For the first time, three of Portsmouth’s burgeoning businesses, in partnership with the Council’s Eat the Island initiative, will showcase their exceptional products at the prestigious national UK Food & Drink show at the NEC in Birmingham from 7 to 9 April.
The Portsmouth Distillery, The Road from Karachi, and Tea Mountain will present their unique offerings: gin and 5-year-aged rum, Indian & Pakistani spice mixes, and Portsmouth Tea. This event marks a significant milestone for these local businesses as they step onto the national stage.
This Council initiative, part-funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund will also represent other Portsmouth food & drink businesses such as Spice Island Chilli, Yarty cordials and Pauline Macarons.
The Portsmouth Distillery is making waves as the first English distillery to authentically age rum for five years. Nestled in the historic 18th-century Fort Cumberland in Southsea, the distillery ages its rum in Bourbon casks less than 100 meters from the sea. Known for its award-winning 1812 3-year-aged rum and gins, the distillery is set to impress at the show.
Tea Mountain produces Portsmouth Tea, a robust, malty blend specially crafted to complement hard water. This unique tea commemorates Portsmouth’s place in tea history, dating back to the arrival of Portuguese princess Catherine of Braganza in 1662, who introduced tea to Britain.
The Road from Karachi brings a rich culinary heritage to the table with its authentic family cookery book, originally created by Portsmouth business owner Nadia’s parents. Their Indo-Pakistani recipes, now complemented by the Ummi Mix, a blend of spices and herbs plus their new Ummi Chai created with Portsmouth Tea, promise to add a burst of flavour to everyday.
Councillor Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council with responsibility for economic development said:
“It is important to support our local businesses as they take this significant step onto the national stage. The UK Food & Drink show is an unparalleled platform to showcase Portsmouth’s finest food and beverage producers, helping them reach new customers and markets. This initiative is a testament to our commitment to strengthening Portsmouth’s economy.”
Vince Noyce, Co-Founder of The Portsmouth Distillery said:
“Being the first English distillery to authentically age rum for five years is a huge achievement for us. We’re excited to share our passion and craftsmanship with a national audience. This opportunity allows us to highlight the unique qualities of our products and the rich history behind them.”
Alexis Rendell, Founder and CEO of Tea Mountain said:
“We’re incredibly proud to showcase Portsmouth Tea at the national Food & Drink show. As a blend specifically crafted for the city’s hard water, Portsmouth Tea reflects the character and heritage of our vibrant waterfront community. This event is a fantastic opportunity to share our passion for quality tea and Portsmouth’s unique tea story with a wider audience.”
Nadia Arab, Founder of The Road from Karachi said:
“I am delighted to be part of the Portsmouth’s Eat the Island initiative and to fulfil my parents dream of sharing their love of authentic Indian and Pakistani food and their resilience to start their own cookery school back in the 1980s.”
Eat the Island – Portsmouth aims to support local business to grow and to strengthen Portsmouth’s economy.