Jersey Royal Potatoes

[thelewisgang]

Bought some & had them with salad. Tasteless. I know our taste buds change but they used to be lovely & I was disappointed.

[Jackdaw33]

That's because until the EU stuck its nose in they used to be stored in seaweed, which gave them their delicious flavour. I don't bother buying them these days. Yet another reason for voting LEAVE!

[thelewisgang]

You are right there Jackdaw. Wish I hadn't bothered buying them

[ummmm]

For Funks Sake....

They have always been overrated, imo.

[Islay]

lol

[Jackdaw33]

Beg to differ. Jersey Royals with a pat of Lurpak butter accompanying a salad were bliss.

[B00]

I've never understood the fuss about them either.

[thelewisgang]

Haven't seen the tiny Jersey Mids for yonks either

[Islay]

Lol at lurpak isn't that a foreign 'butter' what about a good British butter?

[Jackdaw33]

...because it's the only good thing to come from Europe. It is divine and I will buy no other brand.

[Islay]

Its insipid and disgusting. Do you have to bring Europe into every subject!!

[ummmm]

I only buy Lurpak as well.

[Jackdaw33]

Islay introduce the concept of 'foreign'.

[Islay]

You mentioned the EU in the very first answer!!

[Jackdaw33]

The reason I did so is that the EU banned the storing of potatoes in seaweed. That is a fact. The OP queried the loss of flavour; I responded.

[Mamyalynne]

Vraic (Seaweed) was used and though I haven't looked very hard didn't find a reference to the EU banning it, the practice died out for other reasons and is said not to affect the taste.

What the EU did do was to give the 'Jersey Royal' protected status.


But if in doubt, blame them - I do every time it rains.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/jersey/hi/people_and_places/nature/newsid_8478000/8478833.stm

[EDDIE51]

Jackdaw33 The seaweed was NOT a storage medium. It was and still is used as a natural and free free fertilizer, it just washed up on the beaches was collected and put on the spuds.
http://www.jerseyroyals.co.uk/about-jersey-royals.aspx
It is still used by a few traditional Jersey farmers but Jersey Royals are such a huge business now that there is nowhere near enough seaweed to use, so the huge majority (over 95%) are fertilized with ordinary commercial fertilizer.
The EU has NOTHING to do with it . In fact the EU has registered 'Jersey Royal' as a name for a type of potatoes grown in Jersey. Like 'Champagne' is a registered name for a type of sparkling wine from a particular region of France. The use of seaweed as fertilizer for Jersey Royal potatoes has also been endorsed by the EU.
So your contention that the lack of taste to Jersey Royals is due to EU regulation is the exact opposite of the truth. The EU have in fact endorsed the method of farming them and registered the name so that no other potatoes can be sold as 'Jersey Royal'

[Jackdaw33]

Fair enough, Eddie, I haven't done my research

[nannybooby]

Dont buy them in a prewashed bas buy them in the dirt......they taste right then.

[tonyav]

Your right, thelewisgang they don't seem to taste the same these days. Used to like them with a bit of butter.

[Tilly2]

I find that they are still distinctive. I love them with a nice bit of roast lamb and purple sprouting thingy,