Frequently Asked Questions
PRODUCTS
Q. Where can I buy your products?
A. All our products are available to buy online or our product section provides details on where you can buy our products.
Unfortunately it may be the case that our products may not be stocked in your nearest store, so we recommend that you contact your local store's customer services and they can let you know if the product you're interested in is on their shelves before you make that special trip and risk disappointment.
Q. Where can I find nutritional information on your products?
A. All our product labels carry full nutritional information and you can also find this information listed with the product on the website.
Q. How long can English Provender Company products be stored if they haven't been opened?
A. Well, if you haven't opened the jar or bottle it's fine to keep it in your cupboard – it doesn't need to be refrigerated. Once the product has been opened however, we recommend that you do keep it in your refrigerator. This helps to preserve the quality of the product, making sure it still tastes really great.
To find out the exact storage instructions please take a look the label, as these may vary according to the nature of the product.
Q. Do I need to use the products within the recommended timescale?
A. Yes, we recommend that you use the products within the time indicated on the label to ensure that they meet the quality standards that you'd expect from us. Hopefully this shouldn't be a problem as we're sure you'll love them!
Q. What's the best way to use your freshly grated Hot Horseradish?
A. Our Hot Horseradish does exactly what it says on the jar, so beware it is not a creamed horseradish sauce. The Horseradish is in its pure state, so we can let everyone use it to suit their own taste. We do recommend that if you need to make it a little milder that you add a little cream (whipped double, whipping cream, crème fraiche) to the product. You could even add a little wholegrain mustard and some sugar if you wish.
Q. Why are some of your dressings not available all year round?
A. We do have a number of products which are available in stores throughout the year, but during the summer months when Dressings are in greater demand, retailers often like to stock a wider selection. Why not have a look at our distribution list for more detailed information on product listings?
Q. Suitability of products for coeliacs
A. We endeavour to make our products suitable for coeliacs, and the majority are. However please double-check our labels or download our fact sheet (this is a PDF file and will open in a new window.)
Q. Allergen information
A. We'll always let you know on our labels exactly which (if any) allergens are in our products. For those of you who have a nut allergy, the good news it that we do not use nuts anywhere on site.
Q. Are your products GM free?
A. All of The English Provender Company's products are GM Free.
Q. How do you make your products?
A. All of our ingredients are carefully sourced, and we then prepare our products with our own special creative flair. We have a real passion for food that we believe translates into really great tasting products. We also use open-pan preserving to achieve a truly traditional taste and consistency with our chutneys, relishes and condiments.
Q. Recycling
A. All our jars and bottles are suitable to be recycled. Consult the following website for more information on recycling ; www.recyclenow.com
Product information
Q. What is a chutney?
A. A chutney is a preserved or fresh relish similar to a pickle, made with herbs, spices, fruit or vegetables. There are two main types; a traditional British-style chutney is preserved through the process of cooking, and is usually quite sweet. In contrast, an Indian-style chutney can be preserved or fresh, and is normally hotter and more sour-tasting.
The main difference between chutneys and relishes is the finished texture. Chutneys are made from very finely chopped or sliced fruits and / or vegetables which are cooked very slowly to produce the characteristic smooth texture and mellow flavour.
Q.What is a relish?
A. A relish is made from mixtures of fruit and/or vegetables that are cooked together with vinegar and spices which act as preservatives.
The finished texture of a relish is usually far more chunky, as the ingredients used are cut into larger pieces, and the cooking time is shorter.
Q. What are pickles?
A. A pickle is both an ingredient (or mixture of ingredients) preserved in an acidic liquid or salt to prolong its shelf life, and the process by which the preserving is done. Some pickles, usually the sweet ones, have a jam-like consistency and are virtually chutneys by another name. In more classic pickles, the ingredients retain their shape and crispness, and remain more separated from their preserving liquid.
Q. What is a salsa?
A. Salsa describes a large family of fresh or cooked salad-like relishes, usually flavoured with chilli and herbs.
Q. What is a coulis?
A. In French, the word coulis refers to a thin puree. It is mainly used to describe a sweet sauce which can be easily poured.
Q. What is a dressing?
A. Dressings are liquid sauce-like combinations, usually containing herbs and seasonings that are tossed through, or poured over, raw or cooked ingredients to add flavour and texture and to bring out their natural taste.
Q. What is a vinaigrette?
A. A vinaigrette is a slightly thickened salad dressing, usually made from oil, vinegar and seasonings. Traditionally olive oil is used, but other oils such as sunflower or walnut are sometimes substituted or mixed with it. The vinegar is usually wine based - red, white or balsamic, but lemon juice is occasionally used instead. The term is mostly used to describe a type of dressing where the oil and water (vinegar) components separate out over time- often because they have little or insufficient stabiliser (see also the entry on Xanthan Gum below). Such dressings can be easily recombined by shaking the bottle. Just make sure the bottle cap is firmly on!
Q. What are condiments?
A. Condiments are flavourings or a mixture of flavourings added to dishes at the table to complement the taste of food. Nowadays the term is mainly applied to products that are served on the side of the plate with hot or cold meats. According to market data specialist AC Nielsen, the nation's favourite condiment is Mint Sauce. Bad news for the UK lamb population.
Q. Where can I get nutrition information about EPC products?
A. This information is available on the product labels and included on our website alongside the product information. Click here to download our nutritional fact sheet.
Q. What is Xanthan Gum?
A. For those keen on Sci-Fi, we're sorry to report that despite having a name beginning with an 'X', Xanthan Gum comes only from humble planet Earth, and is a natural product - derived by a process of fermentation. It is a versatile and effective stabiliser and emulsifier which we use in dressings and mayonnaises. We use it in dressings to suspend 'bits' (like herbs) in the product so that they don't immediately sink to the bottom of the bottle. In mayonnaise it is excellent for keeping the combination of oil and water in suspension. In our view it is preferable to corn starch or other supposedly more 'natural' thickeners as it gives a less 'gloopy' or wallpaper paste- like consistency. Unlike the Mysterons, Flash Gordon would have nothing to fear!
