Home-grown Halloween in a box from Boyne Valley Flavours

This autumn, Boyne Valley Flavours is releasing a limited-edition 'Samhain Food Box' to celebrate the launch of its new website which features an online market where users will be able to purchase produce from members in one convenient location. The website also features lots of information on local producers, food experiences, restaurants, cafes and accommodation providers in the region making it easy to plan a gastronomic adventure to the Boyne Valley, when we can safely travel again.

The Boyne Valley regions is home to a whole host of talented and passionate food and drink producers as was evident at this year’s Blas na hÉireann awards where Boyne Valley based producers took home over 20 awards. There was also success at this year’s Great Taste Awards where five producers were award stars for their products, notably Carlingford Oyster Company who were awarded three stars for their Carlingford Oysters. Boyne Valley Flavours.

All the ingredients in the food box are grown, produced or created in the Boyne Valley, the home of Halloween.

According to legend, Samhain, the ancient Celtic Festival that we now call Halloween, originated in the Boyne Valley more than 2,000 years ago.

It was thought that during Samhain, the veil between worlds was thinned so that fairies (the Aos Sí) and spirits could return to the world of the living from the Otherworld. Irish people held feasts to beckon their loved one’s home while lighting bonfires for protection from evil spirits.

Food was a massively important part of this celebration and certain foods and dishes were associated with it. Samhain was said to mark the harvest and a time of transition, with feasting and celebration as the long winter nights approached, so celebrate this ancient Festival with a Boyne Valley Flavour’s Samhain feast in the comfort of your own home this year.

Begin or end your feast with some of Boyne Valley Farmhouse Cheeses’ Boyne Valley Bán along with A Bit on the Side’s Jalapeno Jelly and some Sheridan’s Brown Bread Crackers for a delicious start or end!

Then discover a recipe specially crafted by Boyne Valley Flavour’s Brand Ambassadors- the GastroGays especially for the Samhain Food Box, for the for the traditional Samhain dish of Colcannon which can be made with the Finnegan’s Farm Potatoes, Rock Farm Kale & Spring Onion and Oriel Sea Salt Teeling Whiskey Smoked Salt all of which are included in the box.

In homage to National Black Pudding Day on 3rd November the famous Smoked Black Pudding from The Smokin’ Butcher- Hugh Maguire is also in the Box which will make a perfect accompaniment to the Colcannon.

Wash all this down with some refreshing Stameen Farm Apple juice or a glass of the unique Cockagee Cider from The Cider Mill. Also included in the box is a freshly baked Artisan Barm Brack from Bakealicious, another traditional food for this time of year and it will go perfectly with Blackberry Jam from Clarke’s Fresh Fruit or some beautiful BeeWise Honey.

The limited-edition Samhain Food Box is available to purchase now on www.boynevalleyflavours.ie at a cost of €50 including nationwide delivery. All Samhain Food Boxes ordered will be dispatched on 28th October or be available for collection at the Rock Farm weekly market in Slane on 29th October, to ensure it is delivered in time for the celebration of Samhain on 31st October.