picked at their best just as the leaves start to turn in autumn. With the joyful rush getting them washed and prepared ready to preserve just before the first frosts nip the fruits.
We’re now supplied by local Welsh orchards that are situated within 10 miles of our kitchen. Once harvested the damsons are carefully sorted and washed ready to make this exquisite fruit preserve. The damsons are then gently poached to allow the aroma and full depth of flavour to develop, we don’t rush this stage. The fruit is de-stoned by hand and then it’s simply sugar and a dash of fresh organic lemon juice added to the fruits before cooking. The natural fruit pectin does its work and the beautiful, aromatic glossy soft-set extra-jam is jarred and labeled.
This is a limited edition luxury artisan made Welsh Damson Preserve is available online here and through our stockists.
Without a doubt, Welsh grown plums have had a very prolific season this year. Our new season Welsh Plum Preserve is vibrant with some very flavour-some Welsh grown plums. Victorias, Pershores and Czars and Marjories Seedlings are just coming in this week. These are just some of the Welsh grown varieties we’re using in our luxury Welsh Plum Preserve. Each plum variety has their own exquisite flavour profile and make delicious extra-jam. The plums are grown within 10 miles of our kitchen with the journey from plum tree to jar a short one.
Orchard fruits are carefully handpicked by our local growers. This Welsh plum preserve is a real labour of love right from the very beginning. As with all of our luxury Welsh preserves it’s the simple ingredients, harvesting by hand and artisan-made that results in the best depth of flavour from the plums. This traditional preserving method allows the exquisite Welsh grown plum to shine. This delectable preserve is made simply with Welsh grown plums, sugar and freshly squeezed lemon juice with no additives or artificial preservatives. Pantri Swswen Welsh Plum Preserve has a natural soft set and due to its high fruit content is an extra-jam – a simple classic sweet Welsh preserve.
It’s an artisan made Welsh plum extra-jam preserve made with delicious Welsh autumn fruits. It’s wonderful served with warm buttered teacakes, toast, scones, as a cake filling. Or try stirring through natural Greek yoghurt for an extra special breakfast. Welsh Plum Preserve, handmade in Wales for your enjoyment.
We’ve been making our Welsh Beetroot Chutney since we started in 2012. It quickly became one of our bestsellers and is a Great Taste gold star award winner to boot. Made to a traditional recipe that’s been in the family for generations it is a simple good all-round chutney showcasing the delicious, earthy richness of beetroot. Serve it as a side with a ploughman’s or quiche; it’s a must in a sandwich or with a salad. Some of our customers enjoy eating on its own, straight from the jar! The colour and flavour from the Welsh grown beetroot is amazing and the chutney ingredients are simply beetroot, onion, apple, sugar, malt vinegar, salt and a dash of fresh lemon juice – no additives or artificial preservatives and it’s vegetarian, vegan and gluten free.
New Season delicious Welsh Beetroot Chutney is now in. We get our Welsh grown beetroot within 10 miles of our kitchen – we make the chutney by hand and in small batches, in exactly the same way as it’s been made for generations. You can buy this rich earthy and moorish chutney via our online shop here or through one our stockists – see the list here.
In 2021 we were nominated for the prestigious Golden Forks for Wales with our Great Taste 3-gold star winning Welsh Blackcurrant Conserve. The judges commented “This is a gorgeous conserve – the colour is so intense, the smell is pure blackcurrant bushes, and the taste is divine. The soft set is lovely, there is enough fruit to give texture, but the most important aspect is the taste, and that is stunning. The maker has allowed the tartness of the blackcurrants to sing, and that is part of the success. A great product made with care.”
Nominees were whittled down to just three amazing Great Taste 3-star products for Wales and we headed up the the awards ceremony at the Yorkshire Event Centre in Harrogate. Meeting other producers and rubbing shoulders with many of the Great Taste judges was so memorable.
From Wales:
Pantri Swswen in Caersws, Powys for its Great Taste 3-star award-winning Welsh Blackcurrant Conserve
Pembrokeshire Lamb in Haverfordwest for its Great Taste 3-star award-winning Hogget Shoulder
Silver Circle Distillery in Chepstow, Monmouthshire for its Great Taste 3-star award-winning Damson Negroni
Great Taste announces Golden Fork nominations
Great Taste Awards by The Guild of Fine Foods, are the largest and most trusted food and drink awards on the planet. They will reveal its Supreme Champion 2021 on Sunday 17 October, during a ceremony held at the Yorkshire Event Centre in Harrogate, following the first day of Fine Food Show North. Out of 218 Great Taste 3-star award-winning products to be rejudged, just 14 will receive a Great Taste Golden Fork Trophy and these will all be announced at the Great Taste Golden Fork Reception before the presentation of this year’s biggest prize in food and drink.
