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THESE fabulous leafy plants HAVE BEEN USED throughout the world for CENTURIES in food, medicine & perfumE. There are thousands, of VARIETIES THAT CAN transform  a simple dish and elevate it into something truly spectacular.

MINT

With its uplifting sweetness, mint offers boundless opportunities. Used to soothe and enhance, mint has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. It’s a friend to your brain too – helping increase concentration and easing headaches.  Mint is a fantastic all-rounder and delicious with raspberries!

Mint has been found in Egyptian tombs dating back to 1000BC and the Japanese have been using mint oil for 2000 years!

PARSLEY

Not just a pretty garnish, parsley has much more to offer. Grown throughout the world for centuries, the Romans used parsley in great quantities to counter strong smells!  Containing high levels of Vitamin C, iron and chlorophyll (an antiseptic), it fixes wounds and bites. We celebrate parsley as the star of the show.

Parsley seeds can be used to kill head lice!  Make a tea from crushed seeds and pour over the head after washing.  Bingo!

Tarragon

Native to southern Europe, Tarragon’s aniseed flavour was first introduced to Britain during the Tudor period.  Combine with parsley, chives and chervil to create a classic ‘fines herbes’. One for the first aid kit to treat snake bites, a tarragon tea also alleviates insomnia and constipation

Henry VIII was said to have divorced Catherine of Aragon because of her excessive use of Tarragon!

Thyme

Grown around the world, Thyme has strong antiseptic properties; it can be used as a mouthwash for sore throats and gum infections.  Great in massage oils, it can also kill mosquito larva! An essential ingredient in bouquet garni, Thyme infuses beautifully into stocks, stews and casseroles.

In the Middle Ages a Thyme brew was drunk as part of a ritual to enable one to see fairies!

SAGE

There’s no mistaking the strong evergreen scent of soft and supple sage, that quintessential ingredient to your Sunday roast stuffing. This herb has a long history for healing, supposedly curing everything from snake bites and eye problems to epilepsy and intoxication. It has even been prescribed as an aphrodisiac!

It was believed that sage stimulated the brain, therefore, increasing powers of concentration, memory and reasoning. From this, the word “sage” took on another meaning – wise person!

OREGANO

Oregano comes from the Greek word meaning “mountain joy” and was revered as a symbol of happiness by the ancient Greeks and Romans. It has long been known for its powerful anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and antifungal effects. The ancient Greeks used it to treat sores and aching muscles. As an herb, oregano’s robust scent and flavour is much at home in Mediterranean cuisine. You’ll often find it used in its dried form, sprinkled on pizzas or added to Greek Salads, thought we prefer to use the fresh version in our sauces!

According to Greek Mythology, Aristotle reported that tortoises, after swallowing a snake, would immediately eat oregano to prevent death giving rise to the belief that oregano was an antidote to poison!

ROSEMARY

Rosemary is a hardy evergreen herb popular in Mediterranean cuisine. Since ancient times it has been hailed for its medicinal properties with effectiveness for treating muscle pain, boosting the immune system, and improving memory. Even as recently as 2017, sales of rosemary oil skyrocketed amongst students because of its perceived memory benefit.

In the Middle Ages, rosemary was associated with wedding ceremonies. The bride would wear a rosemary headpiece and the groom and wedding guests would all wear a sprig of rosemary. An herbaceous love charm!

BASIL

Fresh fragrant Basil is often called “king of the herbs” for its ubiquitous usage across numerous cuisines. Though often most commonly associated with Italian food, it is likely that Basil originated in India. There are 35 varieties of basil – sweet basil is the most common variety used in cooking, while holy basil is richest in essential oils and has been used for thousands of years in Ayurveda.

Symbolism around basil varies across the globe. In Portugal, dwarf bush basil is treated as a symbol of love. However, basil represented hatred in ancient Greece, and European lore sometimes claims that basil is a symbol of Satan!

 
Featured
More than A Little Bit excited – Red Pepper & Thyme Ketchup awarded a Gold Star at Great Taste Awards 2024
More than A Little Bit excited – Red Pepper & Thyme Ketchup awarded a Gold Star at Great Taste Awards 2024

We’re more than A Little Bit excited to have received a Gold Star at the Guild of Fine Food, Great Taste Awards 2024 for our Fresh Thyme & Roasted Red Pepper Ketchup.

