Slow Food Ark of Taste in Shetland Islands, United Kingdom

Slow Food Ark of Taste

Ark of Taste is Slow Food’s virtual vessel with an online port of call to catalogue rare heritage foods and food culture lest they are lost or forgotten. As industrial farming methods and food processing diminish our biodiversity, Slow Food supports saving traditional breeds, varietals and seeds.

It is a privilege to be Leader for Scotland’s Slow Food Ark of Taste and here is where to source this produce, where possible.

Shetland Geese

Trondra

This is not available for eating due to scarcity, unless you breed some yourself. Their eggs are available locally in season. The Shetland Goose is considered to be a domestic bird with Greylag ancestry and valued for its ability to thrive on

Salted Dry Cured Ling

Shetland Isles

There is archaeological evidence that this preservation method of curing ling & cod has been going on at least since 900AD on Shetland, Orkney and Western Isles. The large well-built boats allowed them to catch great quantities from the deep

Salt Herring

Scalloway

In the late 19th century, Scotland became the world’s largest producer of salt herring. 90% was exported in wooden barrels to Eastern Europe, Russia, Scandinavia and Germany where the Scottish cure was highly esteemed. The curing method handed down through

Reestit Mutton

Scalloway

Reestit Mutton is mutton from Native Shetland Sheep (Ark of Taste) salted in brine and hung to dry traditionally in the rafters, reest, of the house above a peat fire. The peaty smoke helps to season the meat and after

Shetland Kale

Trondra

Shetland Cabbage/Kale is the oldest known Scottish local vegetable variety and has been grown on the Shetland Islands since at least the 17thC. Used as a vegetable, the outer or dropped leaves are also used as winter fodder for cattle

Tappit Shetland Hen

Trondra

Unavailable. Another breed entirely thanks to the Isbisters at Burland Croft. These hens are very rare and all originate from only the Shetland Isles. They have been breeding Shetland Hens since the 1970’s at Burland Croft on the island of Trondra.

Shetland Duck

Trondra

Unavailable for eating due to scarcity, unless you breed some yourself. Eggs are seasonally available locally on the isles. Another breed entirely thanks to the Isbisters at Burland Croft. Thanks to them the true breeding Shetland Duck is still in existence. These

Uradale Farm – Native Shetland Lamb & Shetland Kye, Reestit Mutton & Sassermaet

Shetland

Ronnie and his family farm Uradale organically with SOPA (Scottish Organic Producers Association) Membership. They are dedicated to the heritage breeds indigenous to the Shetland Isles : Native Shetland Lamb, beef from the Shetland Cow (‘Kye’) and organic Native Shetland

Papa Stour Shetland Hen

Trondra

Exceptionally rare & unavailable. Another breed still in existence entirely thanks to the Isbisters at Burland Croft. These hens are very rare and all originate from only the Shetland Isles. They have been breeding Shetland Hens since the 1970’s at Burland

Kye Sassermaet

Uradale

Only Jakob’s sassermaet labelled Native Shetland Kye (pictured) is on Slow Food’s International Ark of Taste. This is a unique preserved meat product that is made from one Shetland Kye at a time, on Shetland, using the cheaper cuts efficiently

Shetland Wet Salt Cured Ling

Scalloway

The method of wet salt-curing is to de-head and split the fish open so it can be laid flat. Often they are filleted but the skin is left on. It is laid in coarse salt for one week as with the dry

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Scottish Food Guide
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