Anathoth Farm - Cauliflower & Hemp Seed Pickle product reviews

I haven't been a big fan of pickles for a few years now but this sounded like an interesting combination, so I figured why not give it a try. I love cauliflower, it's one of my favourite vegetables, so I was curious as to how this would factor into the pickle. Opening it up, I could smell the vinegar, I grabbed a teaspoon and scooped some out to give it a try. I wasn't a big fan of the texture of the pickle, I think that was the hemp seeds in it, that kind of texture can make or break a dish for me. When it came to the taste, I found that it wasn't as nice as I had hoped.

I first tried this as an old classic, in a sandwich with a nice, thick, slice of cheese. This combo worked well and tasted good, it's a meal that I could have again, there's just something about the two items that work well together. I then made some muffins and decided to mix some of the pickle into the mix, along with a decent amount of cheese. I let them cool down a little before grabbing one and spreading some butter on them and tucked into it. I found that it worked better this way, though my kids weren't too interested in them at all and it took a little while to get through them. This didn't have me getting back into eating pickles, so I can't imagine I'll be buying it again but it wasn't too bad.

When I saw Anathoth Farm's new range of pickles pop up on the KIWIreviews site available to request for review I was very eager to put my hand up. Having tried a lot of Anathoth's farms other chutneys and jams I knew these would be something I would love. My experience with all Anathoth Farm products is that they are packed full of natural ingredients you can see and are made in New Zealand using fresh New Zealand Produce! This cauliflower and hemp seed pickle didn't disappoint being in a transparent pot you can see straight away all the vegetables inside and there has certainly not been any skimping with ingredients to make this pickle.

When I saw the Cauliflower and Hemp Seed pickle it straight away made me think of old fashioned piccallili like my grandmother used to make and I have to admit on tasting it this is exactly what it is like. You have the vinegar tang against the mixture of vegetables, it has a slight natural sweetness which is nice in pairing against the acidity of the vinegar. The addition of hemp seed while not being something you can really taste is great as I have read a lot about the health benefits of these super foods like hemp and chia seeds and it is fantastic to have ways in which you can incorporate them into familiar meals.

Thinking about grandma's home made piccalili took me down the path of trying this Cauliflower and Hemp Seed pickle in a cheese sandwich, simple I know but this is always the way grandma would serve it up. Though truth be told you don't have to add anything too much, cheese and bread was absolutely fine as the pickle shone through as the true star of the dish and was refreshing against the cheese. I could quite happily use this regularly in this way and as we do try to make our own lunches I often buy chutneys and pickles to make sandwiches taste better so we will definitely buy this again.

When I saw some Anathoth products come up for review I was very excited, having previously consumed a fair amount of their items and so knowing that these were likely to be on a par with them - delicious, nutritious and a great addition to my 5 + a day vegetable intake.

My first perception of it was "fantastic, this looks a lot like a piccalilli pickle mix" that I am very very fond of for a few reasons such as it being full of vegetables, a bit tart and a great accompaniment to a lot of different things. I hadn't had a pickle with hemp seed in it so I was really interested to see how that may alter the texture and flavour of the pickle.

Looking at the pot itself, it is a nice and generous 300 grams meaning it lasts a while and gives everyone a chance to try it in their own way. The pot has a nice secure lid which is really good to know for people like myself that have kids - not as much chance of the lid "popping off"and leaving the contents on my floor or in my fridge. The pot is clear so you can easily see the vibrant colour of this pickle and combined with the lovely artwork on the front, you get a very good indication of what the flavour could be like.

I tried this pickle all on its lonesome first - to get a true indication of the flavour. It has a very tart and sharp/vinegary flavour to it but definitely not in a bad way. I was very impressed at how you could really see the chunks of vegetables in this pickle - clearly, like the other Anathoth varieties this one has not sacrificed good quality for price. I really enjoyed the crunch of the vegies among the tart flavour - it really tasted like a good healthy option to be eating and was a nice change to creamy dips. I haven't mentioned the hemp seeds because, to be honest, I did not notice them make a change in the flavour of this pickle. Assuming they are as good for me as I have heard, it doesn't hurt to have them in here!

