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Jersey Black Butter
United Kingdom
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It is called Beurre Nièr in Jèrriais, the Norman-French dialect of the Island.
This is a very old and traditional farm-house delicacy of Jersey, and the product is important not only in gastronomic terms, but as a constituent of the now declining, traditional rural culture of the Island.
It is made with a formidable list of ingredients, and is produced in the cider-making season.
Nothing would define the concept of Slow Food better!:
14 cwt apples
113 gallons of cider
30 lbs of sugar
liquorice, cinnamon, and other spices in proportion
Boil up the cider and leave to simmer. Adding the apples and other ingredients in a cauldron (bachin) hung over a low fire.
Stir continuously for 24 to 30 hours, until the correct jammy consistency is achieved.
It can be served as a spread on bread or as a preserve to go with cold meats (traditional) or as a cool additive to an Indian curry (non traditional!).
Black butter making is a very labour intensive operation.
In an age when there was no television or other entertainment, the BlackButter evenings provided a rare opportunity for hard-working farming people to get together and have some fun.
Historic area of production /connection to a group identity:
Something similar to Black Butter is made in Normandy, the part of France with which Jersey has traditional and cultural ties.
The growing of apples and the making of cider is a traditional economic activity of Jersey, going back to 16th Century, and there are many Jersey varieties of apples. This activity diminished in the 19th Century, and despite some very recent endeavours to revive it, has now a negligible part in the Islands economy.
Name and address of contact person:
La Mare Vineyards, Rue de la Hougue Mauger, St Mary, Jersey JE3 3BA.
Black Butter is still made in the traditional manner by various Jersey clubs and associations, partly as a social event, partly to sell the product for fund-raising purposes.
In the past few years makers have included:
St Martins Methodist Church; Young Farmers Club; Trinity Battle of Flowers Association (carnival club), and in 2004, the National Trust for Jersey.
Suzanne Wynn
Slowfoodsomerset@aol.com
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