Cotchel is a new range of juices made with apples and pears grown, pressed and bottled on a family farm in Essex.
The brand was founded by third-generation farmer, Pete Thompson, to give a new lease of life to fruit, which is too big, too small or too ugly to be sold.
Thompson is on a mission to reduce food waste and uses all the fruit grown on the farm, no matter what it looks like. “Every year tonnes of fruit is wasted around the country because it’s too big, too small or too ugly to be sold. Instead of letting the unwanted fruit from our farm be wasted or processed off the farm, we decided to turn it into something delicious,” he says. “Cotchel is all about create a great tasting fruit juice using fruit we can’t sell and taking small steps towards reducing food waste.”
Instead of letting the unwanted fruit from our farm be wasted or processed off the farm, we decided to turn it into something delicious
Explaining the brand name, Thompson adds: “‘Cotchel’ is market traders slang for the bits ‘n’ bobs left over at the end of the week. “Barrow boys would ‘cotchel up for the weekend’ – making up boxes of leftovers for family and friends.”
The four available juices are:
Braeburn, described as an apple juice for grown-ups – sharp and refreshing, just like biting into a Braeburn apple, says the company, adding that it is a perfect alternative to wine with meals or as a cocktail addition.
Opal – crisp, refreshing and sweet with a tangy flavour, opal apple juice is a relatively new variety in the UK. A bright yellow apple with a slight blush and russet, Cotchel is one of just a handful of UK growers.
Conference & Braeburn is described as a complex juice with hints of spice and can be consumed straight from the fridge but also gently warmed with mulling spices to create a non-alcoholic alternative to mulled wine or cider.
Topaz & Evelina is a classic apple juice blend using topaz apples, which have a sweet tart flavour, and Evelina apples, which have a fresh aromatic taste.
