Savannah Black / 10 November 2024 / Categories: Shops, Food & Drink, Opinions

Fortnum and Mason

A few of my favourite things

Did you know the scotch egg was invented in 1737 at Fortnum and Mason. These are the kinds of things you find out when you step inside the Charlie and the Chocolate factory experience for foodies off Piccadilly, London.

I don’t shop in fortnums on a regular basis but I do return every year for a hamper. It’s something that has become a bit of a tradition in our family.

Here are the ten Fortnum and Mason things we cannot live without.

The Champagne and Orange marmalade, you get 340g for £8 but it’ll be the best £8 you’ve ever spent.

Made with sweet rather than Seville oranges and a generous helping of both Champagne and Marc de Champagne.

The zero alcohol champagne, give this to your guests and they’ll be guzzling like there’s no tomorrow and won’t understand why there’s no hangover the next day.

For Fortnums it’s the latest in British 314-year tea history, the Sparkling Tea is a certified organic blend inspired by eight of Fortnums famous and rare brews – and despite its celebration-ready appearance, amazingly contains zero alcohol.

We buy more of this tipple over the holidays now than booze. It’s £19.95 a bottle.

The next on the list is tea, and the Mint Infusion at £9.95 comes in a presentation tin (makes a cute present) and the Moroccan Mint are both on the list. It’s an indulgence 15 tea bags for £8. We spread them out over the holidays. One tea bag will make a pot of tea for two.

I also absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE the Highgrove Organic peppermint thins at £14.95 - if you are an after eight fan these are the same idea but elevated to a whole new level and Vegan.

Could you, would you pay £22 for a tin of biscuits. Ordinarily I’d say no way. Let me introduce you to Toffolosus, Salty-sweet and chewy toffee combines with plump dates in this expertly baked and abundant chocolate covered biscuit masterpiece. They are Colossally good.

Selfridges used to make the very best toffee biscuits, discontinued about 5 or 6 years ago so if you were a fan of those and like me missing them, this is the closest replacement I have found.

The final thing I always pick up from Fortnums is a few packets of Brandy snap. Interestingly their’s is not the best I’ve tried, it’s just so hard to source (unless you make your own) I buy it from here before it all runs out. You get six in the box and they cost a fiver.

Very few people can afford to do their holiday shop at Fortnum and Mason. I enjoy the store and all it has to offer by picking a handful of luxury items for my hamper each year. The rest we get from Aldi and Sainsbury’s. Wink wink.