New Foodie Treat Launches in Time for Christmas
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Levens Hall and Gardens has launched a new food delight, having commissioned local Cumbrian food heroes, Wild & Fruitful, to create its own very special chutney, rooted in Levens Hall’s centuries-long history.
Ahead of Christmas 2022, the South Lakes heritage attraction has created a chutney based on its iconic Morocco Ale, arguably the second most famous thing for which it is known. The first is its status as the home of the world’s oldest topiary garden (established from 1694), which makes it a Guinness World Record holder.
Morocco Ale is a dark, spicy and tantalising, award-winning brew, produced to a secret recipe, safeguarded at Levens Hall and Gardens for over 300 years. In fact, during the English Civil War, it was deemed so precious that the recipe was wrapped in lead and hidden in the gardens.
A 3ft-5-inch-tall copper vat (1692) originally used in Levens Hall Brewhouse, where Morocco Ale was brewed, now proudly sits in the historic property’s Great Hall.
Wild & Fruitful has used its skills, to incorporate this unique alcoholic beverage into a delicious chutney – a perfect accompaniment for cold cuts of meat, cheese or crackers. It is made with mellow pears and perfectly blended spices and, of course, the all-important dark, rich ale.
Morocco Ale Chutney sales are likely to boom in May, when Levens Hall and Gardens will celebrate its third World Topiary Day, on Sunday May 14, 2023. The celebration’s date is intrinsically tied to the history of Morocco Ale. This was downed in copious amounts at the annual May 12, Levens Hall ‘Radish Feast’, which ran from the late 17thcentury to 1877.
This raucous event saw trestle tables ladened down with radishes and oatcakes (haverbread), with Morocco Ale to wash treats down. First-time attendees had to down huge ‘constables’ of the strong, mysterious brew, whilst standing on one leg and raising a toast ‘Luck to Levens whilst t’Kent flows’. All inebriated male attendees were also blindfolded and asked to walk across the Bowling Green in a straight line, to reach a pathway accessed through the opposite hedge.
The taste bud tickling chutney will perhaps whisper of this extraordinary history but will certainly exhibit the quality and taste associated with the handmade products from Wild & Fruitful and owner-chef, Jake Winter.
Levens Hall and Gardens owner, Richard Bagot, says: “We are delighted to add this new foodie Morocco Ale-based treat to our Morocco Ale range, allowing keen foodies to sample the ale in this new-recipe chutney, in its pure bottled form, as produced by Daleside Brewery and through our existing fruitcake, made by Sugar Therapy. Putting all three items together, to form a Morocco Ale extravaganza, could make a perfect Christmas gift hamper.”
The new chutney costs £3.68 per jar, from the Levens Hall and Gardens shop. There, they can also purchase Morocco Ale at a price of £3.50 per bottle, whilst the fruitcake costs £6.50.
Although Levens Hall and Gardens itself is closed until April, other than for a ticketed pre-Christmas event, Levens Hall shop is open throughout November and December, along with award-winning eatery, Levens Kitchen.
Shop opening hours are 10.30am to 3pm, 7 days a week to December 31 (closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day until January 16, 2023. For more details, head to www.levenshall.co.uk
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Editors notes
Levens Hall & Gardens is a historic house in the South Lakes, Cumbria, close to Kendal and home to the world's oldest topiary gardens, dating from 1694, created by French garden designer, Guillaume Beaumont. The Hall is a stunning Elizabethan house built around a 13th century pele tower and has close links to the Duke of Wellington, as well as various items which once belonged to him and Napoleon Bonaparte. Levens Park is home to the rare Bagot goats gifted to the Bagot family and a place in which to stroll and enjoy nature. Levens Kitchen is the contemporary new cafe, full of delights for cake lovers and foodies alike.
