Chilli jellies are a type of chilli produce that doesn’t come into people’s mind right away. Hot sauces or chilli sauces are usually at the forefront, closely followed by spicy snacks, chilli chocolate and chilli preserves, salsas and chutneys. At the Devil’s Garden we love a good
chilli jelly as they are a great condiment to have around and can be used in a multitude of ways amongst which marinades and salad dressings.
Chilli Queen is probably one of the most famous producers of chilli jellies. They have been around for a while now and have gained a really good reputation for manufacturing quality chilli jellies with a wide range of flavours. The Original Chilli Queen Chilli Jelly is what started the whole brand and although relatively mild, this chilli jelly allowed them to have a good base to start and experiment with. Soon came other flavours such as mint.
Chilli Queen’s Mint Chilli Jelly is what we, at the Devil’s Garden, had been waiting for as we just love chilli produce with mint such as Dartmoor Chilli Farm’s Dark Chilli Chocolate with peppermint. We use Chilli Queen’s Mint Chilli jelly all the time, especially with lamb of course but also love it as a refreshing addition to salad dressings and garden peas!
Another chilli jelly we love in salad dressings is Chilli Queen’s Ginger & Lime Chilli Jelly. This tangy chilli jelly is just the best when mixed in a salad but is also great when smothered on chicken or fish. Chilli Queen’s Coriander & Shallot Chilli Jelly is appealing by its name alone which always makes us wonder about weird and wonderful food combinations. We always end up using it as a condiment though as it is just fantastic on its own. We also love using Chilli Queen’s Sundried Tomato and Balsamic Vinegar Chilli Jelly on its own and although a tad on the sweet side we find it really delicious especially when mixed with mozzarella or good quality cheddar.
We sold a lot of
Chilli Queen’s Cranberry Chilli Jelly over Christmas although we believe this is a chilli jelly to have all year round it’s that good! Chilli Queen also decided to bank on the success of its Original Chilli Jelly by creating a hotter version adequately called Chilli Queen Extra Hot Chilli Jelly. Although still in the realm of medium hot chilli produce, this chilli jelly is perfect for those who are used to a bit of spice and want an everyday condiment to use and abuse!
Cambridge Chilli Farm is an up and coming chilli producer that specialises in hot sauces but his chilli jellies are also fantastic. We tend to use Cambridge Chilli Farm’s Raspberry & Chilli Jelly as you would jam at breakfast or for afternoon tea. Cambridge Chilli Farm Lime & Chilli Jelly is just sweet enough and has the refreshing taste of lime without its bitterness. We have added it to couscous or rice which is perfect in summer and also love adding to chicken or turkey before grilling in the oven or on a barbecue.
Cambridge Chilli Farm’s Nagalade has been dubbed evil by quite a few of our customers and it is a chilli jelly that was really popular last year at chilli festivals, especially Levens Hall in the north and the famous annual West Dean Chilli Fiesta in the south. A little goes a really long way with this chilli jelly that packs a punch thanks to, you’ve guessed it, a good dose of naga chilli peppers!
Last but certainly not least in our highlight of chilli jellies is the Chilli Pepper Company’s own version. We adore this rather hot chilli jelly not only for its spice of course but also for its flavour that is just sweet enough without being sickly and truly delectable for the palate. We tend to carry the jar with us everywhere and have been known to add it to shop-bought sandwiches and even pub meals!
