Happy St Patrick’s Day from The Jelly Bean Factory!
Did you know that The Jelly Bean Factory was founded in Ireland? Yes, it’s true, the Jelly Bean story began in Dublin, Ireland in 1998 when father and son, Peter and Richard Cullen, set out to bring the finest flavours of Jelly Beans to people around the world.
To celebrate St Patrick’s Day, in this blog, we’ll be taking a look at the best food and drink out of Ireland.
The Best Food To Come Out Of Ireland
Ireland has a rich heritage and long history of great food and drink. Eating and drinking are a big part of the culture in Ireland, from traditional hearty stews to artisan cheeses. Get some flavour in your life with some of these top Irish dishes!
Colcannon or Champ
How do you make mashed potatoes even better than they already are? By making them the Irish way, of course! Yes! That’s flavour!
Colcannon and champ are both traditional Irish takes on classic mashed potatoes. Colcannon is made by mashing potatoes together with leafy greens like cabbage or kale along with butter (or cream, if you prefer.)
Champ is made with mashed potatoes, spring onions, milk and butter. Both work great as a side to a range of dishes. Yummers!
Seafood
As an island, Ireland has no shortage of delicious fresh fish and delicious seafood dishes to try. They even hold festivals to celebrate it, including the Galway International Oyster and Seafood Festival, The Connemara Mussel Festival and the Dublin Bay Prawn Festival to name just a few!
Black Pudding or White Pudding
For meat-eaters, one of the best foods to come out of Ireland has got to be Irish black pudding or white pudding. Also known as ‘blood sausage’ black pudding is made from pork meat, fat and blood, mixed with barley, suet and oatmeal and white pudding is the same but minus the blood!
It can be served on its own or as a side, or as part of a Full Irish Breakfast to set you up for the day.
Soda Bread
Soda bread is a traditional Irish recipe and many families in Ireland will have their own special soda bread recipe that has been handed down through generations.
Soda bread is made from bicarbonate of soda (hence its name) buttermilk and flour. It’s usually served freshly sliced with butter.
There are many variations of recipes for soda bread, some include honey, fruit and seeds, and others even contain Irish stout! Cheers!
Gourmet Jelly Beans
We might be biased but we think our Gourmet Jelly Beans are one of the best foods to come out of Ireland, and jelly bean fans across the globe agree! Our 36 mouthwatering flavours mean there’s something to suit everyone’s tastes!
What a flavour explosion!
Jelly Bean Factory Jelly Beans contain only plant-based colours and natural flavourings, making them suitable for vegetarians and allergen-free. They’re also perfect for sharing with friends or family on St Patrick’s Day or anytime!
The Best Drink To Come Out Of Ireland
If you’re planning to raise a glass in honour of St Patrick’s Day, you’ll want to know what are the best drinks to come out of Ireland. Here are just a few of the most popular Irish drinks you could choose from.
Irish Stout
Irish stout dates back centuries and is one of the most popular and well-known Irish drinks. Black in appearance with a creamy, foam top, Irish stout is a black beer made from roasted barley, which gives the drink its distinctive, smooth flavour. It can be enjoyed on its own or with a dash of blackcurrant cordial or as part of a cocktail.
Irish Whiskey
Ireland is famous for its Irish whiskey. Even the word whiskey comes from the Irish word meaning ‘water of life.’ Irish whiskey is triple distilled, making it smoother than many of its counterparts. It can be enjoyed neat or with your choice of mixer like ginger ale, for example. Irish whiskey also makes a great addition to cocktails such as a Whiskey Sour or Old Fashioned. You can even add a dash of whiskey to a cup of coffee to create an Irish Coffee.
Irish Cream
Irish cream is a cream liqueur containing Irish whiskey, cream and sugar. It’s a sweet and milky drink with hints of vanilla and a gentle kick of Irish whiskey to finish. It can be enjoyed over ice or added to a hot drink such as coffee or hot chocolate in place of regular milk. There are also lots of cocktail and dessert recipes that include Irish Cream as an ingredient!
Non-Alcoholic Alternatives
If you don’t drink alcohol and need an alcohol-free alternative, why not celebrate St Patrick’s Day with a zero-alcohol version of the drinks above? Or you could make an Irish-inspired mocktail instead. You could even add green jelly beans to your mocktail for a juicy kick of flavour!
Sláinte!
Contact Us!
We hope you enjoyed our blog about the best food and drink to come out of Ireland!
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