The following products from the UK, Ireland and beyond, are nominated for the Golden Fork trophies from their region and are all in with a chance of scooping the top honour of Great Taste Supreme Champion 2021.
One of our Welsh hedgerow jewel jellies Welsh Sloe Berry Jelly has been awarded 2 gold stars at the 2023 Great Taste Awards.
It’s perfect as a sweet preserve or to accompany game and it’s really versatile too. You can use it as a glaze or to stir through sauces or enrich gravy. The Guild of Fine Food Great Taste Awards 2 Gold Stars 2023. This delicate Welsh hedgerow jewel jelly received some amazing comments from the judges.
Great Taste Judges Review
Here’s what they had to say about this amazing hedgerow jelly:
“This product has a beautiful colour and with a lovely jelly tremble… Great taste.”
“This is a beautiful, glistening bright-ruby colour. The jelly has a soft set. When tasting it, we initially got a big hit of vanilla notes after which it becomes a little tannic, as one would expect of sloes. A very well-made, well-balanced, simple product.”
“The flavour is delicious, with an excellent balance of the four simple ingredients. It’s clear the maker is not afraid of the unique astringency of the sloes and have added just enough sugar, but no more. The quantities of pectin from the apple, and the perfect degree of dilution create a lovely mouthfeel and made this a delight to eat. We could imagine this being used in any number of sweet or savoury dishes.”
“Attractively presented, this jelly has an inviting rich blackcurrant colour. It has a pleasant soft set that melts in the mouth. It is a taste sensation, reminiscent of the hedgerows, with the flavour of all the ingredients coming through. The authentic dryness of the sloes contrasts well with the sweetness of the apples.”
“We were extremely enthusiastic about this silky jelly, which transports us to the Welsh hedgerows. It’s a unique product and would be ideal for a Welsh afternoon tea.”
“What a magnificent colour to this very fruity jelly. The flavour of sloes hits us in the face with its tell-tale plummy and astringent notes. We praised the clever use of apples to give it a good foundation.”
Thrilled with Great Taste Award
That’s an impressive collection of wonderful comments and we’re thrilled to have received them alongside two gold stars from the Great Taste judging panel!
We take our time making our Welsh preserves – time spent in the hedgerows harvesting the fruit, time taken selecting the apples to obtain the right pectin levels and set for the jelly, time spent devising the perfect recipe. We then take time handmaking and cooking it in small batches. Because this produces the very best Welsh Sloe Berry Jelly for you to also take time enjoying this exceptional preserve. Handmade in Wales for your enjoyment.
We make a range of seasonal jellies, our 2 gold star award 2019 Welsh Rowan Berry Jelly and Welsh Crab Apple Jelly alongside the Welsh Sloe Berry Jelly.
Christmas food gifts, especially those that can be delivered direct to door are increasingly appealing. Artisans you’d normally have expected to see at food festivals, you can indulge in an online foodie shopping experience. There are benefits to both the sender and those lucky enough to receive them. Part of this appeal is the utter convenience of being able to shop from the comfort of your own home. What a bonus for you to now be able to buy from us at Pantri Swswen direct, luxury Welsh food handmade in Wales for your enjoyment.
Christmas Food Gifts
Choose luxury Welsh artisan Christmas food gifts
Choosing from our Christmas collection of award-winning, artisanal, handmade, luxury food to buy online couldn’t be more convenient or any easier. Having access to your favourite Welsh artisan food in one space certainly takes the legwork out of present buying. These are the key elements of the luxury Welsh food we make; multi award-winning food from the heart of Wales. All of our foods are made with Welsh grown and produced ingredients. We’ve picked up many awards over the years from The Worlds Original Marmalade Awards, The Guild of Fine Food Great Taste Awards and International Cheese Awards. We are artisan producers and use Welsh grown and produced ingredients in each of our products.
Christmas Food Gift
Award winning produce from Wales
We work closely with local suppliers and growers and source some amazing produce from Wales. We focus on making luxury Welsh food perfect for gifting and for your enjoyment. Visit our online shop where you can buy all of your luxury foodie gifts and get them delivered direct to door.
