The Finest North East Producers To Shop This Christmas
From award-winning honey and speciality roast coffee to delicious farmhouse cheese, indulgent handmade chocolate and perfect preserves
Gareth James Chocolatier
12 Front Street, Tynemouth NE30 4DX
0191 257 7799
garethjameschocolatier.co.uk
This independent artisan chocolatier captures the true characteristics of ingredients, matching each flavour profile to its perfect chocolate. Visit the chocolate shop in Tynemouth where all the goodies are made onsite in the upstairs studio. Shop everything from selection boxes and chocolate bars to slabs and brownies – they even make their own signature hot chocolate and vegan chocolates.
The Travelling Bee Company
07884 422992
travellingbee.co.uk
This family-run, award-winning business believe that happy bees make the best honey, so they bundle their bees into mobile hives and travel across the North East and Scotland setting up apiaries, giving the bees access to the wildest flowers and trees every season. Specialising in raw, natural and unprocessed honey, The Travelling Bee Company create everything from soft set and apple orchard to willow tree and sweet chestnut honeys. Shop online or at stockists regionwide.
Baristocracy Coffee Roasters
Unit 2 Larch Court, West Chirton
North Industrial Estate, North Shields NE29 8SG
07908 007726
baristocracycoffee.com
Aussie-born Alex Forsyth learned the art of roasting and preparing coffee before moving to the North East to set up his own speciality coffee company, Baristocracy with his partner Kate. Offering a variety of blends and single origins (try the Colombia coffee for caramel, chocolate and pistachio nougat tasting notes), the team also host coffee education courses where you can master your latte art skills. Visit the roastery in North Shields to buy bags of coffee, grab a coffee by the cup or to find out more about their classes.
Tyne Chease
tynechease.com
Based in the heart of Northumberland, the UK’s first artisan vegan cheese company has a speciality range of plant-based cheese which includes an award-winning Za’atar spice, truffle, pink peppercorn and apple smoked cheeses. If you’re looking for the perfect cheesy vegan gift, shop Tyne Chease’s hampers as well as their full range including pickles, chutneys and crackers on their website.
Northumberland Cheese Company
Green Lane, Blagdon
NE13 6BZ
01670 789798
northumberlandcheese.co.uk
Mark Robertson has been making farmhouse cheeses since 1984, and after moving into a 19th century granary on the Blagdon Estate, Northumberland Cheese have been producing a full range of artisan cheese from a selection of different milks. As well as cheese such as oak-smoked, nettle and Redesdale goats’ cheese, you’ll find crackers, chutney and gift hampers in store and online.
Read More: Our Favourite Farm Shops Across the North East
Doddington Dairy
11 South Road, Wooler
NE71 6QE
01668 283010
doddingtondairy.co.uk
On a family farm nestled at the bottom of the Cheviot Hills, the Maxwell family have been dairy farming for more than 50 years. Now producing a core range of ice cream (think real strawberry and double ginger) as well as luxury ice cream such as salted caramel and Belgian chocolate, Doddington Dairy also produce artisan yoghurts and award-winning cheese. Shop online, at stockists regionwide, or visit the Milk Bar in Wooler to sample their ice cream.
Di Meo’s
Whitley Bay, Tynemouth and Ouseburn
dimeos.co.uk
Creating pure and authentic Italian gelato, churned onsite every day and made using only the finest ingredients and locally sourced-milk, Di Meo’s is a popular choice across the North East. Following a secret family recipe which dates back to 1925, their delicious and award-winning ice creams, sorbets and gelatos include flavours such as Battenberg, Biscoff, honeycomb and salted caramel.
Seabanks
07900 167399
seabanks.co.uk
This award-winning British artisan rapeseed oil is made in Northumberland by slowly pressing rapeseed in small batches, leaving the oil to settle before gently filtering out any impurities. As well as the original cold pressed oil, Seabanks produce a lemon oil by infusing the oil with the finest lemons from Sicily, as well as raspberry vinegar, all delicious drizzled over salads.
Durham Coffee
Sacriston Industrial Estate, Plawsworth Road, Sacriston DH7 6JX
0191 447 4552
durhamcoffee.co.uk
This father and daughter roasting duo have a passion for ethically-sourced quality coffee, and their beans are sourced from around the world with the aim to showcasing the diversity of flavour within the coffee industry. Visit the roastery in Durham or sample the coffee and pick up a bag from their Heritage range – we love the Miners’ Gala which has notes of brown sugar and maple syrup.
Estate Tea Co.
