Jersey Royal potatoes are so prized that the EU protects them with an 'Appellation Contrôlée' label (as is the case with Champagne). No one else can grow them – not even expert spud growers on Guernsey. "It faces the north and has a cooler climate," says Philip le Maistre – the first farmer in the world to grow organic Jersey Royals! So, not only do we have the Royals – we're lucky enough to have the rare organic variety as well.
Country of Origin - Jersey (Channel Islands)
Class - Minimum Class 2
Philip le Maistre has just started to harvest his Jersey Royals from the fertile soils of the steep south-facing 'cotils' (slopes) at Master Farm. These slopes benefit from sunshine throughout the winter months, and have excellent drainage – all crucial elements needed when growing perfect Jersey Royals. "People have tried to grow them elsewhere but have been unable to," says Philip. "They are difficult to grow – we save all our own seeds and are very selective. We plant them all by hand – it’s very labour intensive." They're also harvested by hand as the slopes are too steep to use machinery – they're so steep you can barely walk up them! Philip’s devised a very clever basket and pulley system to solve this problem.
Do not peel Jersey potatoes. Simply rub any flaky skin gently from the surface. Always put Jersey Royals into boiling water to seal in the flavour. Adding salt to the water is a matter of personal preference. Our Jersey Royals should be stored in a cool dry place away from direct sunlight. They are suitable for home freezing.
Stuck for ideas? Click here for Jersey Royal Potato recipes