The Burren Smokehouse - the best smoked salmon in Ireland

The Burren Smokehouse in Lisdoonvarna, is the original and best producer of smoked salmon in Ireland and well worth visiting either in person or online. Tasty morsels are left out to be sampled, above the counters stocked with many new and exciting variations of the original oak smoked recipe including an awarding winning organic smoked salmon, farmed off Clare Island which has an extremely low fat content and is understandably a best seller.

All of their products are locally sourced and certified organic and kosher. The fresh farmed salmon from the Atlantic, rainbow trout from Irish lakes and wild mackerel which cannot be farmed, are first filleted and then salted before being smoked over oak shavings. The owners Brigitta from Sweden, and Peter from Lisdoonvarna, have introduced new recipes and ingredients such as honey,lemon, fennel and pepper to enhance the flavors and increase the number of varieties available since they first started smoking in the Burren 21 years ago.

A tempting array, of locally produced cheeses, some of which are smoked by the Burren Smokehouse, such as Kilshanney Gouda are the perfect accompaniments to an al-fresco picnic. Nor will you be able to resist the St Tolas or Bluebell Falls goat cheeses in their delightful almost too-handy packaging which are delicious (try the honey or black pepper) and that’s before you even begin to peruse the shelves piled high to the ceiling with goodies from the best slow food producers in Ireland.

There are chocolates from Skeilligs (my favorite) and take my word for it I am an expert. Jams for the Clare Jam Company, with tempting names like Port & Blackcurrant, Champagne & Raspberry, I can assure you the taste lives up to the names, nothing like a Jameson laced marmalade to put a good start to your day. There are loads of healthy options too, like every type of organic tea and seaweeds, yes seaweed secret of eternal youth is Carrageen or Irish Moss.

Open 7 days a week, the girls will even make you up a smoked salmon sandwich on freshly made brown bread to take away during the summer. Or visit their online shop hampers start from €22.95 and are delivered worldwide, a great idea for presents or stocking up on gourmet Irish food goodies from home.


For more information visit http://www.burrensmokehouse.ie


Susan Byron author of http://www.irelands-hidden-gems.com