by Nick Saltmarsh May 12, 2016 2 Comments
Hodmedod's Organic Carlin Peas have been awarded the prestigious Soil Association BOOM award for best pantry product. We're overjoyed that these wonderful but little-known traditional British peas have been recognised for their deliciously nutty flavour. |
When we first discovered Carlin Peas in 2012 we couldn't believe that such a superb traditional British crop wasn't better known and more widely eaten. We immediately decided to add them to our range of British-grown bean and peas, then comprising just three other products - split and whole fava beans, and marrowfat peas.
Carlin Peas have a distinctively nutty flavour and a good firm texture, which makes them an ideal substitute for chickpeas in any recipe. They're delicious in salads, curries, cassoulets and casseroles, as well as making great hummus and falafel. Carlins are still play an important role in traditional dishes around England, particularly Lancashire's Parched Peas and the Black Country's Grey Peas and Bacon. They deserve a place in every pantry!
Back in 2012 we were only able to source Carlin Peas from a handful of specialist growers - none of them organic - producing them for export markets, primarily Japan. Sold under the dialect name "Black Badgers" our Carlin Peas soon found favour in appreciative kitchens, including River Cottage and Bristol's Cafe Kino.
When we started working with organic farmer Mark Lea, of Green Acres Farm in Shropshire, we asked him to try growing a first crop of organic Carlins. They're a beautiful but often challenging crop to grow but Mark produced a fantastic harvest of excellent Organic Carlin Peas.
Organic Carlin Peas Ripening in the Field at Green Acres Farm
We're overjoyed that these wonderful peas have now been recognised in the prestigious Soil Association BOOM Awards, winning not just the award for best store cupboard item but coming through as overall winner of the entire pantry category.
Josiah and Joe travelled up to London yesterday for the award ceremony at Borough Market Hall. After a slap-up feast including Organic Carlin Peas (of course!) and celebrating our customer Unicorn Grocery's award for best independent retailer, they were astonished and delighted to be called up to accept the award for our Carlin Peas.
Josiah and Joe with our BOOM Award and friends from Unicorn Grocery
May 31, 2021
my husband remembers Carling Pea Sunday in Yorkshire when he was a child in the 50s. I am delighted with them and we enjoyed them in a casserole last Saturday. BUT all your recipes use the tinned version and I have the dried. I want to try the two brownie recipes but I don’t know how many dried ones will, after soaking and cooking, equate to the contents of a tin as used in the recipes. Can you please help. I did weigh some soaked and cooked ones last week but 400g as per the tin used in the recipes looked far too much. What is the drained weight of a tin? Please help. Liz
May 31, 2021
I am looking for pes which in Holland are sold as Capucijners. Do you know what they are and would they perhaps be these? My husband likes them very much and I have never been able to find them in UK. They are normally cooked and served with bacon or sausage and silverskin pickled onions.
Comments will be approved before showing up.
by Amy Oboussier February 02, 2024
Chef James Taylor has been working since mid 2023 to transform school meals initiatives at two London primary schools - Sir Thomas Abney School in Stoke Newington and Harrington Hill Primary School in Clapton. The London Mayor's initiative to provide universal free school meals in primary schools from September 2023 is both a crucial lifeline for families nit by the cost-of-living crisis and an inspiration for change. James and the school have used this opportunity to provide meals that champion more nutritious, planet-friendly food.
by Amy Oboussier October 24, 2023
A few years ago we were looking for a sweetner for some granola recipes, something UK produced and minimally processed. When our apple syrup order from Liberty Fields arrived we knew we were onto something special - we quickly added them to our short list of brilliant Guest Producers
by Nick Saltmarsh September 19, 2023
We've launched ten pulses and grains from British farms as part of Holland & Barrett's transformation of their food range, available in their stores across the UK. It's a fantastic opportunity to make British-grown fava beans, carlin peas and quinoa, along with other pulses and cereals, available more widely and to support more diverse farming.
Get in touch at hello@hodmedods.co.uk or 01986 467567
Things sometimes go wrong but we'll always do our best to put it right. Please contact us to let us know if there's any problem with an order.
For further details please see our Terms of Service, Returns, Refunds and Exchanges Policy and Privacy Policy.
Sign up for our latest news, recipes, offers & more…
By signing up, you agree to receive marketing emails. Please see our Privacy Policy for more details.
Registered in England and Wales as Hodmedod Ltd, The Studios, London Road, Brampton, Beccles, Suffolk, NR34 8DQ, UK; company number 08151811.
Nick Saltmarsh
Author