Endearingly dubbed the 'Garden of England' by natives, Kent's
claim to fame can be summarised in two words: organic produce.
This verdant South East county provides an estimated forty per
cent of the UK's 'homegrown' organic fruit and veg, coupled with
a significant contribution of hops to microbreweries throughout
England. With a temperate climate and very little precipitation
during key 'growing' months, Kent was the ideal location for the
introduction of Mediterranean and South American fruits during
the 1600's. Both the Morello Cherry and Kentish Red made rich
pairings with white meats such as duck and turkey, subsequently
fueling a surge in fruity jams supplied exclusively to the court
of King Henry VIII. Cider making continues to thrive in the
region and many of our homegrown apples and pears continue to be
sourced by major supermarket chains. Lesser discussed are
Kentish desserts, which, given the diversity of its fruit and
grain industries, have survived over eons to become firm staples
in modern fami