Buy seasonal foodie gifts from Wales
Time management and running a tight schedule during the festive season means buying online can be a simple solution. Buying online can take some of the strain of finding time to track down that perfect gift from Wales. Options to browse select gifts and hampers online or to even build your own hamper and then simply checkout couldn’t be easier. Add in a gift card and include your special message without having to lift a pen, find an envelope or stick on a bow before it’s all packed up and sent out for you. If you choose gifts and hampers ready to go and drop an “Especially selected for you” card in at the checkout. It’s your one-stop shopping experience at its best and gifting a joy.
Create food memories
Sending Christmas food gifts to loved ones, friends and colleagues and bringing a festive Welsh rural food experience to their table is so thoughtful. For every holiday or mini break away we can all recall precious moments of our trip, so many of which are food related. When you’ve enjoyed great food on your travels gifting a food experience evoking memories of beautiful holidays away can help recreate those “good times”.
Choose your perfect food gifts this Christmas
Each of the luxury Welsh products in the online shop are perfect for gifting. They are all available for you to buy individually so you can make up your own Christmas food gifts. Choosing a gift pack trio, or a hamper means you get the full gifting experience. Browse the selection, add to the basket and then checkout when you’re ready. Each of the gifts are beautifully packaged and finished with a bow and an about us card. If you’re looking for a very personalised gift then you can now add in an occasion card. You choose the occasion, we’ll handwrite your personal note and send it for delivery along with your chosen gift.
Celebrate the festive season and choose Christmas gifts online
Festive trio packs, seasons greetings hampers, these are in fact just for Christmas! A festive seasonal selection beautifully packaged in our lux hamper boxes. Subscriptions are a gift that keep on giving, there’s a few different options to choose from. You can try a sweet, savoury or a seasonal subscription selection with either 3, 6 or 12 monthly deliveries. If you’re finding choosing from the selection of festive trio’s, hampers and subscription gifts too taxing you can always take the strain out of it with a gift card. Simply choose from the gift cards which come in a variety of options and leave it up to your loved one to choose from the seasonal collection this Christmas. Merry Christmas!
Garden rhubarb is the mainstay of Welsh Spiced Rhubarb Chutney recipe and is the crop we are most impatiently waiting for at this time of the year. It’s one of the first of crops we get to harvest during the Spring months and is the first chutney of the year that we start making. Late April (if we are lucky) and certainly by early May we are busy plucking the sturdy ruby and green stems. Combining them with a local cider vinegar and a blend of warm mixed spices and dates that work together well in this rhubarb chutney recipe. It makes for a welcome change from the steady flow of marmalade we produce throughout the late months winter.
Protecting the harvest
The days are getting longer and the hour change is fast approaching as the new year comes to life in the hedgerows, gardens and orchards in rural Mid Wales. Daffodils are waving their yellow heads at us and the fruit trees and bushes are busy forming buds. Temperatures stray into double figures in the daytime but we’re still in frost season. Always mindful to protect the newly emerging buds and then the blossoms so we have a bountiful harvest later in the year.
Spring Planning
It’s at this time of year we set time aside to have discussions with our local growers. What new plantings will be needed for harvesting in Autumn and how other crops have overwintered. Always listed are beetroot and pumpkins, this year we’re asking for chili peppers, shallots and garlic. Exciting discussions about how fruit trees planted several years ago will be ready to harvest with bumper crops expected. Planning new products and refining recipes is such an enjoyably slow and seasonal process. Taking time to get the right ingredient, right quality and at the right time takes skill and dedication and involves a chain of experienced input from those we work with.
Such is the beauty of slow food and the joys of Spring.
Celebrate a day especially dedicated to mothers and special women who hold an important presence in your life. Also known as Mothering Sunday. It’s an ideal moment to say thank you for being Mum and to show appreciation and gratitude to our mothers for everything they do for us. Because even if you regularly share special times together it’s just another lovely excuse to have a get together and do something nice. Who doesn’t like a treat!
Mother’s Day
The first and most important step in choosing Mother’s Day food gifts is to consider your mother’s preferences. Have a think about what foods she likes and what she doesn’t. Does she have any dietary restrictions or food allergies? Are sweet or savoury foods on her list of favourites? Does your Mum enjoy spending time cooking or baking? By considering your mother’s preferences, you can ensure that you choose a food gift that she will love.
