Demi Perera acquires a taste for buffalo reared in Somerset.
If the last few months have taught us anything it’s the importance of supporting small businesses in our communities. As we entered mild panic about food shortages and insecurity caused by the pandemic took hold we turned to local shops and small vendors for our food. Simply trusting them to feed us better, faster and safer in our time of need.
It was around this time that I discovered Buffalicious – a small Somerset farm that is breeding water buffalo. The company, West Country Water Buffalo, was set up in 2016 up by Jonathan who lives on the farm with his wife, three boys and parents. The family are all hands-on-deck taking care of the animals, making cheese and running the farm shop.
The water buffalo here are reared slowly. As the species itself has not been inter-bred or altered for millennia it is not challenged to grow fast. Nor are the animals naturally engineered to produce vast amounts of milk. They produce smaller quantities which have higher nutritional quality than cows’ milk. As the herd, in Somerset, is grass-fed and spend hours grazing the fields the beef they produce is naturally lean, tender and filled with flavour.
The Buffalicious farm shop sells cuts of beef, burgers, sausages, cheese and buffalo ice cream along with other seasonal products. Then there are also essentials such as local cider marmalade, honey and eggs. Whilst the business has been serving Somerset and the surrounding area so far, they are now offering nationwide delivery (excluding the highlands) in time for Christmas.
I was sent a small taster box, during lockdown, and couldn’t have been happier. It consisted of sausages and braising steak for a pie. The meat arrived on the same day by chilled courier in a fleece-lined box ready for freezing.
I enjoyed an English breakfast, sausage rolls and indeed a buffalo steak and ale pie made with my gifted products. I relished the deep rich game-flavour of the meat which was succulent and juicy. Best of all, it felt good to eat something that hadn’t crossed the seas on an airplane before arriving on my plate.
To try Buffalicious for yourself simply email hello@buffalicious.co.uk for their latest products and price list and place the order via email. There is a £10 delivery charge for orders up to £50. Delivery is free (nationwide excluding the highlands) for orders over £100.
For more information visit www.buffaliciousuk.com
