Local Specialities

Leicestershire is famous for its Melton Mowbray Pork Pies, but there are several other local specialities too! Here's a flavour of the local produce that Leicestershire has to offer...

Melton Mowbray Pork Pies
The often imitated Melton Mowbray Pork Pie is one of Leicestershire's most popular exports. Recognised nationally as the world's best pork pies, they are made with uncured pork and have higher meat content than other pork pies. They are also ‘hand raised', which means the pastry is shaped by hand, and baked without the support of a hoop or tin. Leicestershire bakers Dickinson & Morris have been baking pork pies at Ye Olde Pork Pie Shoppe in Melton Mowbray since 1851. The bakery still exists on Nottingham Street, and is the place to go to buy this well known Leicestershire speciality.

Melton Hunt Cake
Dickinson & Morris, makers of the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie, are also the creators of the Melton Hunt Cake. This exclusive fruit cake was originally made in the 1850s for members of the local hunt to eat whilst out fox hunting. The cake is still made using the original recipe combining the finest ingredients; sultanas, currants, muscavado sugar, butter, fresh eggs, cherries and almonds all enhanced with Caribbean Rum. It is available from Ye Olde Pork Pie Shoppe on Nottingham Street in Melton Mowbray.

Stilton Cheese
The ‘King of English Cheeses' has been registered as a ‘Product of Designated Origin' and so is only able to be produced in the counties of Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. This creamy blue veined cheese follows the same recipe developed in the early 18th century. Stilton is actually a town in Cambridgeshire and was named after this village because it was where it was sold. Today however, Melton Mowbray is the rightful Stilton capital, boasting three main producers: Long Clawson Dairy, Webster's Dairy and Tuxford & Tebbutt. You can also buy Stilton from Ye Olde Pork Pie Shoppe.

Wines, cordials and local ale
In addition to its food, Leicestershire boasts some speciality drinks too. Welland Valley Vineyards near Market Harborough, Eglantine Vineyard near Loughborough and Chevelswarde Vineyard near Lutterworth are all local producers of English wines. Swithland Spring Water produce a pure source of water from the Charnwood Hills, whilst Belvoir Fruit Farms create pure fruit cordials and Presse drinks diluted with spring water from the limestone hills around Belvoir Castle. Many local ales are also produced around the county too. Leicestershire's biggest brewer is Everards, whilst smaller breweries include The Parish Brewery, which sells its ale through the Three Crowns pub at Somerby near Melton. Head there to sample the infamous Baz's Bonce Blower, reputedly the strongest real ale on tap!

Melton Mowbray Sloe Gin
Melton Mowbray Sloe Gin is one of the latest additions to the wealth of beverages produced locally. Sloe Gin has long been associated with the countryside, its pastimes and pursuits. Also produced are ‘Whisky & Wild Damson' and ‘Vodka & Blackberry'. All the fruit grows wild and naturally on the hedges around the Melton area, and is steeped in the finest spirit and left to infuse naturally over a period of several months. This traditional method preserves the natural flavour and colour of the fruit, so that no colourings or preservatives are required.