We’re delighted to have teamed up with Gower Preserves to bring you our delectable new lavender syrup. This is a product I’d been thinking of introducing for some time and I knew that Gower Preserves founder Nicola Harris was the perfect person to bring it to life.
Nicola started making jams and chutneys in 2019 inspired by her gran’s recipes and produce that was available seasonally on Gower. At the time she was running Delicai deli in Brynmill, Swansea, but she soon learnt that her true passion lay in the jams and chutneys, so she closed the deli and set about installing a specialist kitchen in her home on Gower.
She says: “A hand injury set me back for a while but by March 2022 my hand was healed, my kitchen was ready, and I was able to concentrate on markets and festivals. It was fantastic and I’m now planning to move to bigger food events such as food festivals and country shows.”
She also supplies her chutneys, jams and fruit vinegars to local shops including Farm Co in Gorseinon and Ocean Boulevard in Penclawdd.
I approached Nicola earlier this year to ask if she would produce our lavender syrup. She already produced an elderflower syrup, so she was well-qualified for the task. We had a fabulous time in her kitchen trying out different recipes.
“It was like a science laboratory,” Nicola recalls. “I’m a ‘Ready Steady Cook’ type of cook – I like to find or be given ingredients and have to create something with them, so I was in my element.”
The recipe we settled on uses my home-grown lavender, sugar, water, and a touch of lemon juice, which stops the syrup crystallising. I’m pleased to say that Nicola is a fan.
“It’s very nice in gin and my daughter loves it so much in hot chocolate that we keep running out!” she says.
The syrup has been selling so well since we launched it, we’re now considering producing larger bottles of it. I’m delighted to be working with Nicola on this – her enthusiasm is infectious.
“The things I love most about my job are the fun of creating recipes and getting return customers,” she says. “It’s brilliant when people tell you how much they’ve enjoyed it – that makes you feel it’s all worthwhile.”
Shop Nicola’s wonderful range of jams, chutneys and fruit vinegars here: www.gowerpreserves.co.uk.