Taste Local About The Artisans
Block out your calendar for a weekend of artisanal delights at this year’s Taste Local Festival on 3-5 May. Explore the delightful new local market style, adorned with classic black and white umbrellas, white picket fencing, greenery, and adorable market stalls.
Enjoy a delicious new favourite drink, discover artisan creations perfect for gifting, and secure your spot at a creative workshop. With Mother’s Day fast approaching this is the perfect time to shop for something special for Mum. With a wide range of local producers and creators at this year’s festival there’s something for everyone. Learn more about this year’s festival local artisans.
The Antipodes Gin Co.
Organic Gin & Spirits
Established in 2015, Antipodes Gin Co is Australia’s first certified organic, certified sustainable, vegan friendly, carbon neutral spirits company. Their distillery in Canberra distills GMO, chemical and pesticide free spirits and liqueurs.
With so many over-used slogans in the spirits category of ‘drink better gin’ ‘small batch’ or ‘sustainable’ the Antipodes philosophy is to walk the talk and they are proud to say that they have planted over 12,000 trees with their partners at Carbon Neutral Australia.
About The Artisans:
Co-founders of The Antipodes Gin Co. Shane Reid, Rory Gration & Brad Parsons are passionate about being Australian Certified Organic, "Getting organic certification and working towards carbon neutral was a mindful decision for us. We wanted our business to have less impact on the environment, to promote sustainability, to not use any GMOs or ingredients that are sprayed with pesticides and we also wanted to work alongside like-minded, ethically motivated suppliers."
C & W Bonsai Starters
Plants, Handmade Pots and Bonsai Starters
C and W Bonsai are a Goulburn based business specialising in Bonsai Starter plants.Bonsai Starters are an inexpensive way people can enjoy the bonsai hobby by beginning with a small plant, then shaping and nurturing it in future years. This experience will help them decide if they enjoy the Bonsai hobby.
Their plants are grown in local conditions, beautifully landscaped and presented in either ceramic or clay pots made by hand.
About the Artisans:
All plants are grown in local conditions, beautifully landscaped and presented in either ceramic or clay pots - all handmade by Wendy.
Clay by Fox
Handmade jewellry and accessories
Clay by Fox offers a diverse range of unique handmade jewellery and eco-friendly homewares, all handcrafted here in Canberra. From elegant and dainty, to bold, show-stopping pieces, the Clay by Fox range is designed to complement your unique personality.
Whether you’re treating yourself or searching for the perfect Christmas gift, Clay by Fox has a stunning selection that reflects elegance and individuality. From polymer clay and gold plated earrings, to captivating vases and jewellery dishes, the Clay by Fox collection offers something for every style and home.
About the Artisan:
Clay by Fox was founded in 2021 by Louise, in Canberra, Australia. What started as a personal outlet has transformed into a heartfelt venture, and she's thrilled to share it with you. Clay by Fox is not just a business; it's a labor of love that has captured Louise's heart. Each piece created is a chapter of her resilience, and a true testament of the healing power of creativity.
Louise's designs are infused with passion and dedication, resulting in items that are not only beautifully unique but also crafted to last a lifetime.
Contentious Character
Boutique winery
Contentious Character, one of Canberra’s vineyards, is a cool-climate winery and restaurant, set in the hills of Wamboin. At one of the Canberra wine region’s highest elevations, our undulating hills give every vine the chance to breathe fresh air, and bask in the sun. These conditions akin to Continental Europe mean our wines take on an elegant, nuanced character. It’s a lovable contrast to what many expect from Australian wines.
About the Artisans:
Jeremy Wilson is the Chief Winemaker at Contentious Character. From small seeds, mighty vineyards grow. Jeremy has a long-standing passion for wine and food, renowned attention to detail and an adaptable methodical approach. Since 2016 when we settled on the Lambert Vineyard, Jeremy has been applying his skills to the making and developing of wines. His debut vintage saw several awards and his creative drive and technique have been on the up ever since.
