Down to Earth Organic Chutney - Apricot Ginger product reviews

I was delighted to receive a jar of the Down to Earth Apricot Ginger Chutney to try in my review box, as I was a little intrigued as to what the balance of the ginger and apricot would be and whether it would be a gingery jam type taste or a more pickle/chutney type flavour.

Before adding the chutney to any food combinations I decided to try it all on its own, straight from the jar, so that I could really see what the flavour and sweetness were like, if I am honest! Opening up the jar I was struck with a strong, sweet flavour - not like a jam or sugar sweetness, definitely less sweet than that, but with it having a fair amount of apricot in it I felt it would possibly smell sweeter than it actually was, and was eager to try it and prove myself right! I was definitely not disappointed upon tasting it. It is more tangy than tart, and the ginger - oh my goodness - what a great combo - the heat of the ginger and the tang of the apricot - bliss!! There are noticeable chunky "bits" in the chutney which I really liked - it has a more rustic and homemade feel and look to it, not being super smooth. I did not notice any residual ginger taste (not that I would have worried, being a ginger fan) but for others that is good to note.

I decided to pair it next, with a dollop of sour cream on top of courgette vegie fritters that my husband had made - and oh my gosh - absolutely delicious!!! The chutney was definitely the star of the show, and rightly so!! A few things I like about the chutney, besides the great taste, is that it is packaged in glass, meaning a good sturdy jar that I can repurpose and reuse. It is also vegan, dairy free and hand made.

I absolutely would have no hesitation buying this again, and have already tried it in a few other ways, with cheese and crackers and with pita crisps and hummus, and have yet to find something that it does not work well with! There are quite a few different flavours from Down to Earth, and the next one I would like to try I think is the pineapple one!

This was a great looking product with pretty packaging and good informative labelling. I did put off trying it for a few days as I couldn't personally get the jar open (had to call in a strong man for the task unfortunately). This did initially give me a bit of a down on the product which was a shame and probably just the result of hot hawkes bay and cold fridge combos. I have had this quite often so it wasn't critical but it is worth keeping in mind no everyone can wrench a jar lid and if there was an alternative package I would probably choose it (my house is overrun with jars!). So after that false start we tried the taste straight from the jar to get an idea of where it would work best (ie, how strong was it!). I found it a great mix of strong, sweet, tangy and really flavoursome.

The colour looks quite deep in the jar but is a lovely burnt orange when spread and has a great jammy texture. First spot to try it was a leftovers chicken wrap that the chutney really zinged up (left over chicken from the night before needed something moist!) I loved the jam liked consistency and chewy bits were perfect. I have never tried the down to earth products before but the quality was impeccable.

Tried it next with the usual cheese and crackers over the weekend. It was a huge hit with the men surprisingly who all loved the chewy ginger taste - worth nothing it was a good contrast to other condiments I had. I was also a fan of the soft gingery after taste which is a real hit for hubby and I and meant we are thinking up ways and places to add this distinct flavour. Unfortunately the kids were a bit put off and found it too strong (not sure we should have used less or just told them to avoid it entirely).

Next was the toasted sandwiches which it added a lovely sweetness to - totally recommend that for a lazy Sunday. I will be looking this out for a treat but probably not an everyday staple though as its a bit pricey for me. I think it would also be more of a wintery taste for curries and hot winter dishes rather than summer salads. Well done to down to earth providing a lovely quality product which I will recommend.

We were quite excited to try this, being huge fans of ginger and apricot. We tried it straight from the jar to begin with and enjoyed the flavour-slightly sweet and slightly tangy, with a bit of a zing of the chilli. There were lots of chewy ginger bits which were refreshing and quite delicious.

Hubby tried some with a curry we had for dinner(tikka Masala) in place of his usual mango chutney and he said it was good. I had mine as more of a pickle as it was quite jam-like to me, with cheese on a sandwich. The flavour went well with the cheese (a sharp cheddar) and I enjoyed the combination of the sweet and bit of the chilli with the sharpness of the cheese. The child liked it on it's own in a sandwich like a jam or on crackers with cream cheese.

We liked that it had a home made flavour and texture and the depth of the flavours too with the fruit and the ginger and the spices that gave it a delicious tangy and sweet flavour.

We loved that this was organic and enjoyed tasting something different. One member of our house couldn't try it due to it being processed on the same lines as wheat and she is coeliac so we thought we best not risk it for her.

Before trying this relish in combination with other foods, we all tasted it straight from the jar. What struck everyone was the strong, sweet flavour and number of small, chewy pieces of ginger that were present on the spoon. It was almost like a cross between a chutney and a jam. There was no acidic aftertaste, and it was quite easy to eat just on its own!

However, we thought it best to see how well it went with other foods too so resisted the temptation to just keep eating. Our cousins had prepared a fusion curry dish with chili roast pork, a medium lamb korma, and the inevitable mild butter chicken for the less adventurous. There was also plain naan bread, a large bowl of raita, and some steamed white rice. Altogether a great meal for a very cold day (it was snowing outside and we had been travelling for several hours).

We found the chutney was quite runny, so when we added it to each plate we found that it immediately mixed in with the rest of the food. Not that this mattered because we got to taste it in various combinations, and could judge how well it kept its own flavour when eaten with a piece of very spicy pork and then with a mild cube of chicken. It impressed us that both the ginger and apricot flavours carried through successfully without overpowering the spiced items. In effect, it was the ideal complement for a curry because it brought out the best in everything.

We tried it with another couple of items next day. We added it to cheese and crackers. No surprises here - it was delicious. Even Mr 12, who does not like his food too hot, went for this: he cleaned up the entire plate, so we had to make more for everyone else. We also tried it with our lunch of ham sandwiches. Once again, it appealed to everyone.

However, the last experiment was the most interesting of all. Home-made rice pudding was on the menu for dessert: this is something we (and our cousins) often make more interesting by adding a blob of jam just before serving. So we tried the chutney instead! Apart from Mr 12, who had reservations because he thought it was a bit too spicy - he is an utter conservative! - everyone found it not only different, but extremely tasty. The ginger and chilli content gave the rice a touch of heat, but the chutney is so sweet that it worked admirably with the pudding. Miss 15 even added a dash of cream to hers to enhance the result.

I left the small remaining amount with our cousins. I would like to have taken it with us but there was no way they were going to let go of it. Their excuse was that they needed the jar so they would know what to get when it ran out. Which, by the look of the contents, would not be too long in the future!