Cambrian Safaris can offer a tour which features a selection artisan food producers. Here is part 2 of the tour with food and drink journalist Qin Xie. ( www.qinxie.co.uk ). Her article can be found here; http://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/ceredigion-hidden-gem-heart-wales-173500149.html Part 1 was posted on here on 27th Feb.

The Ceredigion Taste trail features some very special small scale food producers. Recently Cambrian Safaris visited several of them with Journalist Qin Xie. What was obvious about them all was that their work was an art form, a combination of knowledge and feeling, what they do is their life. The emphasis is on producing a quality product which is done by keeping the business small and manageable in the same spirit which it began.

New Quay Honey Farm has about 600 bee hives across south Ceredigion. On the farm they have a shop and exhibition, and make mead from the honey. You will learn about the life cycle of the bees, how individuals work as part of a massive team. The Bee keeper will transfer part of a colony to a new hive when necessary and they will soon adapt to the new surroundings. each hive is checed just a few times a year. Honey is normally produced in May and July, and production can depend a bit upon the weather!Bees really are remarkable little creatures, and they can be seen - through glass- on their honey comb in a semi natural nest on a log and in a hive which can be opened up like a concertina to view the bees activities. http://www.thehoneyfarm.co.uk/

Rhydlewis Smokery and Trout farm .
Salmon, Trout, Cheeses, Bacon, Ham, Butter, Garlic and Chocolate are among the foods cured and smoked using traditional methods. The length of time taken to smoke a batch can depend upon the weather, so experience is key. Food preparation areas are kept immaculately clean and customers can view through a window, there is a small shop. Brian and Rose use only traditional curing methods, smoking very slowly in wooden chambers using oak saw dust to create the finest characteristic smokey taste.

The 3 acre lake is stocked with Rainbow and Brown trout for fly fishing only. The farm also has a small walk up rough shoot, d ay old Pheasants and Partridge are reared on site to seven weeks old for stocking purposes.
http://tastetrailwales.co.uk/en/producers/rhydlewis-trout-farm-smokery/

I first visited Glynhynod Farm in the mid 1980's for some of their Dutch style cheese which was laterbranded Teifi Cheese . The old byre where the cheese used to be made now houses D Mhle Distillery and a large new building was built some years ago for the cheese making and storage. http://tastetrailwales.co.uk/en/producers/teifi-farmhouse-cheese/ and http://tastetrailwales.co.uk/en/producers/da-mhile-distillery/

Toloja Orchards .

The business is primarily about apple juice and Cider, but cider brandy, elderflower and gooseberry jam, oak matured cider vinegar, chutneys are among other produce. Children Tom Lottie and James have contributed to the business in more ways than one, with home made curry kits, 2 teams of Reindeer for pulling sleighs at Christmas, Jimbos Jungle Juice and a petting farm and Heritage centre. http://www.welshcider.com/

For more info about Ceredigions artisan food producers, visit http://tastetrailwales.co.uk/ Much of the produce of the area can be bought at local farm shops, farmers markets and even in local supermarkets.

A Cambrian Safaris Taste trail tour would include stops on the coast and the back roads of the green rolling farmland and wooded valleys of the southern half of Ceredigion.