IQF Wild Sloe

Sloe is not an orchard crop. It grows wild along field margins and in the hedgerows of the Danube plain, and it is picked by hand from the bushes that are already there.

The fruit is small and dark blue under a pale waxy bloom, and far too astringent to eat raw. That is exactly what it is wanted for: the tannin and the depth of colour carry through into gin and liqueur infusions, into jams and purées, and into blends that need colour without more sweetness.

We freeze it whole, with the stone in. Picking runs through September and October, traditionally once the first frosts have been on the fruit. Volumes depend entirely on what the season gives, so this line is made to order for partners rather than held in stock.