Norfolk's Best Local Produce

Norfolk’s Best Local Produce

by Katie Thompson

Norfolk is a county known for its agriculture and, even more importantly, its local produce. Think incredible freshness, high quality and amplified flavours that make the most of our fertile land and warmer climate.  

This is where seafood is brought in daily at working harbours (spot lobster pot markers bobbing in the North Sea) and satisfyingly sweet strawberries are picked every summer. Norfolk is also ideal for malting barley- be it for locally brewed beer or as the spirit of whisky. 

So, whether you’re a foodie wanting to find out more or a local determined to savour homegrown produce, here’s the lowdown on some of Norfolk’s best local produce! 

(A special shoutout goes to the potatoes, sugar beet, rapeseed oil, turkeys and (formerly) mustard that don’t make the list but are just as important!)

Image: Nathan Neeve/ Norwich BID

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Seafood 

With 90 miles of coastline, it’s unsurprising that Norfolk’s fish and seafood are some of the country’s best.  

Of course, there’s the iconic Cromer crab, a seasonal delicacy that’s recognised for being smaller and sweeter than other brown crab found in Europe. Their popularity grew in tandem with train travel to this traditional seaside town in Victorian times and it hasn’t waned since!  

Similar to the Cromer crab, Norfolk lobsters thrive on the Cromer Shoal Chalk Bed- see how many pot markers you can spot on your walks along the beach! They’re recognised for their high quality and flavour- likely due to the nutrients found on the chalk reef. 

Then it’s all about mussels- most likely from Brancaster. They’re bigger and more succulent than your typical mussel, maturing in tidal creeks that make up part of our unique landscape. Our favourite way to eat them? With a large hunk of bread or crispy skin-on fries! And Brancaster is also known for its oysters- a Norfolk legacy that is set to grow as Blakeney Point becomes home to Europe’s largest oyster reef. 

Another seafood to know is Stiffkey cockles, traditionally harvested with rakes and nets, before being steamed or boiled (and doused in vinegar!). 

Cheese 

It’s hard to say no to a cheeseboard, right? Especially one inviting you to try a delectable selection of Norfolk cheeses! Here, local dairies are known for using raw milk and traditional methods to produce a mouthwatering choice of handmade flavours, whether soft or hard, smoky or herby. 

The most popular and recognisable include the silky, brie-like Baron Bigod from Fen Farm Dairy, soft Binham Blue from Mrs Temple’s Cheese, and Ferndale Farm’s nutty Norfolk Dapple. And if you want to know (and taste!) more, we always recommend joining Cheese Sommelier Cheryl Cade’s Cheese Tour (£28pp), specially designed to introduce you to Norfolk’s best. 

Fruit and Veg 

Whilst our county may be known for potatoes and sugar beet (did you know Kettle Crisps come from Norfolk?), there’s plenty more locally grown fruit and veg to experience! 

Start with the sweet juices of Norfolk strawberries. Shining ruby gems that make the perfect treat with just a splash of cream or whipped into an Eton mess. Or feel the burst of tart raspberries on your palette. Look out for Sharrington and Place UK when you’re piling up the punnets! 

One of our favourite spring vegetables has got to be Norfolk asparagus- a vegetable which thrives in our deep soils and dry climate. This gives them a tenderness and earthy flavour, so when you’re serving, all you need is a sprinkle of salt and pepper. 

Or for ‘asparagus of the sea’- samphire, that is, head to the North Norfolk coast. Here, tidal creeks and salt marshes act as the perfect environment. Marsh samphire has been a culinary staple for centuries in villages along the coastline, so not only are you sampling a current delicacy, you’re also savouring a slice of Norfolk history.

Beer, Wine and Spirits 

Thanks to our flat and arable landscape, Norfolk is ideal for growing swathes of malting barley. Add in mild temperatures, high sunshine hours and light soil and our county has one of the highest concentrations of breweries in the country! 

From Great Yarmouth to King’s Lynn, North Norfolk to Norwich, there are plenty of breweries to visit for a crisp pint and a taste of our landscape. Some of the biggest names include Woodforde’s, Fat Cat and Redwell (where we suggest a stone-baked pizza alongside in their working taproom). 

This barley also contributes to the county’s whisky production- yes, you read that right. At The English Distillery, Norfolk whisky is the name of the game. The barley creates a unique flavour, while the Breckland Aquifer, England’s largest store of clean fresh water, is ideal as both an ingredient and for distilling. 

And when it comes to wine, Norfolk’s reputation is flourishing. Similarly to barley, the soil and microclimate are adept to maturing a variety of grapes, particularly the Bacchus, Solaris, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. 

Where to Taste 

Here in Norwich, we’re lucky that so many of our eateries are champions of Norfolk produce, celebrating the seasonal, sustainable and locally foraged. 

Our names to note include WinePress at the Maids Head Hotel and Brix and Bones, both of whom showcase the incredible meat of our region. WinePress’ Norwich-born-and-bred Head Chef Alastair Grand elevates classics- think Norfolk Chicken Supreme and Swannington pork two ways, while Brix and Bones’ George Wood is known for skilled open-fire cooking, enhancing flavours of carefully sourced cuts and steaks. 

At Michelin Guide-standard Benedicts, Chef Patron Richard Bainbridge is a Norwich Market regular and celebrates suppliers across the county. From wine from Flint Vineyard and Burn Valley to organic vegetables and flowers form West Lexham. And that’s without mentioning, Holkham Estate’s game and fish from Cromer and North Norfolk. 

And, of course, there’s Norwich Market, which not only sells a spectrum of local produce (in both colour and product) but is also a great place to taste it too. One of our top picks has got to be The Bodega and their can’t-believe-it’s-that-big NYC-style sandwiches! 

Where to Shop 

What could be more tempting than a delicious souvenir to take home as a reminder of your visit to Norwich and Norfolk? 

In the Norwich Lanes, make a beeline for our independent department store Jarrolds, heading downstairs to their glorious food hall. Enter this bustling area for shelves brimming with local produce. Start with jams and preserves before perusing chocolates, fudge and cookies. Then head to the savouries and spirits: oils and vinegars, condiments and sauces, gins, rums, whiskies, wine and beer. Take a look at the Deli Counter for freshly make pastries and cakes (think Richard Bainbridge’s tomato tart and Tim Kinnaird’s domed macarons) and The Cheese Room for an aged-to-perfection array. 

Nearby, you’ll find Sir Toby’s Beers on Norwich Market- known for their craft beers and East Anglian real ales- and Beer Hatch in our Cathedral Quarter, a popular spot stocked with local brews, real ales, ciders and draught beers from breweries like Ampersand (Diss) and Duration (West Acre). 

And in Honingham, less than 10 miles from Norwich, the Goat Shed entices you try to try a whole range of regional goodies, including their very own goats’ cheese! Alongside this, you can savour fresh meat from the butcher, warm loaves from the baker, and tasty snacks, like Norfolk crisps. 

Elsewhere, The English Distillery is England’s first whisky distillery in 100 years. After a tour and a tasting (we highly recommend), treat yourself in the shop, where you can indulge in a bottle of their award-winning bottles- from the English Original to the English Sherry Cask to the Norfolk Bramble and Norfolk Nog.