3 replies to this topic

[nineteenineteen]

Over the past 8 years, I have discovered (like so many others before me) that Tasmania has a whole supermarket worth of goodies to consume, quaff and savour. I am sure plenty of you here have sampled some of our locally produced fare, whether it be King Island beef, Tamar Valley wine, or even Wasabi from Chudleigh, so I thought it might be a good topic...

Just to kick things off, I thought I might list some of my favourite local producers:

• Hellyers Road Distillery (Burnie): opened around 18 months ago, this is Australia's largest distillery. They produce some very fine whiskey (lightly peated or "plain"), which goes for around $70 for a 750ml bottle. It's expensive and not sold all that widely yet, but it's worth it if you enjoy a nip or two. They also produce (yummy) whiskey liqueurs and vodka.
• King Island Diary (King Island): last March I went over to King Island for work (the big wildfire), and about halfway along the road between my workplace & the airport is the King Island Dairy. I'm sure most people are aware of their products, being widely available in supermarkets & delis all over Tasmania & the mainland. If you're on King Island, you won't miss it - prices are about a third that found on mainland Tasmania (and even less than mainland Australia prices) - and it's oh so yummy (especially the triple-cream brie!).
• Chudleigh Honey Farm (Chudleigh, 10 mins drive from Derolaine): not the only honey producer in the state, but they're my "local" honey stop-off. Every variety of honey imaginable, including the uniquely Tasmanian leatherwood honey. Personally I head out there for their nut honeys (almond, macadamia, hazelnut) and leatherwood (mostly for my dad, but I like it too). They also have a demonstration hive in their shop where you can watch those busy bees doing their thing.

I hope this hasn't broken any rules in respect to promotion - I can assure you all I am a lowly public servant who doesn't gain any gifts, rewards or money for the above post! I could go on & on about Tasmanian produce (the wine, beers, game meats, cheese, etc), but I don't want to take it away from anyone else.

So...what Tasmanian stuff do you eat/drink/drool over?

[Mystic]

Good topic Wayne. Tasmanian produce is delicious, and I guess as long as this thread does not become a major commercial promotion zone, there is no problem with it. If any of the producers mentioned wish to send samples to the admins it would be nice

Triple cream brie sounds delicious. Have not come across that one in stores, and with the King Island prices you mention, I am going to have to find someone heading up that way.

My all time favourite product of Tasmania is leatherwood honey. First discovered it from a friend when I was at uni on the mainland back in the '80's and have always hunted it down since.

I tend to avoid places that are going to encourage me to spend a lot of money, such as some of the smaller boutique cheese factories we have, even though the temptation is great indeed.

[tassiesim]

Yummy Yummy post topic

I do like Leatherwood honey too the creamed kind is my favorite and ohh look I just happened to pick up a jar while out there with friends the other week for our esteemed Admin to try when I visit, so as far as honey farms goes Chudleigh is on top of my list also, even if you are not a big honeyeater its still a interesting place to stop and have a wander.

I am also rather partial to the new Vodka company that started up at Beauty Point called Strait Vodka its made from wheat grain and spring water from Yorktown in the Tamar Valley and its so nice , they also make other products which i am yet to sample like a dry gin and a pepper-berry vodka

Ashgrove cheese farm is very nice , although I am not a big cheese eater but i always take my mainland visitors there for the free samplings and you can buy nice sized pacs of cheese for not alot of dollars

[nineteenineteen]

On the weekend, future-wife & I went to the Tasman Peninsula for a jaunt. On the way we stopped in at Federation Chocolate @ Taranna. The chocolate is good & you can watch people making the chocolate in their factory (not as interesting as I would have thought!).

On the way back home we stopped in to Moorilla Vineyard in Berriedale. Moorilla recently started their own line of beer, amusingly titled Moo Brew. Future-wife likes the wheat beer (amusingly called "hefe-wiezen"), I like the porter. It's actually quite good quality beer, I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys beer in moderation/for the taste.

Just thought I'd share some of my weekend imbibery...