A Little Bit Food crowned ‘Free-From Business of the Year’ at the Taste of Kent Awards 2024
A Little Bit Food crowned ‘Free-From Business of the Year’ at the Taste of Kent Awards 2024

A Little Bit Food has been awarded ‘Free-From Business of the Year’ at the Taste of Kent Awards 2024.

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We’re A Little Bit Excited to announce the launch of our brand-new Vegan Caesar dressing!
Why give Veganuary a go?
Why give Veganuary a go?

Here at A Little Bit, our full range is proudly vegan & plant-based. With many looking to reduce or totally cut out their consumption of meat & animal derived products, we’ve pulled together a little bit more information on the benefits of a vegan or plant based diet below.

Proud to be supporting Kent's Plan Bee
Proud to be supporting Kent's Plan Bee

Autumn is the perfect time to get out into the garden and get your garden ready for next spring!

Start by planting Honeysuckle, Ivy, Jasmine Bugbane or Evening Primrose to help feed the different pollinators living in your garden.

Sustainability is in our roots - celebrating Sustainability Month
Sustainability is in our roots - celebrating Sustainability Month

Based on a farm in Kent with views of surrounding apple orchards and across fields, we are always connected to nature at A Little Bit Food. As a business, we consider people and the planet and always aim to make a positive impact on our environment.

Our entire range uses fresh ingredients with a delicious home-cooked taste – all plant-based and vegan friendly.

Mental Health Awareness Week 2021 - Nature unlocks mental health benefits.
Mental Health Awareness Week 2021 - Nature unlocks mental health benefits.

Nature is the theme for Mental Health Awareness Week, this year. This week is important for us all to stop and take a minute to think about how we can achieve good mental health.

5 simple ways to reduce food waste
5 simple ways to reduce food waste

This week is Food Waste Action Week!

We want to support WRAP and highlight the issues which arise from food waste.

Fighting food waste has been found to be the number one solution for tackling the climate crisis.

Vegetarian tartine recipes for simple suppers or light lunches
Vegetarian tartine recipes for simple suppers or light lunches

These quick and easy vegetarian tartines are perfect for dinner parties and come together easily using our fresh herb dips.

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Jazz up your midweek fakeaway with 'a little bit' of our Rosemary & Tomato Ketchup. Your burgers will never be the same again... 🍅 vibrant 🍅 mouth-watering 🍅 packed full of fresh ingredients and herbs #alittlebitfood #Ketchup #TomatoKetchu
Attention followers, our fresh herb mission continues at A Little Bit. Now who's had thyme to try our brand new brown sauce? Grown around the world, thyme has strong antiseptic properties; it can be used as a mouthwash for sore throats and gum infe
Make the most of the summertime with 'a little bit' of this fresh, sweet Mint & Raspberry dressing. Delicate flavours of raspberry, with a hit of mint are sure to compliment your salad, dress your chicken or coat your fish or prawns. It's also gr
Let's Ket'chup. Did you know? Our Rosemary and Tomato Ketchup is made using fresh herbs! This sauce is 'a little bit' exciting, as not only it is packed full of goodness, it's also incredibly versatile. Dip your chips, add to your sausage sarnie or
Complete your breakfast dishes with a little bit of magic and try our versatile Rosemary Ketchup, or (for the brown fans) our new Brown Sauce made with a hint of Thyme. Now are you a brown, or red sauce kinda guy? 👇 #alittlebit #brownsauce #break
'A little bit' of Vegan friendly Mayo incoming! Perfect for almost anything, this creamy indulgent Roast Garlic and Herb condiment packs all the flavour without the nasties. Dollop over your roasties, spread across your veggie burger or swirl throu

a little bit of a tip

Fresh Rosemary & Tomato KetchupTry stirring our herby Ketchup through Risotto.

Fresh Rosemary & Tomato Ketchup

Try stirring our herby Ketchup through Risotto.

Sage & Spicy Tomato SauceFabulous added to Bolognese or a bean stew for a quick, delicious and comforting supper.

Sage & Spicy Tomato Sauce

Fabulous added to Bolognese or a bean stew for a quick, delicious and comforting supper.

Mint, Pea &Parsley DipTry heating and stir through pasta for a nutritious, herby sauce.

Mint, Pea &
Parsley Dip

Try heating and stir through pasta for a nutritious, herby sauce.

Tarragon &Lemon DressingJazz up your cous cous with a drizzle of our zingy dressing.

Tarragon &
Lemon Dressing

Jazz up your cous cous with a drizzle of our zingy dressing.