Celebrate with an Afternoon Tea or a Picnic
Whether it’s two or a group family affair you’d like to have, why not celebrate with your Mum and create an afternoon tea or picnic experience to share. Although we’re heading into Spring the weather can still be a little on the chilly side. An indoor treat is always lovely whatever the weather. Try your hand at making homemade scones. We’ve got a buttermilk scone recipe ready for you to either make together or make in advance. They’re quick and easy to put together and are simply delicious served warm.
Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea
All you’ll need to dress your table is a pretty tablecloth or covering, a tea set or your favourite mugs and plates. Maybe add a bunch of flowers or a flowering plant. Serve your homemade scones with luxury preserves and clotted cream. Some favourite preserves are Welsh Blackcurrant Conserve, Welsh Strawberry Conserve and Welsh Gooseberry & Elderflower Preserve and these make a delicious gift for you to share. You could either pick up individual jars or choose one of the gift packs or hampers. For that little extra way to spoil your Mum add some fizz to the occasion and serve your afternoon cream tea with a glass of chilled prosecco or champagne.
Mothers Day Gifts
Mother’s Day Picnic
If you are celebrating Mother’s Day with a picnic, you could choose a food gift that is easy to transport and enjoy outdoors. You could choose her favourite cheeses with a selection of chutneys, crackers, bread and seasonal fruits. Or why not make a charcuterie board with different types of meats, cheeses and accompaniments. Serve something delicious for pudding. We love a freshly baked warm scone and there’s always a place for them especially with Welsh Blackcurrant Conserve and cream.
Luxury Hampers and Gifts
Well presented Mother’s Day food gifts can be an ideal way to make your mother feel extra special. We also have a super selection of luxury hampers and luxury gifts to choose from. Mothers Day food gifts from Pantri Swswen are beautifully packaged and finished with a lux bow. You can even add a special personalised note when you place your order on an “Especially selected for you” gift tags.
Now you’re all set to spend some quality time and indulge with your loved ones with an experience and thoughtful gift. It’s such a lovely way to say a big thank you just for being you on Mothering Sunday!
Deciding on what goes with cheese and planning a great looking cheeseboard can be a little bit daunting but with some thought you can pull together an impressive and appealing spread.
Our top tip is to keep it simple by just using a few key components to accompany your chosen cheeses. Whether you’re including one or all such as hard, blue or a soft cheese, accompaniments for your cheeseboard are our speciality. We have an award winning range for you to choose from for your perfect chutney and cheese combination. You can choose from Welsh sweet pickled onions and moorish Welsh chutneys. Even our luxury Welsh marmalades can complement your cheeseboard selection. Adorn the platter with fresh figs, crisp apple, grapes or celery sticks and add a selection of crackers and breads.
Spiced Welsh Rhubarb Chutney
There are many foods that pair well with cheese and here’s a few ideas to get you started:
Cheeseboard
Cheese and crackers is a classic combination for your cheeseboard and you can include some artisan bread for a rustic element. Just add some delicious Welsh chutney and you’ve got an ideal snack or lunchtime treat.
Cheese with Fruit
Cheese goes well with many types of fruit such as grapes, apples, pears, and berries. Our fruity chutneys include Welsh Pear & Roast Walnut Chutney. Why not try one of our award winning marmalades like Ruby Grapefruit & Welsh Honey Marmalade. This marmalade got gold from The Worlds Original Marmalade Awards and Gold at the ICA Awards. It’s a sure bet to deliver amazing flavour and a delicious alternative choice to serve with your cheeseboard.
Chutney
Almonds, walnuts and pecans are all great choices and we include nuts in some of our chutneys for added texture and flavour. Why not give the Fig, Almond and Welsh Pumpkin chutney or Welsh Pear & Roast Walnut Chutney a try . They’re simply delicious.
Meats like salami, prosciutto, and ham are often served alongside cheese. Try one of our hedgerow fruit jellies alongside charcuterie on your cheeseboard. Given 2 gold stars from the Guild of Fine Food, Welsh Rowan Berry Jelly is a bittersweet fruit jelly with smokey undertones.
Cheese and Wine
Cheese and wine are a classic combination that has been enjoyed for centuries. They are both products of fermentation and have a rich history in the culinary world.
The combination of cheese and wine is a perfect match because the acidity and tannins in wine complement the creamy texture and rich flavours of cheese. There are several factors to consider when pairing such as the age and type and the body and flavor profile and of course personal preferences.
