As we head into the summer season with warmer temperatures and longer days, we are turning our focus to the seasonal delights found in Scotland.
Our incentive groups come from all over the world, and we love to be able to give them a truly Scottish experience, immersing them in our culture and sampling the local cuisines. It is also a priority of ours to source locally-grown produce to support our Scottish communities and reduce emissions cause by transportation of goods.
Visit Scotland have produced their ‘menu’ of seasonal summer produce that we can incorporate into your trips to leave guests with a lasting memory. Let’s break down each month:
June
The start of summer brings with it a rich variety of fruits and berries, while seafood, beef and lamb are also available in June. In Edinburgh, we have a few food festivals in June, such as the Neighbourgood Market in Inverleith Park, and the Great British Food Festival in Dalkeith.
June is berry season in Scotland, with gooseberries, raspberries, strawberries and tayberries (a hybrid of the blackberry and raspberry) all in abundance. Cherries, blackcurrants and redcurrants also come into season. Pick your own at fruit farms around Scotland such as Cragie Fruit Farm, just one hour from Edinburgh, from which you can create your own jams, desserts, or simply enjoy as a sweet snack.
This month is great for green vegetables such as broad beans, peas, runner beans and mangetout, as well as asparagus and healthy leaves such as kale and Swiss chard. These veg add a touch of colour to summer salads with fresh beetroot, carrots and summer squash, or we can spice up your menu with locally-grown chillis. Although chillis are grown all around Scotland, if you’re passing by make sure you pop to Langholm in Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland’s Chilli Capital!
The Royal Highland Show takes place just outside Edinburgh each June. As well as a chance to learn about the country’s agriculture, the show’s popular food and drink hall is a great place to sample the best Scottish produce. Dig into a mouth-watering beef or venison burgers, sample some of our finest bacon and pork sausages or taste Scottish gin, cheese and chocolate.
July
July offers a vibrant spectrum of tastes and colours, with succulent seafood, sweet berries and a wide range of fresh vegetables all on the table.
Foragers will start to come across wild mushrooms including ceps and chanterelles. Be careful when foraging for mushrooms as some can be poisonous. If you are interested in foraging, there are plenty of spots near Edinburgh for a wild foraging excursion.
You’ll also find a wide range of seafood on the menu this month, from clams and cockles to winkles and whiting. Lemon sole and plaice are excellent at this time of year, as are lobster and crab.
August
Into August, the first autumn apples start appearing and it is still a perfect time to go foraging.
Cloudberries is one for the adventurous foragers! They’re only available in a few mountainous areas, available from late August into September.
Scotch lamb is excellent in autumn, with the first cuts on sale in late August. Lamb chops and roasted summer squash make for a tasty dinner on a warm summer evening, while kebabs with mushrooms and tomatoes are great for barbecues. Either way, lamb makes an excellent addition to a dinner menu.
Additionally, grouse season begins in mid-August, so look out for fresh game towards the end of the month. This rich meat is delicious when roasted and perfectly paired with wild mushrooms, red cabbage, celeriac or kale, all available locally.
Scotland has no shortage of delicious, locally-sourced, seasonal produce that will elevate your dinner menu. And, it doesn’t end with summer. We have a year-round supply of fresh produce to add to your menu throughout the year. Look out for our Seasonal Scotland: Autumn feature coming soon.
Let’s chat about your next incentive trip to Scotland to sample our world-class seasonal produce.