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The cure

A British take on continental charcuterie

By blending traditional British spices with European curing culture, we’re trying out a new take on charcuterie.

While the popularity of artisan charcuterie has gained momentum in the UK over the past decade, few local makers have melded the continental methods for preserving meat with British flavours and seasonality. Chorizo flecked with red chilli and salami laced with paprika are the go-to – but not at The Farmers Arms.

As with everything we do at Woolsery, our charcuterie is inspired by what grows naturally at Birch Farm. Ideas come from traditional British curing techniques which date back to the 1600s, and are implemented using traditional spices such as nutmeg, wild pepper and cubeb.

The team craft pancetta, lardo and salami, as well as house-cured bacon. They’re constantly experimenting with different blends of herbs and spices – some picked from the farm – and use a combination of wet and dry marinades to infuse own-reared rare-breed meats with traditional British flavours.  

Birch Farm, Woolsery, Provides a British take on Continental Charcuterie

As a result of their keen interest in fermentation, they’ve even experimented with fusing the two preservation styles.

Sample the unique house-cured charcuterie for yourself at the pub. The charcuterie is used to imbue further layers of flavour in dishes such as game broth with spiced sausage, pickled red cabbage and fermented mushrooms. The menu also often features a selection of our charcuterie which is served, sharing style, with local cheeses, pickles, chutneys and fermented sourdough.

Birch Farm
The cult BBC show came to meet Josh Sparkes and find out about our approach to natural farming