Some popular pairings include a full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon with aged Cheddar, a light Pinot Noir with a creamy Brie, and a dry Sauvignon Blanc with tangy goat cheeses. There are also regional pairings, such as pairing Parmigiano-Reggiano with Chianti or Roquefort with Sauternes.
When serving together, it is important to remember to serve them at the appropriate temperatures. Most cheeses should be served at room temperature, while white wines and some lighter reds should be served chilled. Red wines should be served at cellar temperature, which is slightly cooler than room temperature.
Overall, this combination is a timeless pairing that can elevate any dining experience. Whether enjoyed together as a simple snack or served as part of a more elaborate meal they are sure to delight the senses and leave a lasting impression.
Pantri Swswen based in Caersws, Mid Wales has been awarded a Great Taste Three Star Award for Welsh Blackcurrant Conserve and 1-star award for their Welsh Redcurrant Preserve. Great Taste is the largest and most trusted food and drink awards on the planet. Out of 5,383 products worldwide to receive an award they are one of 4127 to receive a Great Taste 1-star & one of only 218 to receive a 3-star accolade on 21 September 2021. Pantri Swswen will now be able to display the unmistakable black and gold logo, a stamp of excellence that is recognised by retailers and consumers alike.
Judges Comments
Pantri Swswen are thrilled with the judges comments for their Welsh Blackcurrant Conserve “The aromas are of vibrant blackcurrants and they make your mouth water. This conserve has intense blackcurrant flavour with length and freshness. You get a sense of really good fruit which has been skillfully crafted into a fantastic product. The balance of fruit, sweetness and acidity is just stunning and makes this conserve feel like a real treat.” “This is a gorgeous conserve – the colour is so intense, the smell is pure blackcurrant bushes, and the taste is divine. The soft set is lovely, there is enough fruit to give texture, but the most important aspect is the taste, and that is stunning. The maker has allowed the tartness of the blackcurrants to sing, and that is part of the success. A great product made with care” and for their Welsh Redcurrant Preserve “A beautifully fresh colour and flavour – lovely acidity and well judged sweetness. Glossy and pretty. It tastes fabulous. You have captured all the characteristics that redcurrants have, not least their wonderful acidity. We didn’t mind the pips because that’s what redcurrants have! This is so well made and you have taken time and effort to ensure that the redcurrant and its amazing flavour have been allowed to shine”.
We are thrilled!
Lizzie Jones owner explains: “Welsh grown blackcurrants, sugar, water and a delicate cook to reach a soft set. It’s such a simple, humble yet perfect preserve that let’s the taste of blackcurrants shine. This conserve has been a best seller since we first started Pantri Swswen in 2012 and entering it into the Great Taste Awards this year has certainly proved fruitful! We are thrilled with this award and to have also picked up an award for our Welsh Redcurrant Preserve is wonderful. All of our preserves and cakes are made using Welsh grown and sourced ingredients, in particular we strive to support our local Welsh growers and producers who share our passion for Welsh food. Small batch artisan production methods enable us to preserve and enhance the purity of the ingredients and we are thrilled that this has been recognised through our multiple awards and becoming a Great Taste Producer.
Established in 1994, Great Taste is organised by the Guild of Fine Food and is the world’s largest, longest standing and most respected food accreditation scheme for artisan and speciality food producers.
14,113 different products were entered in 2021 from 108 countries.
355 judges blind-tasted this year’s entries, including; Joanna Blythman, investigative journalist and food writer. Cook, writer, stylist and voice of modern vegetarian cooking Anna Jones. Author, Olia Hercules. Kenny Tutt, MasterChef 2018 champion and restaurateur. Food writer and cook, Xanthe Clay. Presenter, author and tutor, Steven Lamb. Baker and author, Martha Collison, and Kavi Thakrar from Dishoom, as well as food buyers from Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason and Partridges.
Socially distanced judging took place over 86 days at four venues including Guild HQ in Gillingham, Dorset and the Guild of Fine Food’s London home, No. 42 Southwark Street, SE1
4,027 awarded a Great Taste 1-star – A food that delivers fantastic flavour. Approximately 30% of entries will achieve this rating each year.
1,138 awarded a Great Taste 2-star – Above and beyond delicious – less than 10% of entries will achieve this rating.
218 awarded a Great Taste 3-star – Extraordinarily tasty foods – less than 2% of products are awarded a 3-star each year – don’t leave the shop without buying it!
