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Fennel and Thyme
Batch Code: BAC249
Comments
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is a flowering plant species in the carrot family. It is a hardy, perennial herb with yellow flowers and feathery leaves. It is indigenous to the shores of the Mediterranean but has become widely naturalized in many parts of the world, especially on dry soils near the sea-coast and on riverbanks.
It is a highly aromatic and flavorful herb used in cookery and, along with the similar-tasting anise, is one of the primary ingredients of absinthe. Florence fennel or finocchio (UK: /fɪˈnɒkioʊ/, US: /-ˈnoʊk-/, Italian: [fiˈnɔkkjo]) is a selection with a swollen, bulb-like stem base that is used as a vegetable.
We use the seed part, ground to a powder as part of our most popular bacon flavour. It works particularly well with pork. We alsways buy whole fennel which we grind to a powder as we need it, this seems to provide a better flavour.
We combine our fennel with thyme leaves.
Thyme (/taɪm/) is the herb (dried aerial parts) of some members of the genus Thymus of aromatic perennial evergreen herbs in the mint family Lamiaceae. Thymes are relatives of the oregano genus Origanum. They have culinary, medicinal, and ornamental uses, and the species most commonly cultivated and used for culinary purposes is Thymus vulgaris.
Ancient Egyptians used thyme for embalming. The ancient Greeks used it in their baths and burnt it as incense in their temples, believing it was a source of courage. We use it in our delicious bacon cure.
The spread of thyme throughout Europe was thought to be due to the Romans, as they used it to purify their rooms and to "give an aromatic flavour to cheese and liqueurs". In the European Middle Ages, the herb was placed beneath pillows to aid sleep and ward off nightmares. In this period, women also often gave knights and warriors gifts that included thyme leaves, as it was believed to bring courage to the bearer. Thyme was also used as incense and placed on coffins during funerals, as it was supposed to assure passage into the next life.
We suggest you just eat our bacon and enjoy it :)
Date Information
Use By: 11-Dec-20
Manufactured: 29-Oct-20
Sell By: 11-Dec-20
Best Before: 11-Dec-20
Supplied / Made By:
The Curiosities Company Ltd [https://thecuriosities.co.uk]
The best bacon producer in the world
This is ourselves. We produce and supply ourselves and many others.
General Product Information
Our own special bacon
Was created by this process
Process Information
Cure Bacon
Process used to cure bacon
Comments
We use a very manual dry curing method to cure our bacon.
Firstly the bellies are washed in cold water, cut in half and weighed.
Using our own curing recipe we add sufficient Sea Salt and Sodium Nitrite to create a safe cure. To this we add a mixture of flavours to create the cure flavour.
The meat is then sealed into a Plastic Free bag for at least 10 days to cure at a temperature of around 3C. It is massaged at least 3 times each week.
Once cured, it is removed from the bag and air dried in our converted fridges between 2C and 5C for at least 21 days.
Once dried it is hand cut on our old HOBART slicing machine (which incidentally we're told was originally installed in the kitchens at the Lloyds Headquarters in London).
The slices are weighed to create packs of at least 200g minimum. These are vacuum sealed and put into our bespoke outer packs made from FSC 100% certified components.
Cure start: 2020-09-30
Dry start: 2020-10-14
Cut and pack start: 2020-10-29
Used the following 4 ingredients
Pork Belly [Tamworth Pork Belly]
Batch Code: BELLY303
Comments
Supplied directly by Paddock Farm Butchery from Paddock Farm.
Slaughtered at Long Compton Abbattoir.
Breed: Tamworth
Mother: Ariana
Father: Paul
Ear tags: 2121, 2125, 2127
Born: 2020-01-21
Weened:2020-03-20
Killed: 2020-09-16
Butchered by: Jon Francis
Supplied By:
Paddock Farm [http://www.paddock.fm]
Specialist producer of rare breed Tamworth Pigs
Producing great meat is all about raising the finest animals in the best environment possible.
At the heart of everything Paddock Farm does is the farm and their herd of native-breed Tamworth pigs. As well as supplying delicious pork, sausages, bacon and charcuterie, the farm sets a benchmark for welfare, animal husbandry and quality. Working with other similar minded producers and suppliers they are able to stock beef, pork, lamb, poultry and game of a quality that is second to none.
The farm is proud to supply many of the country’s top chefs with well raised, properly aged, respectfully butchered meat – they can count more than 40 Michelin stars amongst their customers and restaurants.
And best of all they also supply us at the Curiosities Company Ltd.
Date Information
Purchased: 27-Sep-20
Pure Sea Salt [Pure Sea Salt]
Batch Code: 20025
Comments
Packed by GJ at Halen Môn
Supplied By:
Halon Môn [https://www.halenmon.com]
Sea Salt Manufacturer
Halon Môn are based in one of the loveliest parts of Wales. They source their salt from the Menai Straits. After graduating from Bangor University, where where the founders had fallen in love with each other and the island of Anglesey, they started looking for ways that would allow them to continue to live and work in this area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
In 1997, they left a saucepan of seawater to boil on the Aga in their family kitchen aga and as the salt crystals started to form, they knew they'd struck culinary gold. In 1999, they started supplying Halen Môn Sea Salt to Swains, their local butchers in Menai Bridge on the Isle of Anglesey, and now we use it too.
We love this story and love their products and any company that has not one, but two dogs on their "Who are we" page definitely deserve to be suppliers!
Date Information
Purchased: 01-Mar-19
Best Before: 31-Jan-24
Flavour [Fennel and Thyme]
Batch Code: FT20200930
Comments
Supplied By:
The Curiosities Company Ltd [https://thecuriosities.co.uk]
The best bacon producer in the world
This is ourselves. We produce and supply ourselves and many others.
Date Information
Manufactured: 30-Sep-20
Sodium Nitrite Salt [Prague Powder #1]
Batch Code: 2005067
Comments
Curing salt
Supplied By:
Surfy Curing Supplies [https://www.homecuring.co.uk]
Surfy's Home Curing Supplies
Surfy's design, blend and test all their own seasonings. Their seasonings contain only the best herbs and spices we can find, no carrier oils, artificial colours or flavours. They even dry some herbs and spices their selves in their own desiccators to ensure that they are the best we can get. Just like us! Their ham & bacon cures and nitrite curing salt are all made from Certified Organic Kosher Sea Salt pre-mixed to precise standards so we can safely make our bacon.
Date Information
Purchased: 01-Nov-18
