Top 10 foods to try in Jersey
Discover the wonders of the island of Jersey and try their famous Jersey royal potatoes, Jersey butter and fresh oysters.
At only nine by five miles, the island of Jersey boasts an impressive range of produce, including its world-renowned milk from Jersey cows and, of course, Jersey Royal potatoes. Our guide will give you an insight into all this little island has to offer.
Discover even more fabulous foodie travel experiences and our top eats across the globe in our travel hub. There, you'll also find more tips for eating well across the UK in articles like our top 10 foods to try in Wales and top 10 foods to try in Scotland.
Don't leave Jersey without trying...
1. Black butter
Intrinsic to the heritage of the island, this sweet spread is made from cider apples. It's a long-established delicacy that enhances the flavour of apples with spices, sugar, liquorice and treacle, traditionally cooked over an open fire for a couple of days until deeply caramelised and thickened. Even now the making of black butter is a popular community occasion (if visiting in the autumn, you can take part at The Elms). Black butter is ideal swirled into hot porridge on a cold winter’s morning, in brownie batter, or even in your next batch of ice cream.
Try making your own perfect porridge with a little swirl of black butter.
2. Jersey Royals
These world-famous spuds were founded by a farmer called Hugh de la Haye in 1880 in St Ouen’s bay. Over 142 years later and the famous Jersey honesty boxes are a great spot to pick the inimitable Jersey Royals. Grab a sack from The Potato Shack at Woodlands Farm; this café near the highest point of Jersey can be found on the outskirts of this charming farm. Run by the same family for five generations, it’s a picturesque spot where you can watch the cows graze whilst picking up your bounty.
More like this
Why not make the most of them with our herbed Jersey Royal crab cakes?
3. Gin
Jersey has a burgeoning generation of young brewers and distillers, such as Sea Level Gin. This gin is made in tiny batches by Sarah Gaudion, Jersey’s first female distiller. Distilled by the sea, Sarah makes traditional gins with non-traditional botanicals such as hibiscus and lime. This small operation sees Sarah try to use as much local produce as possible when concocting her flavour combinations. You can try a selection of local gins, such as Sea Level Gin at The Moorings, hide out here for an afternoon and sample some local tipples and snacks.
Want to experiment more with this versatile spirit? Try our five ways with gin & tonic for simple cocktails you can make in minutes. Get inspiration for your next cocktail evening with our gin cocktail recipes and flavoured gin recipes.
4. Beachside feasts
Unsurprisingly as an island, the locals love heading down to the beach, no matter the weather. The majority of residents have a deep affinity for surfing, so beachside eating is a must. Try and snag a ticket to Jersey chef Chris Scott’s feast nights. He's known for using local produce cooked over fire at The Good Stone.
You can enjoy a gourmet prepared picnic from The Atlantic Hotel and take in the gorgeous scenery, and the helpful staff love to point out spots to enjoy your meal. Or if visiting during the colder months, you can still get that beachside vibe at the surfer’s favourite hangout, Sands Café.
Check out our barbecue recipes for the perfect beach-feast inspiration. We also have meat-free recipes – browse our vegetarian barbecue recipes and vegan barbecue recipes. If you prefer an easy-to-pack meal enjoyed against a pretty backdrop, check out our delicious picnic recipes.
5. Pan-Asian food
The chicken wings at Awabi are legendary. It's a brother-and-sister venture and restaurants run in the siblings' blood – their parents own a Chinese restaurant on the island – but the kids wanted to do something different. Awabi is a fusion restaurant with beautiful, minimal interiors and lots of natural wines. Sample their famous chicken wings and the whole deep fried sea bass.
JEJU serves up Japanese and Korean food. They can be found in the local fish market, where they have excellent sushi ready to grab and go.
Try making your own Asian-inspired sea bass with sizzled ginger, chilli & spring onions.
6. Jersey beef
The island is well known for its dairy, however in a step towards being as sustainable as possible, they leave nothing to waste. The beef from retired dairy cows is superb in flavour as they're fed on Jersey's famously lush pastures for most of the year. If you’re keen to give some locally reared beef a go, the Woodlands Farm shop stocks a wide selection.
Why not purchase Jersey beef and use it in our delicious slow-cooker beef stew recipe? Our beef recipes have many more delicious options if stew isn’t one of your favourites.
7. Oysters
A trip to Jersey would not be complete without seafood. Take a trip with Seymour Oysters and explore the sea beds at low tide, as well as sampling some rock oysters. If a trip out to sea is not for you but fine dining is, you can enjoy these local delicacies at Bohemia or Banjo.
Don’t feel overwhelmed by the prospect of preparing oysters; our helpful guides will tell you everything you need to know, from how to shuck oysters to how to cook and eat them. We also have some ideas for flavouring them in our five ways with oysters guide.
8. Lobster
Eat like a native and peruse the offerings at Faulkner Fisheries, where you can pick up Jersey lobster. The famous Oyster Box has a bountiful selection of seafood on offer and is situated next to the beach, so you can enjoy dinner with a view. The Salty Dog Bistro is a Jersey classic and their summer seafood platters are a must.
Explore the possibilities of this luxurious ingredient with our lobster recipes.
9. Jersey dairy
Jersey cattle are purebred with ancestry that can be traced back to the Jersey Herd Book. Thick, creamy, and deeply delicious, their milk is definitely not your average, especially as it's been found to contain around 20% more calcium than that of other breeds. Blanc Pignon Dairy produces unctuous ice creams that can be found in local stores throughout the island, as well as their halloumi-style cheese. Pick up a pack of Jersey butter to take home with you as well, or toss through some freshly steamed Jersey Royals for the ultimate treat.
If you want to try your hand at making your own using Jersey dairy, check out our ice cream recipes.
10. Beer and cider
With a wide array to whet your whistle, why not get stuck into the booming Jersey drinks scene. The Lamplighter in St Helier is a cosy pub to hole up in for the evening. They offer a wide range of beers and ciders, and if craft beers are your thing, try a bottle from a microbrewery called Stinky Bay. Don’t be put off by the moniker (named after a local bay), they produce a selection of excellent lagers, session IPAs and pale ales. Only available on Jersey, they are a must for craft beer lovers.
As with many businesses in Jersey, La Robeline Cider, is family-run. Their award-winning cider is crafted using only Jersey-grown cider apples. Not only do they make artisan cider but during the summer, they open their barn as a restaurant. Pick up a bottle from their cider shack or have a pint in one of the local stockists.
Make the most of cooking with the best cider for our delicious slow-cooked pork, cider & sage hotpot.
Enjoyed these foodie tips? Discover more must-try local foods and restaurant hotspots...
Top 10 foods to try in New York
Top 10 foods to try in Ireland
Top 10 foods to try in Spain
Top 10 foods to try in South Africa
Travellers are advised to read the FCO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice for the country they are travelling to.