My summation is really that this is a fantastic, wholesome and very classic and homely tasting pickle. I had been considering making something similar with what is in our garden, but at the price of $4.99, for all the chopping and actual work I would have to do - no thanks I would just buy this instead. I really look forward to try all the others soon!

Until I tasted the Cauliflower and Hemp Seed pickle, I had no idea that I was going to take an unexpected trip down memory lane. Despite the new name, this was nothing more than the piccalilli that I remember from my childhood. My aunt used to make a batch regularly - long before the previous batch had been used up so that the new brew would have time to mature - so we were never without a supply. It was the go-to pickle for absolutely everything; we served it with all kinds of meat whether hot or cold, cheese, fish, egg dishes, and all sorts of salads and roast dishes. It was flavoursome but mild enough to appeal to the very young, and I was allowed to eat as much as I wanted because it was made of vegetables and therefore good for growing children!

The Anathoth version is as close to that home-made version as a commercial product can possibly be: it too contains a selection of vegetables, although I don't think the hemp seed, nutritious though it might be, would have been included in my aunt's day. However, the other ingredients are all pretty close, and like the original version it does not contain any artificial preservatives or other nasties. There are some larger chunks of cauliflower which provide an interesting texture, and the mustard colour is attractive in itself.

My partner and I tested this product without assistance from friends or wider family - unusual for me as I normally have lots of help to try new products - but I was glad that it was just the two of us because once we started we could not stop, and over the course of three days we finished the entire container. It was not just the amazing flavour that attracted us; it was the sheer variety of foods that could be used with it. We served it with baked ham and potatoes - so much tastier and more nutritious than mustard on its own - and as a topping for cheese and crackers. I made up a plate of assorted hors d'oeuvres (crudites, cream cheese and seasonal fruit) and added some pickle as well. I was interested to see that my partner used it for dipping the fruit pieces as well as the vegetables!

With just enough left for one more trial, we used it to accompany a full roast dinner (chicken, potatoes, pumpkin and whole onions). I did not make gravy because I was reluctant to mask the pickle flavour, but we did not miss it. The pickle provided enough contrast, both in taste and texture, to complement the meal. Now I can't wait to buy another pot to try it in other ways. At the price it is being sold for and the overall quality of the product, it is just not worth taking the time to contemplate making my own.

Pickles and relishes are such a versatile addition to a meal, and remain permanently popular in our house. They add a lovely contrast to what could otherwise be a plain flavour, especially when they contain one of my absolute favourite ingredients- gherkins. In particular, those with a little bite and crunch really appeal to me, so when I saw this Cauliflower and Hemp Seed pickle from Anathoth Farm, I knew that I needed to put it through its paces in our kitchen.

When I received the packet, the size of the jar was perfect. Being 300g means that there is plenty there for a whole family to eat through, but not so much that you simply cannot use it all before it goes bad. The colour of this pickle is pretty out there. Similar to a piccalilli, it is bright yellow which was a little unusual when I first saw it. I dived in with a spoon to taste it and found that this was definitely a sharper and zingier pickle, more of a true pickle, than many others on sale. This is perfect for me, as I love the true hit of vinegar and gherkin to add a little bit of oomph. There was a lovely underlying sweetness too, and the crunch from the gherkin and cauliflower was perfect, giving just enough to add some interest, but not so much that it would be hard to chew through. The hemp seeds, as I have found with others from this range, do not intrude with the pickle itself. They're giving the added nutritional punch without being overbearing- a perfect addition in my eyes.

Added to a sandwich, this pickle excels. Never overpowering, but marrying beautifully with rich foods in particular, the sharp sweetness cuts through rich flavours adding freshness and crunch which is very welcome. I also added this pickle to scones, which gave them an amazing yellow colour as well as a beautiful flavour, used it mixed with mayonnaise as a tartar sauce alternative, and added it into sausage meat to use in sausage rolls- these were a particular hit with the whole family!

Overall, this is a fabulous pickle. Don't be put off by the stronger flavour, it is a perfect match for any food which needs a fresh element adding to it. Packed with good stuff, it certainly stands out from the crows, and I would definitely purchase again.