Drink | Bouvrage
If you were to choose one fruit which is more strongly associated with Scotland than anywhere else, you’d probably think of raspberries. The climate of east central Scotland in particular usually has just the right combination of sun and moisture to bring out the best in these healthy and delicious fruits. Going to the berry-picking even has its own place in the traditional culture and folk-lore of Scotland
As a farmer’s daughter from Angus, Anne Thomson knew all this when, with her background in food product development, she decided to bring the true flavour of raspberries to the discerning consumer. After testing and trials, her company began producing and marketing a pure (and sparkling) soft drink from fresh and absolutely-not-messed-about-with berry juice. Besides, Anne happens to believe that raspberries are pretty much ‘the ultimate food’ with an impressive list of positive benefits as well as a delicious taste. She summarises the process by saying: ‘Ever smelt the delicious aroma of ten tons of fresh rasps just before we crush them? That’s what we aim to bottle.’
Basically, the guiding principle at work here for Ella Drinks Limited, who sell their products under the Bouvrage brand, is to source fruit from where it grows best in the world. Obviously, it’s Scotland for Bouvrage Raspberry – nowhere better. The second product which carries the name is their Bouvrage Blaeberry. The berry name is Scottish – as it’s bilberry south of the Border and myrtille in France – and it’s a cousin of the North American blueberry. But just as the ace place for rasps is Scotland, so blaeberry grows especially well in Finland. (However, as any moorland and mountain walker knows, blaeberries grow in Scotland as well – it’s just that picking them in large enough quantities isn’t so easy.)
Both Bouvrage Raspberry and Blaeberry have gathered awards – for example, Best Drink and Best Food Service Product in Food from Scotland Excellence Awards 1998 for the raspberry and Best Health Enhancing Product in Scottish Food and Drink Excellence Awards 2003 for the blaeberry. And you’ll find these attractively bottled products in farm shops, delicatessens, fine food stores and coffee shops(or you can use mail order). And look out for them at farmers markets.
With such a burst of flavour in every bottle, there are also plenty of culinary possibilities. Cocktails, obviously – think Bouvrage Raspberry with champagne and Buck’s Fizz then becomes ordinary. But there’s lots more options from sauces for ice-cream to accompaniments for venison and wild boar. (Honest.)
Simply one of the most distinctive and authentic flavours of Scotland – and definitely very good for you. Sounds like the ideal combination.