84 Heaton Road, Heaton
NE6 5HL
0191 618 1709
estateteaco.co.uk
This independent tea merchant specialises in single estate, small batch and fine-quality loose leaf tea. The collection changes throughout the year as certain teas come in and out of season, and Estate Tea Co. are all about ethically sourcing and ensuring traceability. For classic brew drinkers, there’s an English breakfast blend, Earl Grey and grey rooibos teas, but for those with a sweeter palate, we recommend trying one of their matcha, green or white tea blends.
Read More: The Best Sunday Roasts Across Yorkshire and the North East
Calder’s Kitchen
07908 762545
calderskitchen.co.uk
Find handmade artisan piccalilli and chutney based on Grandad Charlie’s family recipe from this Darlington-based producer. The award-winning spicy tomato chutney goes great with meats and cheese, or for a spicy kick try Calder’s Sillylilli, made with crunchy vegetables and a hot madras curry base. Find the full range online or at stockists regionwide.
Yorkshire Sea Salt Co.
yorkshireseasalt.co.uk
Specialising in pure sea salt flakes which are hand-harvested near Saltburn, Yorkshire Sea Salt Co. have brought back a long-lost tradition which began in the area more than 6,000 years ago. The small batches are processed using innovative, modern methods which create pure, nutrient-rich sea salt, which has already won two stars at this year’s Great Taste Awards. Great for cooking or for seasoning, buy Yorkshire Sea Salt online or at stockists regionwide.
North Chocolates
07896 859445
northchocolates.co.uk
Specialising in seasonal, small batch and award-winning gourmet chocolate bars, North has a chocolate bar full of flavour for everyone. From dark chocolate with orange and white chocolate and raspberry to more unusual flavours such as lime and sea salt and liquorice and blackcurrant – there’s even a range which celebrates the North East’s heritage, plus vegan bars made with oat milk. Find the bars at stockists regionwide.
Hygge Hot Chocolate
hyggehotchocolate.com
Christmas is all about cosy drinks and Durham-based Hygge create deliciously comforting hot chocolate, perfect for those quiet moments. With a passion for mindfulness, the team have spent the last three years crafting and fine-tuning their hot chocolate recipe. Shop online or at stockists across the North East.
The Good Tempered Chocolate Company
goodtemperedchocolateco.com
Chunky hand-cut slabs of chocolate, inspired by family adventures and travel is what to expect from this independent chocolatier. Using the most delicious ingredients and experimenting with flavours, find treats such as white chocolate apricot ganache, dark chocolate and blackberry creams and dark chocolate hazelnut praline bars on their website and at stockists regionwide. Look out for their seasonal range – we can’t wait to try their festive creations.
Pilgrims Coffee
Marygate, Holy Island of Lindisfarne TD15 2SJ
01289 389109
pilgrimscoffee.com
Located on the historic Holy Island of Lindisfarne, Pilgrims Coffee is a family-run speciality coffee shop and roastery with a mission to bring quality, carefully-sourced arabica coffee beans from around the world to the North East. The coffee house (right next door to the roastery) is where you can sample the delicious coffee, before purchasing a bag to take home. We recommend the Daily Bread blend which has tasting notes of dark chocolate, walnut and raisin.
Read More: 14 Great Country Pubs to Cosy Up in This Winter
Northumbrian Pantry
01434 681118
northumbrianpantry.com
Alice Murray grew up in the Tyne Valley before spending several years in Botswana, where she found the inspiration for Northumbrian Pantry’s delicious jams, jellies, chutneys and relishes. Using time-honoured traditional methods, this family business create small batch produce such as fiery pickled beetroot, pear and ginger chutney and rhubarb and strawberry jam. Our favourite is the award-winning chilli relish which pairs perfectly with a Christmas cheese board. Stockists regionwide.
Teesdale Cheesemakers
Pond Farm, 11 Copley Lane, Butterknowle DL13 5LW
07495 242595
teesdalecheesemakers.co.uk
This award-winning artisan cheese is made using milk from the family farm in the heart of Teesdale following traditional methods. You’ll find everything from creamy blue and mellow goats’ cheese to farmhouse brie and a dales-style crumbly cheese named after Grandma Doris. Book one of their experience days where you can master the basics and learn how to experiment with cheese, or shop online.
Morwick Dairy
Acklington, Morpeth
NE65 9DG
01665 711210
morwickdairy.co.uk
Marking their 20th anniversary this year, Morwick Dairy is a family farm near Warkworth producing award-winning ice cream. Using fresh milk from their Morwick herd and following Italian recipes, the team produce small batch ice cream in flavours such as amaretto, black cherry and hazelnut. Visit the ice cream parlour where you can sample 16 regularly changing flavours.
