In Part 2 of our guide to Christmas gifts made in West Wales, we have a delicious selection of food and drink from local artisan producers to tempt your tastebuds. Available to order online, these make perfect presents for foodies or anyone who likes a special treat at Christmas.
West Wales artisan cheeses and traditional terrines
Pant Mawr Farmhouse Cheeses – a range of mouth-watering, traditional, handmade cheese from the heart of Pembrokeshire’s Preseli Hills.
Caws Cenarth – the oldest established producer of Welsh Farmhouse Caerffili, the Adams family makes a range of cheeses at its Carmarthenshire farm – try Garlic and Herb Caerffili, Smoked Caerffili, the Brie-like Perl Wen, Perl Las, or Golden Cenarth, a washed-rind cheese with a powerful flavour.
Caws Teifi Cheese – award winning artisan cheeses made in Ceredigion using raw milk and local ingredients. ‘Celtic Promise’ is one of only two cheeses in Britain to have been awarded the title of Supreme Champion twice at the British Cheese Awards.
Cnwd – smoked meats and fish plus gourmet pâtés and terrines made to traditional recipes in Carmarthenshire. Try Carmarthenshire Smoked Duck Breast or Towy Valley Wild Venison & Hazelnut Terrine.
Wine, beer and spirits – a little festive cheer!
Celtic Wines – wines, liqueurs, preserves and vinegars all made at a family winery in rural West Wales. Christmas hampers with cheese and chutney or cheese and wine from £15.
Penderyn – fine Single Malt Welsh Whisky produced in the foothills of the Brecon Beacons plus Brecon Gin, Five Vodka or Merlyn Welsh Cream Liqueur. Christmas gifts from £15.77.
The Jacobi Brewery of Caio – a craft brewery based in a converted barn on the Dolaucothi Estate, Carmarthenshire. Buzz Light Beer, Gold Miner Light Ale and others available to buy online in cases of 12.
Dà Mhìle Distillery – very special, artisan organic spirits made in Ceredigion – Organic Whisky, Botanical Gin, Seaweed Gin and an award-winning orange liqueur. From £4.95.
West Wales honey and preserves
Wild Pickings – Wild Pickings is a small wild food business, run by professional forager Jade Mellor. Wild food from the woodlands, coast and hedgerows of West Wales are used in a range of delicious pickles, preserves, dried foods and chocolates.
New Quay Honey Farm – honey, fudge and mead from Cardigan Bay. Pretty stoppered bottles of fruit and honey meads from £5.95.
Wendy Brandon – a huge range of jams, preserves, vinegars and marmalades from Pembrokeshire. How about Greengage Vinegar, Raspberry and Rowan Relish, or Grapefruit Marmalade with Juniper Berries?
Sarah Cooks – Pembrokeshire preserves including Boozy Mincemeat, Pink Grapefruit Marmalade with Armagnac and some lovely gift packs.
Mix and match with a carefully selected hamper
If you have trouble deciding between cheese, preserves and whisky, why not order a gift hamper with a tempting range of local produce?
Hampers to order online
Cwmcerrig Farm Shop – hampers of Welsh produce from £50
Cnwd hampers from £25
If you are staying in West Wales for Christmas or New Year why not pre-order a holiday hamper from Llwynhelyg Farmshop in Ceredigion (Tel: 01239 811079, email:info@llwynhelygfarmshop.co.uk) or Wright’s Food Emporium in Carmarthenshire (Tel: 01558 668929 email: maryann@wrightsfood.co.uk).
For more ideas for special gifts inspired by the sea, landscape and traditions of West Wales, see Part 1 of this series, Siopa Nadolig: Christmas shopping West Wales style.