NEXT month the song ‘We wish you a Merry Christmas’ will ring out with plenty of festive cheer by carol singers across Somerset.
There is a line or two referring to Figgy pudding which goes: “Good tidings we bring to you and your kin.
“We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
“Now bring us some figgy pudding, “Now bring us some figgy pudding, “Now bring us some figgy pudding, “Good tidings we bring to you and are your King, “We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.”
The figgy pudding of course refers to the Christmas pudding which is enjoyed after the main Christmas meal on Christmas Day.
You can get one of the countries finest Christmas Puddings in the South-West and the company is called Figgy’s.
Figgy’s is run, operated and owned as it states on its website: “By Richie and Jo Evans, a husband and wife team (plus two rapidly growing helpers) based in Devon.”
The couple have been making and selling their famous Christmas puddings to the public since 2007.
It all began when they wanted to set up their own business but did not know what business this should be.
One of the things they used to do was to make Christmas Puddings based on a tweaked recipe from two grandmothers.
They just made the type of puddings they liked and after positive feedback from friends they decided to make 100 for people and they all sold out.
The idea and so the business of Figgy’s which sell Christmas puddings was born.
Jo said: “We are artisans and one of the important things we do is use quality ingredients.
We start making our Christmas puddings in July/August. So when it is really hot outside we are inside making Christmas puddings. But we need to start at this time as they puddings need to mature.
“We make them in a traditional way and let them mature in earthenware bowls. We use breadcrumbs which we make ourselves from the bakery next door. They are very important to have a nice moist pudding.”
On Figgy’s website it lists the ingredients as: Ingredients: “Californian raisins, sultanas, breadcrumbs (wheat flour, water, yeast, salt), carrots, vegetable suet (non-hydrogenated sustainable palm oil and rapeseed oil, wheat flour), Demerara sugar, golden syrup, free-range egg, Hanlons Port Stout, English Bramley apples, 10-year-old Somerset Cider Brandy, glace cherries (cherries, glucose fructose syrup, sugar), ground almonds, orange juice, lemon juice, mixed peel (orange, glucose fructose syrup, lemon, sugar), chopped almonds, wheat flour (contains raising agents), orange zest, lemon zest, spices.
“Allergens are marked in bold above. In addition our breadcrumbs are made in a bakery that uses soya, mixed nuts, milk, cereals, celery, mustard, sesame and lupins.
Our puddings are suitable for vegetarians.”
Two of the important ingredients are the sweetness of the Port in Hanlon’s Port Stout, and the delicate flavour of the Somerset Cider Brandy.
They tried younger Cider Brandy, but the ten-yearold in their words “gives the finished Pudding a fantastic flavour”.
Jo explained: “Our puddings are light and very rich. They are not heavy and easy to eat.
We source our own ingredients and we make sure we get the best.
You cannot scrimp on the ingredients. We sell direct to the customer and not to shops.
“What we make is artisan food and this reflects in the cost which can be three or four times more expensive than those in supermarkets. The product is of the highest quality and we love what we do. You have to have a passion of what you do.
A Christmas pudding has to be special as so many people look forward to it after a meal and leave space for their pudding. We make 5,500 in six weeks. There are two of us and we do small batches until we get to the end.
“You cannot beat making a pudding. The secret is to take your time.”
The size and the cost of the puddings are: - 350g (small) Christmas Pudding in a ceramic bowl.
Serves 2-3 people. £11.95 - 550g (medium) Christmas Pudding in a ceramic bowl.
Serves 4-6 people - 950g (large) Christmas Pudding. Serves 8-10 people.
£22.95 There is a £1.95 postage and packaging on top of this amount. All the puddings need to be steamed before eating.
How good are Figgy’s puddings?
They have won numerous awards including: - Best Dessert (and a Gold Award): Taste of the West Awards 2014 -Gold: Taste of the West Awards 2013 - Gold Star: Great Taste Awards 2012 - Best Dessert (and a Gold Award): Taste of the West Awards 2012 - Best Packaging: Food and Drink Devon Awards 2012 - Gold star: Great Taste Awards 2010 - Gold: Taste of the West Awards 2008 Find out more online at figgys.co.uk
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