One thing you should know about Franck and I is that we LOVE ginger! Dried, fresh, pickled, candied, you name it. So, imagine how excited we were when we first found out about the Ginger & Spice Festival. Words can’t even begin to describe…
About the Ginger & Spice Festival
The Ginger and Spice Festival is that special moment of the year where people of Market Drayton and surrounding areas get together to celebrate the town’s history and culinary heritage with an eclectic mix of fringe events.
The celebration lasts for five days and takes place during the British Food Fortnight.
It includes talks, demonstrations, pop-up restaurants, community meals, trails, theatre performances, films, stand-up comedy, music, competitions, and live cookery masterclasses from top, regional and local chefs.
On the Saturday, they open the crème de la crème - the Spice Exchange Street Market.
Throughout the day, traders from all over the country showcase ginger-themed delicacies.
From ginger teas, spicy pies, chocolate en-robed gingers, to spice-infused jams, aromatic gin, local real ale, ancient gingerbread guilds, and delicious hot & spicy food street.
Who is behind the scenes?
Julia Roberts is the founder and creative director of the Ginger and Spice Festival.
She has been working in the communications and events sector for over 25 years.
We have known her for 2 years now and, let me tell you, her passion for heritage, social history and food is just infectious!
She knows so much about the history of Market Drayton and she is great at sharing her knowledge too.
For example, did you know that Market Drayton is home to Billington’s Gingerbread which has been made in the town for over 200 years?
In response to the coronavirus crisis, Julia and the team have created the Emergency Store.
In this space, local producers and many of the traders who have supported the Spice Exchange Street Market and are now either overstretched or unable to trade due to the current health crisis, can send their information and have it published on the page.
This way, those customers who wish to continue to support these businesses over the next few weeks can easily find them here.
SACO Superfoods at the Ginger & Spice Festival
We joined the Ginger & Spice Festival for the first time in 2018 and, let me tell you, we couldn’t find a better fit!
Ginger was truly the focus of the day, and it was fascinating to see so many traders proudly showcasing their products with a ginger twist and sharing their knowledge about the spice.
Our ginger flakes was very much appreciated by customers, organizers and judges and even made us proud by winning the “Best Ginger Product 2018” award.
In September 2019, we joined the festival again and we had the honour of meeting the amazing chef Chris Burt, chef Rachel Green and chef Adam Purnell.
The Spice Larder Podcast
The Ginger & Spice Festival Team has recently launched a brand new podcast - The Spice Larder.
In the podcast, Julia interviews chefs, historians, local producers, and spice experts!
Back in February, she asked us to be her guests and we simply loved the experience.
The interview has been featured in March. To listen to it, go to episode 2 of the Spice Larder Podcast, we feature straight after the historian Meg Pybus. Otherwise, click this link here https://bit.ly/2UACsoR
Competition time!
In celebration of all things ginger, Ginger & Spice Festival is running a free prize draw for one lucky winner to be the recipient of a pack of our Ginger Flakes!
You can win a Pack of Ginger Flakes in their free prize draw contest by answering this question: From which country do Saco Trading source their ginger flakes?
Click here to enter. Terms and conditions apply, see here.
What's next?
The Ginger & Spice Festival 2020 is scheduled for the 23rd - 27th September 2020.
We hope and pray that the coronavirus crisis will be over soon enough so that we can all join together again to celebrate Market Drayton and its beautiful heritage.
To find out more about the Ginger and Spice Festival and keep up to date with all their great projects, visit their website and sign up to their ebulletin.
