THE first food produced in around 100 years using salt extracted from Droitwich brine is being officially unveiled to the public next week.

Wychbold Fudge has created Droitwich Salted Fudge, which will be available at the town’s annual food and drink festival in June.

It is being officially launched at the Droitwich Spa Town Council annual meeting, which starts at 6pm on Monday May 15 at the Community Hall, when the festival organiser Patrick Davies will give a presentation and those attending can try samples.

Salt was first discovered in the Droitwich area more than 2,000 years ago and this natural resource was the reason the town was founded and consequently flourished. The brine’s salt concentration has been measured at 42 per cent – the strongest natural salt water known to man.

However the salt industry declined in the late 19th century and Droitwich salt production eventually ceased in 1922. But in a first step to revive its fortunes, the food festival was given permission by Wychavon District Council, which owns the rights to the brine, to extract 1,000 litres to make salt for use at the food festival.

Justin Bowen, who set up his family-run Wychbold Fudge business three years ago, said he was honoured and delighted to be asked to create a Droitwich Salted Fudge.

He said: “Patrick contacted me a while ago and told me they were going to try and produce Droitwich salt after near 100 years and would I be interested in using it in fudge.

“I was already doing a sea salt and caramel fudge and it is actually our best-selling fudge – salt and sweet are the in thing at the moment. As soon as Patrick asked if I was interested, it was a no brainer. I was very excited. I was very pleased and honoured to be asked and I feel very proud to be part of this.

“I have spoken to a couple of local retailers about its potential. It will be a product that is unique to Droitwich.”

Justin, who makes his fudge in his family kitchen at home, was given a sample of the salt so he could make a test batch of fudge. He gave some of the salted fudge to his wife Helga, who is on Dodderhill Parish Council, to try out on her parish council colleagues.

“The overwhelming response was very positive. The next stage was to make a batch for the Droitwich Spa Town Council meeting and that is safely with Patrick for the launch on Monday.”

He said part of the charm was that the Droitwich Salted Fudge is home-made – not mass produced – and it will be unique to Droitwich.

Although admitting he might be a touch bias, Justin says he thinks Droitwich salt has a slightly softer flavour than sea salt and table salt.

“The Droitwich Salt Fudge does taste different. I think it will have a wider appeal than the sea salt and caramel fudge. I prefer the taste. It has a smoother taste. The salt flavour comes later and lingers on the palate. I think it is a more refined taste.

“It is a distinct taste that will appeal to a broader range of people. One of the initial comments from someone who tried it was ‘I don’t like fudge – bit I like this’.”

Justin believes Droitwich salt could become a premium and sought after product with regional acclaim like Camembert. “Aldi stocks Himalayan rock salt and I think it could be as big as that. I genuinely believe it has a distinct flavour.”

To find out more about Droitwich Salt Fudge visit www.wychboldfudge.co.uk. The Droitwich Spa Food and Drink Festival takes place at the Lido Park on Saturday June 17 from 10am to 6pm. For more details visit http://www.droitwichspafestival.co.uk/.