Last month held a Love Local theme for the Year of Food and Drink 2016, and as we welcome Heritage & Traditions month in March, we look back at some absolutely iconic local brands that make us proud to be Northern Irish.

When you look around our phenomenal landscapes, you’ll not be surprised that we’re bursting at the seams with wonderful local producers. Bring your appetite, book a room and enjoy the tasty creations our farms, factories, breweries and bakeries are making. 

Tayto NI

Tayto NI Iconic Local Brands

Tayto crisps are well known throughout Ireland, but the jury is out on the ongoing debate on both sides of the border about whose Tayto cheese and onion tastes better! The NI Brand celebrates its 60th birthday this month and you can visit the 4* Tayto Castle in Tandragee in Co. Armagh for guided tours.

Comber Earlies

Comber Potatoes Iconic Local Brands

On the subject of loving potatoes, Comber in County Down has the perfect climate for growing them. Now famous throughout Europe, the Comber Earlies are delicious with a knob of butter and have recently attained protected EU status. Mash Direct, also based in Comber, is now the top selling brand in chilled side dishes in the UK and Ireland and there are 37 different dishes in the company’s product portfolio.

Bushmills Whiskey

Bushmills Distillery Iconic Local Brands

Relax with the rich warming distinctive taste of award winning Bushmills Whiskey made at the oldest distillery in Ireland.  Experience the story of Bushmills and learn about the skill, passion and expertise from ‘grain to glass’ on their 4* distillery tour located on the Causeway Coast.

The Cookstown Sizzle 

Cookstown Iconic Local Brands

Our great brands evoke sweet childhood memories, emotions and associations. George Best’s Cooktown sausages rose to fame through the late football star’s TV ads, and with him they’re still sizzling as a local favourite.

Tasty Bakeries

Irwins Bakery Iconic Local Brands

Recall the smell of fresh bread, soda farls, muffins and potato bread delivered to your door in bygone days by the Ormo bread server in his small van.  You are spoilt for choice with so many tasty Northern Ireland’s breads from a wee bit of Irwin’s toasted Veda or an Irwin’s Nutty Crust sandwich made with the award winning artisan cheddar cheese from Fivemiletown Creamery.

Whites Oats & Punjana Tea

Punjana Tea Iconic Local Brands

Start the day with a heart-warming tasty breakfast bowl of Whites Oats porridge who have 175 years’ of experience and expertise, and a focused passion for locally sourcing and milling oats. The Thompson’s family have been brewing tea in Northern Ireland for over 100 years and their Punjana Tea is one of the most popular brands in Ireland and Scotland.

Lough Neagh Eels

Lough Neagh Eels Iconic Local Brands

The Lough Neagh Fisherman Co-operative is the largest producer of wild eels and well known throughout Europe. Lough Neagh eels were given EU protected name status and are a tasty specialty that can be found in many local NI restaurants and eateries.

Ice Cream

Maids Ice Cream Iconic Local Brands

Childhood memories of sunny seaside visits would not be complete without this delicious summer time treat. Dale Farm with its many varieties of classic cool ice-cream to the unforgettable taste of Morelli’s in Portrush and the magical Mauds Pooh Bear flavour at various locations in Northern Ireland.

 

Laura Caldwell

Author: Laura Caldwell

Hi, I'm Laura. I'm 30 years old and have a degree in Journalism with Photo-Imaging at the University of Ulster. I have an undying love for Belfast and all that it has to offer, an undying love for sleeping, Tegan and Sara, trashy tv shows, foreign snack-foods and being irresponsible with money. I also quite like origami, reading, jazz, hip-hop, dubstep, anything acoustic and Food Network TV. I've written for The Big List, Culture NI, Chatterbox and The Echo, as well as writing for BBC Across the Line.