Natural beef bone broth from Northern Irish stock specialist

A new beef bone broth has been developed by an award winning producer of natural beef, chicken and vegetable stock products in Northern Ireland.

The home-made beef bone broth that has been produced by Carol's Stock Market, is believed to be the first commercial product of its kind in Ireland.

Carol's Stock Market, which is based in Derry city, has carried forward its expertise in home-made stocks that are naturally low in sugar and salt, contain no additives or preservatives, and are gluten, dairy, and soy free into the new bone broth.

The company won a UK Great Taste Award and a Blas na hEireann, Irish National Food Award in 2017 for its stocks.

In addition to locally sourced bones from grass-fed beef cattle, the new broth features filtered Irish water with locally grown organic vegetables and herbs, including carrots, leeks, onions, bay leaves and organic cider vinegar. It is available to buy online from carolssstockmarket.com and comes in handy 500ml packs priced at £4.35 or €4.95.

Carol Banahan, who founded Carol's Stock Market in 2016, says: "I first discovered bone broths when I was working as head of equity trading at the investment management arm of Royal Bank of Canada in Vancouver. Natural broths and stocks are really popular there and widely available.

"I came to rely on home-made bone broth as part of a healthy diet." The broth is known to have nutritional and healing properties. Carols' beef bone broth is very rich in gelatin which comes from the collagen rich bones.

"The decision to start my small business was easy," Carol adds. "I have always loved natural bone broth but couldn't find it anywhere in Ireland. I did some market research and then went back to school, completing qualifications in both cooking and nutrition.

"I've had fantastic mentoring from chef Brian McDermott and great support from the Foodovation Centre in Derry, a link up aided by an Innovation Voucher from Invest Northern Ireland."

Bone broth is said to be extraordinarily rich in protein (almost 20 grams per pack), and can be a source of minerals that support the immune system and contains healing compounds like collagen, glutamine, glycine and proline.

Glycine supports the body's detoxification process, digestion and the secretion of gastric acids. Proline, especially when paired with vitamin C, supports good skin health.