The crab apple jelly of the inventive range.
STRAWBERRY Tree and peach chilli preserves are two of the unusual results of a collaboration between Ventnor Botanic Garden and the Royal Garden Cafe.
Garden manager, Chris Kidd, and Bridget Wells, of the cafe, run by the Royal Hotel, have worked together to ensure the garden is on the culinary map for a new range of inventive jams, chutneys and preserves.
Cafe manager, Bridget, said: "It all began with a challenge. Chris produced a rock-hard pear from the Pyrus x michauxii tree and defied me to make anything edible.
"I experimented and produced some jellies, which have a subtle quince-like flavour.
"That started the ball rolling, or the pot boiling, and we now have a new range of jams, chutneys and sweets you can buy online or in the shop."
The range features unusual ingredients, like fruit from the Strawberry Tree, and Naga chillies, grown by gardener, Jason Melia, the garden’s "chilli king". Bridget said: "There are great British favourites, like crab apple jelly, which is gorgeous with cheese, and apple chutney, using apples scrumped from my mum’s garden.
"The botanic garden is a treasure trove of ingredients. This year, Jason has grown nine new varieties of chillies, including the peach habanero, which is not as mild as it sounds.
"It’s been great fun working together and we have some brilliant ideas for next year," she added.
The new range is on sale at Ventnor Botanic Garden or online at www.botanic.co.uk
• The garden’s Christmas fair will be held on December 17 and 18.
Reporter: richardw@iwcpmail.co.uk