Aided by its frequent use on TV, demand for the salty coastal sea plant samphire is soaring.
In the last year demand for samphire has shot up by 80 per cent at Tesco, thanks to its popularity on TV cookery shows like BBC's Saturday Morning Kitchen, and Channel Four’s Sunday Brunch.
The plant, which traditionally grows in estuary waters, is being commercially harvested for Tesco in Evesham, Worcestershire, by Westlands,
Tesco vegetable buyer Bart Vangorp said:“For centuries, samphire was the seaside’s best kept secret - a little known sea plant that is a wonderful accompaniment to fish because of its wonderfully succulent taste and distinctive salty flavour.
'Until about five years ago samphire was still only really known by foodies, but thanks to being championed by celebrity chefs such as Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Jamie Oliver it is becoming a mainstream delicacy.
“Unless you lived near the sea it was quite hard to find which is why we decided to stock it to make it easier for our customers to buy.'
Westlands grows samphire in glasshouses, cultivating and hand harvesting them in an effort to give customers a better tasting and fresher product.
Westlands general manager Peter Taylor said:“While the British season lasts from mid-May until October, estuary-grown samphire has a notoriously short window of being at its very best, which is about two to three weeks from late June to early July, after which it becomes too stringy.
'We grow samphire in glasshouses because we can perfectly replicate coastal temperatures and growing conditions. The extra hand harvesting care also produces a wonderful-tasting crop.
“It doesn’t need to grow in water - it likes to be moist. And we only use the glasshouse to enhance and lengthen the natural growing days and season.”
The company started growing samphire seven years ago, and initially produced about two tonnes a year, and demand is now so strong that Westlands is set to harvest about 240 tonnes this year.
Samphire is also known as sea asparagus because of its spear like shape. It is best prepared by either lightly steaming or sautéing it, andhas a distinctively salty flavour.
Tesco samphire will be available in store from May to October, and costs £2 for a 115g pack.
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