PEELERS, stirrers and fillers are required for an annual black-butter event designed to preserve part of the Island’s cultural heritage.
The National Trust for Jersey is hosting its annual Black Butter Festival which runs from today until Saturday at the organisation’s headquarters in St Mary.
The event, sponsored by Apex Group, involves the traditional creation of the spiced apple preserve at The Elms – an 18th-century farm complex.
The first apple-peeling session takes place from 2pm to 5pm today, with participants being rewarded with tea and Jersey Wonders for their efforts.
The fire in the bakehouse will then be lit at 5.30am tomorrow and the sliced apples will be added to a giant copper bâchin – a large bowl – on loan from Pallot’s Steam Museum.
Tomorrow evening, attendees can enjoy live music, as they continue to peel over 1,000lb of apples, and food provided by Pink Panda Private Catering.
The cooking and stirring of the mixture continues throughout the night until early on Saturday morning, when the final spices, liquorice and lemons will be added.
By lunchtime, the black butter will be jarred, labelled and ready to eat.
Saturday will also see the courtyard at The Elms transformed and filled with stalls selling Genuine Jersey produce including cider, sausages and wood-fired pizza.
Locally produced honey, relishes, jams, art, fudge, candles and the freshly made black butter will also be on sale.
The event will also feature live music from Parish 13 and the Black Butter brass band.
There will be an apple preserves competition, allowing participants to showcase their apple jams, jellies, pies, and cakes; and there will be children’s categories and a biscuit-making competition, too.
Organisers said there is no need to book a place or bring any equipment, unless volunteers have a favourite apple peeler. All ages are welcome.
Parking is available at Granite Products, St Peter’s Valley, with a shuttle service to and from the site running throughout the day.
For more information, visit the National Trust for Jersey website, nationaltrust.je, or call their office on 483193.
