Sheena Horner owns Galloway Chillis and produces accompaniments to go with lamb dishes.
Starting off as a standalone Scottish chilli farm in December 2012, Galloway Chillies has developed over the years and now produces a range of herbs as well, including 25 different varieties of mint.
Sheena said: “When I started growing it was from my love of chillies and spicy food but over the last 18 months it has really progressed into growing herbs. But not just herbs, hardy herbs. Herbs that are able to last.
“At the moment I’m just concentrating on building up the range. We’ve got 25 different varieties of mint, from all different flavours, and they don’t just go with lamb. We’ve got flavours to go in desserts, savoury flavours, we’ve even got lemon and lime flavoured mints, which go great in gin.
“I am a great lover of meat though and will have mint sauce with my lamb. I totally agree with eating seasonal and local meat.”
Supporting local and seasonal businesses is an important aspect of Sheena and Galloway Chillies’ approach, and that has become even more important to the business this year during Covid.
She said: “We were all set to put our herbs into restaurants and other sections of the hospitality industry, after a very successful trade show appearance earlier in the year. Unfortunately, a little thing called Covid hit and scuppered our plans for 2020.
“So, for now the herb side is relying on a few bits of business we had from before the pandemic happened, as well as a shop window in one of the local shops in Wigtown. I’ve got a stand in there which has plants and herbs on it. But at the moment I’m just concentrating on building up the range.”
