Wow where has the time gone this year?  It’s as if I’ve blinked & it was Christmas 2015!  Nanna Chillees tells me that it’s a sign of getting older.  Well you can’t argue with that, although I’m sure that one day Chilli will be the Holy Grail of Anti-Aging, Cancer (Oh I truly hope so!), Slimming aid oh & of course the ultimate question of Life, the Universe, and Everything!  Well you gotta dream…… besides we all know that the latter is 42! (Now I’m feeling old!)

Anyway enough waffling already….  So what have we been up to; you guessed it, potting chilli seeds.  To be honest that started a while ago (Did I say I was a bit behind with my blogs, sorry all!) Boxing Day to be exact. 

Throughout Christmas Nick is like a school boy waiting for Father Christmas to arrive, no not for the presents (that is unless they contain more chilli seeds of course) or for the Christmas Day meal, although I must say that was wonderful, local & shamefully not a chilli in sight (Nanna Chillees was present so no chilli roast potatoes, sad moment!) But it was for him to officially start the 2016 growing season by sowing his first chilli seed. 

Now some may think that sad, but I can assure you the achievement when that first seed was lovingly placed in the prewarmed compost was apparent all over his face; just like the cat that got the cream. 
Then the rest of the Boxing Day events of eating, drinking & snoring on the sofa can commence.  That’s the life.

Worry not dear reader…..

The chilli babies did pop through & soon a mini chilli baby forest was being neutered in propagators & lights.

This years’ grow list has increased, yet again (only slightly obsessed!), as you will know, Nick always likes to grow some different varieties each year to try the chillies for their flavour.  So this year along with the usual suspects that we use in our products (Dorset Naga, Bengle Naga, Scotch Bonnet, Jamaican Jerk, Fire, Cayenne, Jalapeno, 7 Pot Yellow, Aji Lemon, Trinidad Morouga, Butch T, Red Habanero & Reapers) he’s also growing a few others, so of which are;

• Primotalii
• Fatalii Jigsaw
• Aji Fantasy
• Hot Fingers
• Golden Cayenne
• Ring of Fire
• Numex Twilight

Some of which are grown for display plants & ones for us to have in the garden too, pretty ones, like Twilight always brighten up a patio area.

If you still haven’t planted your chilli seeds, don’t panic, there are a couple of genuine seed producers, who produce Plug plants & later plants for your to purchase.  Pop over to Sea Spring Seeds (Joy & Michael) or Simpson Seeds (Matt) we happily recommend either company for their quality.  They have years of experience & passion for chillies.

So what now…… the chilli babies are slowly starting to move into their temporary home of the greenhouse, on heated mats and tucked in with lots of bubble wrap, snug as little bugs in a rug.  Then once the greenhouse is busting at the seams, they will be moved into the poly tunnel, once the risk of frost has gone (who knows when that’ll be).

In the meantime, we put our feet up & wait………  Oh sorry there I go dreaming again!  It’s that time of the year when events need to be booked, products need to be made, paperwork never ends & then the nice bit, we get to experiment in the kitchen, woohoo!  It’s like being a big kid again, making mud pies but with chilli ;)  We’re really lucky to have some incredible local growers & their produce’s flavours are second to none.  Selecting the best ingredients to compliment the chilli flavour is my job & I’m a fussy mare, it has to be right, or it just doesn’t go in. 

We’ve also done our first event of the year in Dunster’s Tithe Barn, the Exmoor Food Fest.  A new event for us & it was really lovely to see some old friends as well as meet new ones.  It’s often the case that when working for yourself you can go without seeing others for weeks (awww, get the violins out) so our Farmers’ Markets & events are a chance to get out; or as Nick would put it, when I’m allowed out! Bless him!

This year we have cut back on a number of Chilli events, basically there are now so many of them around, also one every week throughout the summer months, that they don’t have that special feel any longer.  So we have picked what we feel are the best feeling events, great atmospheres & they still have a proper Chilli Festival feel.

So this year it allows us to concentrate on more local events, not easy with chilli firms from other areas taking the available places.  Now this is one of my pet hates (prepare yourselves for a bit of a rant!).  I love Somerset & I’m really passionate about our incredible producers, yet unlike Devon or Dorset events who favour their own county’s producers over another & champion their producers, Somerset organisers seem to let any Tom, Dick or Harry in & don’t show any favour towards their own local producers over mass produced. 

Overpriced events that mean local producers can’t afford the inflated prices & then they have to accept who ever applies just to fill the spaces.  Meaning in the long run that Somerset Producers are finding it more & more difficult to find events that will allow them in, outside of the county & yet duplicate producers from neighbouring counties are on a winner, as Somerset lets in anyone. Shame on Somerset, take a leaf out of Devon & Dorset’s book & start championing our own county (not just Bristol though please, as companies do exist outside of that city).

Right enough of that! 

No.5 has just received a review from Sam & the lads from the Wiltshire Chilli Club.  This is the first review that No.5 has had; currently the hottest in our range.
A no added sugar sauce with Butch T & Trinidad Morouga Scorpion Chillies in to give it a little sting; definitely a builder-upper sauce.  See that the lads made of it.

So what’s next?  Well we have lots to do before our main events season starts in May & new regulations for labelling means more testing & label changes. I may even get around, after 3 years, to create a proper logo; don’t hold your breath though as I’m not good at making decisions! (Hangs her head in shame)

Nick will be lovingly stroking his chillies & talking sweet nothings to them to grow strong & produce lots of chillies. 

Of course he will remain the chief taster to make sure my creations are hot enough.  However he may need some milk for one of them I’m working on……

On that bombshell, as the twit from Top Gear should say… I will leave you until the next blog; will try not to leave it so long this time.


Much love everyone,

Mrs C  x