Boyne Valley Flavours launches a box of autumn taste for Samhain

This autumn, Boyne Valley Flavours has released 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 Boyne Valley Flavours 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 awarded stars for their products, notably Carlingford Oyster Company who were awarded three stars for their Carlingford Oysters.

To launch the new website in style, Boyne Valley Flavours has put together a unique and traditional Samhain Food Box which features all the ingredients needed to enjoy a proper Samhain Feast at home. All the ingredients are grown, produced or created in the Boyne Valley, said to be 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.

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 and 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 €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 on 29th October, to ensure it is delivered in time for the celebration of Samhain on 31st October.

Boyne Valley Flavours initially began when a group of passionate food producers and hospitality providers came together to support and promote the local food offering across the region. Since then the movement has grown significantly and in 2016 a specific Boyne Valley Food Strategy was launched by Meath and Louth County Councils, this incorporates the Boyne Valley Food Series, the Boyne Valley Producer’s Network, the Place on a Plate initiative under the Boyne Valley Flavour’s brand.

The vision is: ‘For the Boyne Valley region to be recognised as the leading national food and craft drinks destination. To be the standout food region within Ireland’s Ancient East.’

Since the launch of the strategy, Boyne Valley Flavours have achieved many successes, including being announced as winners of “Foodie Destination” in 2016 and runner up in 2017 and 2018. The region was recognized as one of the “World’s Best Food Destinations in 2019 by the National Geographic Traveller, alongside Cusco in Peru and Bologna in Italy, and in November of 2019, we won an award at the World Food Travel Association’s Food Trekking Awards in London for “Most Innovative Food or Beverage Marketing Campaign for a Destination”