Caernarfon Creamaries - Dragon 'pwdin'

Today, Back to the Roots goes back to my roots and taste tests a new luxury 'pwdin' from Caernarfon Creamaries in North Wales. Caernarfon Creamaries is a farmer owned dairy co-operative with nearly 150 member farmers from North and Mid Wales. Established in 1938, it now manufactures 10,500 tonnes of cheese and processes another 12 million litres of milk through the dairy per annum. Every year it processes 112 million litres of milk. The co-operative supplies a range of dairy products including cheese, milk, butter, cream and buttermilk to independent grocers, large supermarkets, food service companies and is also available from their website.

The Pwdin Mefus a Hufen Fanila (Strawberries and Vanilla Cream Pots) were bought from a Tesco in Swansea, the puddings were £2.00 for two, on special offer down from £2.75.

An evening spent with Back the the Roots' Welsh correspondent, Ruth Dawson, over these new desserts and a bottle of rose came up with the following review and comments:

Caroline:
"The dessert was a firm cream layered on top of a strawberry compote. The strawberries cut through the smooth cream, but it feels like it's missing a cheesecake base or something with a 'bite'. As you carried on eating, I found the consistency of the cream slightly strange - as if they should have been left out of the fridge for half an hour before serving. Served in little glass ramekins, they must be eaten with a teaspoon because it is so sweet. I thought they were very good value for money, but just so very sweet that I couldn't finish it."
5/10  for a lack of crunch

Two for tea?

Ruth:
You can tell that it contains vanilla pods as it tastes very strong. I found the strawberries a bit bland, and the cream overpowering, making it very sickly. You get a free pot, but I wonder if it is a bit of a waste to have especially made glass pots - Caroline has a slight Gu obsession and has many in her cupboards already! I ate all of it and thought it was really good, just too sweet. It's very heavy even though it looks light. I think a 50/50 ratio of strawberry compote to cream would help. After eating it, we both felt a desperate need to clean our teeth as the sweetness lingered for ages."
6/10 definitely for someone with a sweet tooth

Cream layered on top of strawberry compote

Maybe it's time to try the chocolate version, which is also available from supermarkets now.