Bring it on (Crosse and Blackwell Branston Pickle)

Member Name: Donf18

Product:	Crosse and Blackwell Branston Pickle
Date:	28/11/05 (213 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Very tasty

Disadvantages: none I can think of

In 1922 in the small town of Branston nr Burton on Trent England a Company called Crosse and Blackwell created something really special.

They took some vegetables namely........onions,carrots, cauliflower,tomato marrow, garlic and chopped them into about 1/4 inch cubes. Nothing special here I hear you say and at this point you are correct. So listen very carefully for I shall say this only once. They then took a secret blend of spices and seasoning a mixed everything together and produced a most excellent pickle.

It's not just a pickle its a culinary and olfactory delight. Once the jar is opened it is nothing short of sensational from then on. The initial smell is sweet and spicy leading you into a false sense of it being over spicy. The aroma simply puts your taste buds into first gear.

To get into second gear select a meat or cheese to accompany you on you culinary trek. Once this is done third and top gear are but a mouthful away. Now sit yourself comfortably to enjoy the sensations that are about to attack your taste buds and tingle you with delight.

On first putting some of this brown concoction into you mouth you are assaulted by the thick brown liquid that holds the secret of Branston pickle. It's slightly nippy and slightly sweet and yet it has hints of almost all the spices I can think of. This is strange since many are not included on the ingredients list, therefor the mixture itself has created the extra tastes that I am enjoying. The second sensation you are aware of is the crunchy texture of the vegetables which roam happily in the spicy sauce. You can faintly taste some veg but most are overcome by the magic brown potion. They are not hidden merely there to find.

With so many veg included in the pickle it is seldom you get two bites identical and occasionally you get and overdose of one veg onion is particularly good in this situation since it blends perfectly with the sauce.

This pickle is an exceptional addition to cold ham or your favourite cheese. A cheese sandwich made with Branston Pickle is a sandwich that is very hard to better. There are many dishes which would benefit from a little spoonful of this pickle just placed on the side for one to dip at. I really like it with liver and Onions and some mashed potato.

At about 89p-99p for a 450g jar it is very good value indeed.
Nutritionally it contains per 100g

Protein .8g
Energy 109kcal
Carbohydrate 26.1g
of which sugars 23.9g
Fat .2g
Fibre 1.1g
Sodium 1.6g

I thoroughly recommend this product it is just so scrummy that I have been known to have a little spoon of it all on its own.

Summary: A very versatile and tasty pickle.