FOOD + DRINK
Postcards FROM KENT
DISCOVER OUR COLLECTION OF POSTCARDS FROM KENT, TAKING YOU ON A JOURNEY OF KENT’ S MOST ICONIC FOOD AND DRINK HOTSPOTS; WE’ RE TALKING ICONIC FLAVOURS, HISTORICAL GEMS, SECRET HIDEAWAYS, BREATHTAKING VIEWS AND THOSE ALL-IMPORTANT INSTA-WORTHY SPOTS. THESE ARE THE PLACES DEFINING THE COUNTY’ S CULINARY SCENE, WHETHER YOU KNOW ABOUT THEM OR NOT, SO HERE’ S WHERE TO HEAD ON YOUR FOODIE ADVENTURE. AND DON’ T FORGET TO SEND A POSTCARD- AND TAG US @ insideKENT, OF COURSE!
Let’ s start your Kentish food journey with an intro to some of our county’ s most iconic dishes, cakes and delights, some of which our beloved Kent has become renowned for First up, the legendary gypsy tart; purely for its possibly overpowering sweetness, this one isn’ t for the faint-hearted and is sure to fix anyone’ s sweet tooth. A true waistband stealer, it has a slightly quirky history that dates right back to the 19th century where it originated in Faversham as the creation of Victorian bakers who were inspired by the simplistic yet tasty combination of its core ingredients: evaporated milk, muscovado sugar and pastry.
Next up, and while we’ re on the subject of sweet treats, the Folkestone pudding pie or Kent Lent pie is one that doesn’ t receive as much air time, but is equally as delicious( and sweet). This one’ s history is as rich as its flavour and although the exact location of its origin is a little murky, the name would suggest it was dreamt up in the coastal town of Folkestone sometime during the 19th century. This sweet pudding-pastry is made with a rich fruit filling of apples, rhubarb or berries. Some would argue however, for a true taste of Kent, nothing beats the huffkin- others may not have a clue what those even are. A bread-like bun, traditionally made with stoneground flour and slowly proved, the huffkin is known for boasting a soft crumb and crust, and is great for soup dipping.
Moving on to something slightly more savoury, and possibly a little more acquired, the Whitstable oyster deserves a mention in any Kentish foodie roundup. As some of the most highly regarded oysters in the world, they are known for their distinctive briny flavour and the farming traditions of these beauties date back to Roman times. Not only are they a highlight on every fruits de mer platter across the South East and beyond, but they have also inspired many other creations— for example, the yummy‘ Oyster and Vinegar’ flavour Kent Crips, and( would you believe it) an oyster stout! With alcohol in mind, no visit to Kent would be complete without a nod to the Shepherd Neame Brewery in Faversham, the oldest brewery in the UK. Established in 1698, it’ s been brewing Kent’ s finest ales for centuries and visitors can sample some of the fine beer by taking a tour of the brewery- a staple of Kentish heritage.
Looking for the best …
Gypsy tart: Take a little trip to Fry’ s Farm Shop at Upton Court Farm, Shepherdswell.
Huffkins: Head to Tiny Tim’ s Tea Rooms in Canterbury.
Whitstable oysters: Swim your way to Wheelers Oyster Bar in Whitstable.
Kent Crisps: All flavours are undeniably delicious and inspired by Kent. These bags of crunchy delight are available at most farm shops and independents across the county.
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