Orange Elephant Ice Cream

Producer: Orange Elephant Ice Cream, Devon
Product name: Elderflower and Lime Yoghurt Ice Cream
Region: South West, Isles of Scilly and The Channel Islands
Category: From the dairy, artisan

Congratulations to Orange Elephant Ice Cream for being awarded the accolade of ‘Highly Commended’ at the 2017 delicious. Produce Awards. Click here to find out more. 

What they do:
In 2005, Rob and Helen Taverner come from a long line of dairy farmers and they’ve been farming at Lower Brenton, near Exeter, for 25 years. Back in 2005 they, embarked on a project to re-introduce a heritage breed called the devonshire milking cow back to their county. Milk from this breed (nicknamed ‘orange elephant’ because of its size, large ears and long face) is low in yield yet beautifully creamy. The couple began to use the milk to make ice cream, for which it is ideally suited.
Because the devonshire milking cow breed is so low-yielding, the Taverners began cross-breeding the ‘orange elephants’ with south devon cows and other breeds, in order to get a high enough yield of creamy milk to turn their ice cream production into a fully fledged business.
From calf to cone, every stage of the process is handled on their farm, and Helen makes the ice cream in small batches.
The frozen treat is sold in their on-site ice cream parlour, and it is also available wholesale to local pubs. 

What the judges said:
The judges commended the farm’s re-introduction of a heritage pedigree breed of dairy cow, and were charmed by the way that the company’s range of ice cream flavours reflected the strengths of local ingredients.

Visit the website:Orange Elephant Ice Cream