Produced in Kent is a comprehensive, reliable, and exciting go-to resource for finding the best local food and drinks producers in Kent. It is a dynamic network of the best independent food and drinks entrepreneurs in the county and they have come up with the imaginative ideas of the virtual hamper.

There is something about a hamper that appeals to my inner child. Maybe it is the array of delectable goodies that I wouldn’t necessarily treat myself to, maybe it just appeals to my inner glutton. Whatever it is, a hamper of whatever content, is a very welcome gift in my household.   However, come the New Year, there is the problem of what to do with the empty hamper. Too nice to throw away and too big to store.

Fear not, because those wizards of ‘Produced in Kent’ www.producedinkent.co.uk have come up with the perfect solution. Thanks to their scheme it is possible to order exactly what you want to make up your own hamper or even cut out the Hamper and fill a box or bag of your choice, maybe re use an empty hamper after all it is the contents that we are mostly interested in. Here is the perfect way to fill a virtual hamper. Follow Produced in Kent (PinK) on Instagram Twitter or Facebook.

                             

I began with the Fudge. Until now I have always maintained that fudge is fudge, very pleasant, but one piece is as good as another. I don’t know quite how to explain this, but this fudge really does taste of Christmas and my wife agrees. I mention this because I stupidly said that she could try a piece. It was whilst she was waxing lyrical about the fabulous flavours that I realised that we had different definitions of ‘a piece.’  The Luxury Fudge Kitchen Christmas Crackers: £3.50 each come as three generous squares contained in a Christmas cracker shaped box. With Sea Salted Caramel, Chocolate Orange and Speculoos : https://www.fudgekitchen.co.uk/en/products/luxury-red-and-bronze-christmas-crackers-set-of-6

If we are going to avoid the divorce courts, we are going to have to buy much more of this before Christmas.

If you are Vegan and cooking for yourself then I can thoroughly recommend the Vegan mixed herb mayonnaise to enliven anything and everything that is served for lunch or dinner.  If you are invited to dine away from home, then I would most certainly have this stored upon my person. This would be fantastic with salads, nut roasts and vegetarian wellington – so versatile and so tasty and even as a stocking filler for the vegan or vegetarian in your life. A Little Bit Food Co Mixed Herb Vegan Mayo £3.75 https://alittlebit.co.uk/products/mixed-herb-vegan-mayo

I suspect that this is a Christmas must have and I will be serving this chilled to anyone who doesn’t like alcohol and anyone who needs a rest from alcohol. I would be very happy to toast Christmas with this rather than a fizzy wine. It is crisp, refreshing and tastes as if each glass is crammed with fresh apples. It feels suitably celebratory, not too sweet and not too fizzy. This 100% sparkling apple juice is the first of its kind! Made using 100% apples with a light spark https://biddenden.myshopify.com/collections/juices/products/biddenden-sparkling-apple-juice. Sparkling Apple Juice from Biddenden Vineyard: £43.32 Case of 250ml x 24 bottles. Cheers.

                                        

Even as a lover of cherries I was a little perplexed at how I would use 1 litre of Dalloway’s Kentish Cherry Juice, but I needn’t have worried, as Shakespeare might have said ‘let me count the ways.’ Certainly, at Christmas there is a preponderance of heavy, rich foods, and quite right too, but equally at times there is the desire for something light, fresh and tasty. Poured over vanilla ice cream, the effects are transformative, added to tonic water or sparkling water will provide a delicious non alcoholic drink and added to a cocktail, will provide a delicious alcoholic one. I have yet to try adding to fruit destined for a crumble or pie, but it is only a matter of time. It could also be drunk neat, to get the full benefits of the juice of 3 kg of pressed cherries with nothing added, because the flavour is perfect. The cherry juice comes in 1 litre bottles Dalloway’s Kentish Cherry Juice. £7 https://rentacherrytree.co.uk/farm-shop/cherry-juice

It seemed strange to be trying the Macknade Christmas Pudding: £7.75 450g in November but I was very glad that I did. This is the traditional Christmas dessert, classic, delicious and jam-packed with vine fruits, generously soaked in rum & brandy. I have to confess that after just one mouthful I was well and truly in the Christmas spirit and you will not be at all surprised to learn that I didn’t stop at one mouthful. https://macknade.com/shop/macknade-larder/macknade-christmas-pudding/

If anything, I probably associate hops with Kent, more than anything else, so I was looking forward to trying the Foundry Man’s Gold – Flagship Golden Ale-£21.99 per case of 12, £13.99 for 6 or £10 in beer gift packs. 500ml bottles. Made from hops named Cascade and Magnum, this ale has the taste of spice, some citrus and grapefruit and is finely balanced with a subtle low-level bitterness with biscuit and caramel flavours. This ale will be great for Christmas but equally tasty throughout the year. Loved it. https://www.thefoundrycanterbury.co.uk/beers/foundry-gold/

I am of all things an aficionado of Gin, but like any aficionado I have my trusted favourites and am content not to interfere with the pecking order. That is, until I tried George Bishop London Dry Gin by Maidstone Distillery:  £39/£15/£5 which is a perfect balance of 15 exotic botanicals, warm Mediterranean orange combined with delicate spice.  Sweet citrusy notes from coriander and air-dried peels are balanced with the tangy piquance of tellicherry pepper, ambrette (musk mallow) and perfumed chamomile. This gin is delightful with a mixer, or in a cocktail. Each bottle is finished by hand, with handwritten batch and bottle number. https://themaidstonedistillery.com/george-bishop-london-dry-gin/

Produced in Kent www.producedinkent.co.uk have worked a Christmas miracle, bringing the Garden of England to the Christmas Hampers and Christmas Stockings of England and, I for one am rather glad that it is beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.