In a recent article for the Christmas edition of Kent Life magazine I was quoted as saying ‘Christmas simply wouldn’t be Christmas without mince pies – and mince pies wouldn’t be mince pies without the famous English Bramley apple!’
I am not certain whether those were my exact words but there’s certainly a great deal of truth in them.
In fact, I’d go further than that: Christmas simply wouldn’t be Christmas without the English Bramley apple.
Mincemeat of course relies heavily on English Bramley apples for its fabulous texture, but it’s not the only festive treat that depends on the hugely versatile English Bramley.
If you’re having pork over the Christmas period, you’ll almost certainly be thinking about Bramley apple sauce to go with it. For cold meats there are fabulous chutneys and delicious pickles that taste absolutely fantastic because of the ubiquitous English Bramley.
You might have a delicious English Bramley apple pie during the festive season; and if you’re a little more adventurous, there’s Bramley apple & mincemeat puddings, Bramley apple Christmas cake and a host of other festive English Bramley delights.
For the Kent Life magazine article, the well-known chef, Rosemary Shrager has devised a terrifically tempting recipe for Roasted duck breast with English Bramley apple stuffing. (My mouth is watering at the thought, and you’ll find the recipe on our website recipe section).
After lunch you might even have some Christmas family fun, bobbing English Bramley apples.
Who would have thought that when Mary Ann Brailsford planted some unidentified seeds in her garden in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, in 1809 it would lead to the Christmas we have today?
At Fourayes, although we process many different types of fruit ranging from delicious Kentish strawberries and raspberries to plums, pears and blackcurrants, it’s English Bramley apples that we specialise in growing throughout the orchards that surround our food factory, high on the North Downs of Kent.
We purchase English Bramley apples from our neighbours throughout Kent, but our own very special focus is on growing English Bramley apples for long-term storage – ensuring that everyone can enjoy delicious English Bramley treats all year round.
Each Christmas I am yet again reminded how important the role of the English Bramley apple is, not only to cuisine throughout the year but also particularly so at this very special time of year.
2020 has been a year of immense challenges for many of us, and deep sadness for some, so I’m not going to talk about celebration this year. But I am going to enjoy my very English Bramley Christmas and look forward to a better year in 2021. Now where’s that mince pie? It wouldn’t be Christmas without it, as someone once said.
Phil Acock
MD of Fourayes, Vice Chairman of British Apples & Pears and Fruitician
Download the full article below
I am not certain whether those were my exact words but there’s certainly a great deal of truth in them.
In fact, I’d go further than that: Christmas simply wouldn’t be Christmas without the English Bramley apple.
Mincemeat of course relies heavily on English Bramley apples for its fabulous texture, but it’s not the only festive treat that depends on the hugely versatile English Bramley.
If you’re having pork over the Christmas period, you’ll almost certainly be thinking about Bramley apple sauce to go with it. For cold meats there are fabulous chutneys and delicious pickles that taste absolutely fantastic because of the ubiquitous English Bramley.
You might have a delicious English Bramley apple pie during the festive season; and if you’re a little more adventurous, there’s Bramley apple & mincemeat puddings, Bramley apple Christmas cake and a host of other festive English Bramley delights.
For the Kent Life magazine article, the well-known chef, Rosemary Shrager has devised a terrifically tempting recipe for Roasted duck breast with English Bramley apple stuffing. (My mouth is watering at the thought, and you’ll find the recipe on our website recipe section).
After lunch you might even have some Christmas family fun, bobbing English Bramley apples.
Who would have thought that when Mary Ann Brailsford planted some unidentified seeds in her garden in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, in 1809 it would lead to the Christmas we have today?
At Fourayes, although we process many different types of fruit ranging from delicious Kentish strawberries and raspberries to plums, pears and blackcurrants, it’s English Bramley apples that we specialise in growing throughout the orchards that surround our food factory, high on the North Downs of Kent.
We purchase English Bramley apples from our neighbours throughout Kent, but our own very special focus is on growing English Bramley apples for long-term storage – ensuring that everyone can enjoy delicious English Bramley treats all year round.
Each Christmas I am yet again reminded how important the role of the English Bramley apple is, not only to cuisine throughout the year but also particularly so at this very special time of year.
2020 has been a year of immense challenges for many of us, and deep sadness for some, so I’m not going to talk about celebration this year. But I am going to enjoy my very English Bramley Christmas and look forward to a better year in 2021. Now where’s that mince pie? It wouldn’t be Christmas without it, as someone once said.
