Have you lost your mind? Part 1 Jersey.
Two Salt farmers at opposite ends of the British Isles in 3 days! Jersey to The western Isles of Scotland …yes we have lost our minds!
So getting hold of Matt from Jersey sea salt was a challenge. We had contacted Matt a few months earlier when planning our trip. We had tickets and hotel booked and were set to depart for St. Helier the capital, but still hadn’t heard from Matt. Whilst not frantic its always nice to know that your planned visit will come off and that the host isn't in Bali for a week! The night before we left Matt pinged the txt, a couple of months of radio silence was broken. Lucky us, because in the fraternity of solar sea salt makers Matt is a real gent with a big heart and generous with his hospitality!
There’s nothing simple or that goes exactly to plan when you put your faith in EasyJet or Ryanair. But after ditching our bags in the Norfolk hotel Matt kindly picked us up in his partner Lauren’s small car… the Ute not having 3 seats. Within 5 minutes of arriving in pretty and sunny St. Helier we were off to the salt farm just outside the village of Gorey - spiritual and literal home to Jersey sea salt.
We pitched up to a small rural piece of land not far from the coast where Matt makes is sea salt. The sea farm works on principles identical to ours. Just using the sun to heat and then evaporate shallow food grade ponds of sea water.
Two Happy sea salt farmers
Jersey sea salt has been operating since 2015 and makes around 30% more per year. than ourselves. The similarities continue as Jersey sea salt has won numerous “Great Taste Awards” similar to our Artisan and Outstanding food awards in NZ.
Jersey sea salt has a fine flake texture and distinctive minerality. In a flavour comparison between the two both are very minerally but the flavour of Jersey very different. Possibly the very large tides and big beds of sea grass provide a mineral source that’s very different.
One of my favourite Jersey sea salts was the Purple dulce. Slightly peppery and lovely strong deep umami. I loved it.
Matt spent a few years in NZ and I suspect being a native of the island of Jersey from a family that has been living there for 800 years, the laid back attitude to life and genuine hospitality is common ground for both nations.
So tour of the salt farm and production facility complete we decamped to the pretty village of Gorey and its quaint harbour. Gorey sits underneath Mont Orgueil Castle. Its the one on all the Jersey post cards! Called lé Vièr Châté (the Old Castle) by Jèrriais-speakers its history dates back to 1212 AD and recent excavations suggest the site was used as far back as 2500BC!
We ate local oysters at the Dolphin, Matts local and met a couple of Matt and Lauren’s friends after work.
Sitting in the sun looking out over Gorey harbour talking sea salt, slurping oysters and drinking the local brews - now that’s living ! We need a week here but tomorrow morning we are off to Scotland 🏴.
