Black Mountains Smokery

The Black Mountains Smokery is an award winning gourmet food company based in the beautiful Black Mountains region of South Wales. It was set up in 1996 by Jonathan and Joanna Carthew following their return from a decade in South Africa where Jonathan worked for Barclay’s Bank

Wales had always been very dear to their heart – Jo grew up in Wales and the Carthews had regularly spent their holidays in Penyrheol, Nr. Crickhowell. They even honeymooned there! Destiny took a hand when Jonathan heard of a smokery for sale. This seemed the perfect business for two food lovers and after much research and an apprenticeship, The Black Mountains Smokery was born.

It is truly a family run business. During the holidays, the Carthews two, Hetta and Hugh,: also get involved in various parts of the business and are often seen selling at food festivals and fairs.

Jonathan is a keen fisherman, with an eye for quality and freshness. The Carthews are genuine foodies and their gourmet food range includes traditionally smoked salmon, oak roasted salmon and smoked duck. Also food hampers gifts, smoked trout, haddock, chicken, Welsh Dragon Pork sausage, ham and bacon. They have perfected the smoking process which, whether hot or cold smoking, is an art in itself. The smoking process involves curing in the first instance in order to reduce water content. When cold smoking the source of the smoke is distant from the food to be smoked and has therefore lost its heat by the time it is fanned over the fish. We think hot smoking needs no explanation!

All ingredients are sourced not only from suppliers in the UK but farms that are accredited as being environmentally sound.  All the fresh salmon is Freedom Food certified by the RSPCA being from one independent salmon farmer.  Premium Grade Salmon (farmed) helps protect the wild salmon stocks by reducing the need to over fish them and also guarantees that the salmon you are eating will have been raised in deep sea lochs where the water is clean; no GM food is given to them and they are able to swim thousands of miles as they would in the wild. Wester Ross Fisheries is one such farm and as a result of their farming methods, their salmon’s flesh is a lovely pink colour similar to wild salmon.

Their sumptious food makes ideal fare for dinner parties or simple suppers. Their hampers make ideal corporate presents.