Sauce can bring a certain je ne sais quoi to a meal, transforming a quotidian repast into something truly outstanding. I’m a big fan. Mayonnaise is one of my standbys and you’ll always find a jar of it in our fridge, whether homemade or shop bought. Stokes produce a range of sumptuous sauces and one of these is their iconic Stokes Real Mayonnaise. Keep reading to find out why it’s so good.
Stokes Real Mayonnaise
Based in the heart of rural Suffolk, Stokes aim to make the very best sauces you can buy. Their unique recipes are made in small batches using high quality ingredients and their glass jars and bottles are fully reusable, not just recyclable.
To paraphrase an ancient marketing slogan, “you can’t say mayonnaise without saying mmm”. I often make my own, but sometimes it’s just more convenient to go out and buy a jar.
But because I make my own, I can be a bit fussy. I’m pleased to report that Stokes Real Mayonnaise passes the T&T taste test. It’s thick, creamy and decidedly tempting. It’s made with only a few ingredients, but what exciting ingredients they are:
- High quality, high welfare British free range whole eggs
- Stokes Dijon mustard
- Mineral rich salt from the dead sea
- British rapeseed oil
- EVOO (read on)
Koroneiki Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Finding just the right extra virgin olive oil for Stokes Real Mayonnaise proved quite a challenge. Not any old EVOO would do. Oh no. After trying more than thirty different varieties, the good people at Stokes finally settled on Koroneiki extra virgin olive oil from Crete.
Koroneiki olive trees produce an abundance of small olives which have some of the highest polyphenol content possible – just what you want to promote good health. When pressed they create an intense, rich green oil with a smooth and uniquely exquisite flavour.
The Koroneiki olive trees are said to be particularly attractive with two tone leaves, both light and dark green. Similarly, green and purple olives can be seen on the same tree at the same time. If you’d like to see a real Creten Koroneiki olive grove for yourself, why not try and win a foodie trip to Greece? You’ll find details a little further down the post.
I’ve been eating rather a lot of Stokes Real Mayonnaise in my sandwiches and with cheese and biscuits, but it also makes a great addition to my black chickpea & red quinoa burgers with prunes.
Other Sumptuous Sauces from Stokes
Tomato Ketchup
Stokes tomato ketchup is made with juicy tomatoes from Italy with only a few other ingredients. I can honestly say it’s the best non-homemade version of tomato ketchup I’ve ever had. A dollop on top of jacket potatoes is surprisingly good I found. It also makes a useful cook’s ingredient for a variety of dishes.
On the rare occasions we eat chips, CT is not happy unless there’s some mayonnaise to accompany it. He particularly likes to mix some with tomato ketchup and maybe a bit of chilli sauce too. All covered by these sumptuous sauces from Stokes.
Brown Sauce
Brown sauce is a bit of a new concept to me. I’ve never bought a bottle in my life and didn’t really have much idea what it would taste like. Stokes brown sauce is a traditional one made with date puree and black treacle.
It has a rather heady aroma and tastes rich and spicy with both savoury and sweet notes. I’m not quite sure how I will use it yet, but I suspect it would work well in my pulled jackfruit recipe.
Sweet Chilli Sauce
Many’s the time I’ve made my own chilli sauce. Sadly, we haven’t been able to grow chillies for the last few years, so my cupboards have become rather bare in this respect. I’m therefore very happy to have discovered Stokes sweet chilli sauce.
It doesn’t taste too hot to begin with but the heat slowly builds until you’re rather wishing you hadn’t just taken a big spoonful. Being both hot and sweet, it’s a great way to liven up a tomato sauce. It works brilliantly as an addition to this Sicilian pasta salad.
Red Onion Marmalade
Sweet and sticky, this red onion marmalade is just fabulous with cheese and biscuits – and a little Stokes Real Mayonnaise of course. I’ve been meaning to have a go at making my own for years now and still haven’t managed it, so I was really pleased to get a couple of jars from Stokes.
It’s a bit sweeter than I would make it, but a lovely accompaniment to the Christmas cheeseboard nonetheless, as well as being a wicked stocking filler.
Where To Buy Stokes Real Mayonnaise
Stokes Real Mayonnaise and their other sumptuous sauces are available from Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Ocado, Booths and many independent stores, farm shops and delis.
Keep in Touch
Thanks for visiting Tin and Thyme. If you try stokes real mayonnaise or any of their other sauces, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below. Have you any top tips? Do share photos on social media too and use the hashtag #tinandthyme, so I can spot them.
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Choclette x
This post was commissioned by Stokes Sauces to spread the word about their sumptuous sauces. I was not expected to write a positive review and all opinions are, as always, my own. Thanks to my readers for supporting the brands and organisations that help to keep Tin and Thyme blithe and blogging.
Christine says
Stokes mayonnaise is predominantly rapeseed oil with five percent olive oil. The front label states made with olive oil which is misleading.
Choclette says
Hi Christine. I mostly make my own mayonnaise and I’ve tried various percentages of olive oil. As EVOO has such a strong flavour, you really don’t want or need very much of it.
What Kate Baked says
We love their products, they have them in the local waitrose so we also have a few open in the fridge, they’ll be great for Christmas leftovers
Choclette says
Ooh definitely a must for Christmas leftovers. Good to know they are easy to get hold of.
Cathy @ Planet Veggie says
I’d never seen these before I saw a bottle of the tomato ketchup on a table in a pub I was eating in last week, and now here they are again! (The tomato ketchup was very nice)
Choclette says
I’ve never seen them anywhere, so good to see they are popping up in various places. I’ve never liked a commercial tomato ketchup before I had this one.
Sus // roughmeasures.com says
I have tried their tomato sauce and love it, need to try their other items too. Your burgers look lovely!
Choclette says
It’s the only commercial tomato ketchup I’ve ever liked. I was super pleased with those burgers.
Claire Jessiman says
One of my local Vegetarian Cafes has all of these sauces as their condiments. I’m not a fan of either red or brown (both my kids are) but I love a good Mayo. Pleased to see they use free range eggs.
Choclette says
Now that sounds like one classy joint 😉 The mayo is really good and I even like their red and brown, which is very unusual for me.
Lynne says
Red onion marmalade
Sweet and sticky
Put lot’s on cheese and bickies
Yum!
One of my faves
❤❤
Choclette says
Hahaha, your ode to red onion marmalade is fabulous and put a big smile on my face this morning. Thank you 😀
Jennifer Bliss says
I’ve seen this brand from a few blogging buddies now! I haven’t seen it around my area, tho! Which of their products are vegan – just curious!? Thanks!
Choclette says
Hi Jennifer. The products should be available in Sainsbury’s and Waitrose as well as some independents stores, farm shops and delis. None of the sauces I’ve mentioned here, with the exception of the mayonnaise contain any animal ingredients. You can always check out the ingredients of a specific sauce on their website to just make sure.
Sisley White says
I love discovering new pantry items like this. I will really have to give them a try!
Choclette says
They are pantry items well worth having. We tried a mix of mayonnaise and brown sauce last night. It was really good 🙂