Kombucha, pasta, spicy sauces and pickles: Gorgeous new foods to try, made by small Irish producers

As local grocery shops sprung up all over the country in recent years, there has also been a surge in brilliant new artisan food products made by small Irish producers. Here are some of the best to look out for, now widely available through independent retailers, or direct from the makers.

Lolo’s Picklery Pickled Onions

From €6.50 @lolospicklery

Founded by Dublin-based chef Laura Caulwell, who may have cooked your brunch in The Fumbally or Storyboard cafe, Lolo’s Picklery offers a range of delicious jars of bright pickled onions. Try the Tickled Pink (red onion with coriander and fennel) on a cheeseburger for a gorgeous kick.

Conbini Condiments

From €5.90 conbinicondiments.com

Shopping locally: what difference does it make?

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Some of our favourite independent food shops in Ireland

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Kombucha, pasta, spicy sauces and pickles: Gorgeous new foods to try, made by small Irish producers

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The small local shops changing what we buy and how we eat

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Small batch bottles of condiments made by chef Holly Dalton in Dublin, inspired by her love for all things Japanese. Try the sweet, umami, tangy Sunday Sauce in stir-fries and noodles.

Too Savage Mayo

From €5.00 toosavage.ie

Plant-based mayo that exceeds expectations made by Conor Bacon in Dublin. They call their Spicy Mayo “the side dish seducer”, which sums it up really.

Revolution Ragu

From €7.95 revolutionfarmkitchen.com

Meat-free bolognese-style sauce made with oyster mushrooms grown using spent coffee grounds on their farm in UCD. Try it on toast, with pasta, on spuds or any way you’d usually eat bolognese.

Rosa Madre Pasta

From €6.50 @rosa_madre_fresh_pasta

Fresh pasta range made in Dublin by the team behind the much-loved restaurant Rosa Madre. A game changer for fast, restaurant quality dinners at home.

Cream of the Crop Gelato

from €7.00 creamofthecropfood.com

Identifying a solution to food waste, chef Giselle Makinde produces traditional Italian-style milk gelatos and sorbets with surplus ingredients that would otherwise end up in landfill. Her inventive flavours depend on what’s available but could include banana and cinnamon, strawberry oatmilk, or vegan chocolate and pumpkin seed praline.

Harry’s Nut Butter

From €6.90 harrysnutbutter.com

Harry’s OG Butter is a salty, sweet, spicy peanut butter that has garnered a cult following. Developed while Harry Colley was working in the Fumbally cafe, the fledgling company had only started to sell jars at markets when the pandemic hit. Small independent shops started to stock the product and the company has grown and grown, and the range has expanded to include the very moreish Coco Buzz, and seasonal Pumpkin Spice. Try all of them, on anything.

Ger’s Hot Honey

From €7.50 www.gershothoney.ie

Sweet and spicy is a combination we seem to love. Ger’s Hot Honey is made from Irish honey infused with bird’s eye chillies. Try it drizzled on pizza or in a hot whiskey.

Dingle Sea Salt

€9.50 dingleseasalt.ie

There are many worthy Irish sea salts now available, but this newcomer from Dingle not only tastes fantastic but it looks stunning too. Presented in a chic reusable ceramic pot with refill packs available.

All About Kombucha

From €3.50 allaboutkombucha.ie

Galway-based All About Kombucha are familiar bottles to see in fridges all over Ireland with good reason; their organic, Irish-made kombuchas taste great. Try their delicious Turmeric Immuni-tea – you can taste the goodness in every sip.