Clay Barn Orchard Quince
Every year we make our way down to Clay Barn Orchard to collect the perfumed Vranja Quinces for our Christmas Puddings. It’s a labour of love, as many things that we at Melrose and Morgan do are, but we really enjoy the drive out to Essex on our annual trip to see the Trollope family. Somehow collecting these ancient fruits seems to signal the start of the Christmas season.
Back in our kitchens we grate the Quince and add it to Figs, Candied Peel, Apricots, Cherries, Apples, Oranges, Spices, Brandy and vegetable suet before steaming the puddings for five hours. The puddings then sit and mature for at least a month before they make their way to our shops.
Recently voted the unanimous ‘favourite’ in a national taste test by The Guardian, our Christmas Pudding with English Quince is available to buy from both our Shops and can be delivered nationwide from our Online Shop.
It’s delicious with our Brandy Custard or Brandy Butter, and should there be any left over it’s great crumbled over vanilla ice cream or added to Vestal Vodka to make a festive after dinner ‘sticky’ for next Christmas.