Due to Devon’s rural location and ideal farming conditions, the county is renowned for producing some of the most fantastic food and drink in the country. The clean, temperate waters offer some of the best seafood in the British Isles, and the lush, fertile soil produces some of the best vegetables and provides excellent nutrition for grazing animals. Unusual meats are being farmed here too, such as venison and ostrich, alongside traditional breeds such as Red Devon Cattle. And where there are cattle, there’s milk; Devon is justly famous for its clotted cream, custard, delicious ice-creams, as well as steadily gaining a recognition for a range of traditional and unusual cheeses too.
Cheese
Sharpham is a brie-style cheese is made from raw cow’s milk and vegetarian rennet. Underneath its mouldy rind, the texture is soft, often gooey, and creamy. The aromas are fresh, while the flavour is buttery. The cheese has won many awards, including a Super Gold medal at the World Cheese Awards in 2010.
Ticklemore is made from goat’s milk and is a his semi-hard cheese has a natural white rind that hides a crumbly, open, and firm-textured paste underneath. This cheese is hand-pressed into a colander, resulting in the shape of a flattened sphere. At the end of production, the cheese is dry-salted and left to mature for 10 weeks. Ticklemore’s aromas are mild, floral, fresh, grassy, and clean, while the flavours are lemony, mild yet complex, with hints of grass and mushrooms.
Devon Blue is a semi-hard artisan cheese made from raw milk of Ayrshire cows. It is produced by Ben Harris and Robin Condgen of Ticklemore Cheese. In order for the blue mould to develop, Devon Blue needs to mature for 6 to 8 months. The cheese has a dense, crumbly, and firm texture; the aromas are earthy, while the flavour is spicy, smooth, and buttery.
Best place to buy cheese: Sharpham Vineyard, The Cheeseboard, Sidmouth or any local farm shop.
Meat & Fish
Hog’s pudding is a traditional sausage-like meat product from Devon. It is quite spicy and contains flavourings such as basil, garlic, cumin, and black pepper. The sausage is typically prepared with pork meat, pork fat, bread, suet, and either pearl barley or oatmeal.
Devonshire Squab Pie is a traditional dish with roots going far back in history. Despite its name, it is actually made of tender mutton and apples to produce an aromatic culinary experience. The pie consists of shortcrust pastry as the lid, containing alternating layers of onion slices, apple pieces and succulent mutton chops covered in just enough water before being baked for two hours.
With two coastlines, a visit to Devon wouldn’t be complete without sampling some of the freshest seafood you’ll ever eat. One thing you won’t want to miss is Devon crab. Caught just off the coast, it is succulent, flavoursome and packed with Omega 3. Other Devon delicacies from the ocean include lobster, oysters, mussels, scallops and a whole host of fresh fish.
Best place to try seafood – there are so many seafood eateries we couldn’t single one but as a seafood destination in Devon head to Brixham where most of the seafood served in the local eateries have been freshly caught that morning!
Sweet Treats
Cream Tea! Need we say more – Devon is arguably most famous for its Devonshire cream tea: a scone topped with cream and then jam which is a must try while visiting the area. You’ll find it on the menu of almost every tea room in the county, but make sure to apply the toppings in the correct order! Devonshire clotted cream is a traditional thick cream characterized by its high butterfat content (64%). Clotted cream has been a staple of both Devon and Cornwall for a long time, and it’s been a cause for friendly rivalry for as long as anyone can remember.
Best place for a Cream Tea: Angels, Babbacombe Downs (nb: it is advisable to book a table).
Saffron cake is a traditional delicacy made in Devon and Cornwall, characterized by its close texture and a rich, spicy taste. The cake consists of bread dough, saffron, assorted fruit and spices, sugar, and butter. It is usually baked like bread and served sliced, with clotted cream on the side.
Devonshire split is a traditional British sweet bun originating from Devon, hence the name. The buns are usually made with a combination of flour, salt, sugar, yeast, butter, and milk or cream. Once the dough has been formed, it’s divided into small rounded buns that are baked until the crust becomes pale golden. They are often rubbed with butter and sprinkled with icing sugar. The bread should be very light and the flavours slightly sweet. After they have been baked, Devonshire splits are split open and filled with clotted cream and jam.
Devon fudge is an indulgent sweet treat that has been made in Devon for decades, although its origins are attributed to the United States of America. Smooth, creamy and nowadays available in a variety of tempting flavours, it’s as perfect for a special occasion as it is for a mid-morning sugar hit! Fudge is made from sugar, butter and milk which is heated and beaten while it cools until it takes on a tantalising molten consistency. Hardening into slabs of firm fondant, it is then cut into cubes and usually served by weight from a counter. A visit to any one of Roly’s fudge shop’s will allow you to see how the fudge is made!
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