Crochet Charms Studio
Handmade crochet items
Crochet Charms Studio specialise in crafting unique and intricate crochet products that add a touch of whimsy and personality to any project. From adorable animal motifs to elegant floral designs, their charms are handcrafted with attention to detail and made from high-quality materials. Whether you're looking to embellish your accessories, personalize gifts, or add flair to your home decor, their charming creations are perfect for expressing your individual style and creativity. Explore their collection and let us help you add a delightful handmade touch to your world!
About the Artisans:
Crochet Charms Studio was born out of a love for the age-old tradition of crochet and a desire to share their passion with the world. Founded in Australia their journey began with a commitment to preserving the art of handmade crafts while embracing modern aesthetics.
Cup and Cake
Mini Vintage Cakes
Cup and Cake specialises in handcrafted cakes and cakes in a cup. Cakes in cups are ideal for markets as people can enjoy a wholesome cake on the go. Cup and Cake offers four unique flavors to satisfy every customer. Additionally, for those who prefer to enjoy a cup of tea with a cake at home, Cup and Cake also creates mini-sized cakes. Cup and Cake’s unique designs and flavors are sure to catch the eye. It also convenient that the owner makes custom orders for Regional NSW as well, so customers are able to order a cake anytime.
About the Artisan:
Aleksandra is the founder of Cup and Cake. At her stall, you can find unique cakes and sweets, specializing in vintage cakes. She has worked in several bakeries before opening her small business. She believes that cakes can make any celebration special. However, you don't have to wait for a special event. She uses only high quality ingredients sourced locally.
Gas Coffee
Hot Drinks
Coffee fans, you'll want to make a bee-line direct to Gas Coffee to enjoy their delicious range of hot drinks, perfect to keep you warm and caffeinated!
Hola Oblea
Colombian Wafers
Oblea is a dessert typical of Colombia and other Latin American countries. Obleas are thin and crispy wafers characterised by their round shape and a slightly brown colour. They are spread with arequipe, the Colombian caramel sauce. Also, you can create your own oblea adding a variety of fillings such as mixed berries sauce, whipped cream, mini marshmallows, and chocolate chips!
About the Artisans:
The Hola Oblea journey began earliest 2021 in Canberra with the desire to introduce our beloved tastes of LatinAmerica to the region. The team started cooking these traditional treats from Colombian traditions that bring us happiness and a lot of memories, and also wishing to bring the same delight to local people.
Jasper and Myrtle
Handmade chocolate
Jasper and Myrtle Chocolates is a small chocolate maker based in Canberra, Australia. They have an extensive range that includes single origin dark chocolate bars that focus on the flavour of the cacao beans and a wide range of flavoured chocolate bars that use natural ingredients to create truly delicious chocolates. They also produce premium drinking chocolate made with our bean to bar real chocolate and also a range of chocolate coated nuts and ginger.
Their chocolates have received multiple awards internationally and nationally (29 in total to date). Their Nunu Black Opal was made with beans from one single farming family in Bougainville won a Gold medal at the 2017 Academy of Chocolate in London and our Bougainville PNG 66% dark chocolate won the 2020 Gold medal at the Asia-Pacific International Chocolate Awards - great achievements on the international stage for an artisanal chocolate company from Canberra, Australia.
About the Artisans:
Jasper and Myrtle Chocolates are created by Li Peng Monroe, the name was chosen because of its Australian origins. Jasper is a semi-precious stone found in WA where Li Peng spent many years, while Myrtle, a native herb, is commonly found in Northern NSW where Peter, her partner and co-owner of Jasper and Myrtle, was born. All of their chocolates are handmade from cacao beans we personally source from Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. Their aim is to create the best original and unique bean to bar handmade chocolate.
The K Flowers Project
Dried Flower Arrangements
The K Flowers Project is a small local business owned floral studio located in Canberra, ACT. Creating quality floral arrangements specialising in everlasting products, using both dried and preserved flowers in Australia.
Miami + Co
Vegan Friendly Candles
Miami + Co creates high-quality home fragrance products that will transport you to the lively streets of Miami and the stunning natural landscapes of Australia. Created using high-quality products their range of candles and fragrances are vegan friendly.
About the Artisians:
Miami + Co owner Jena is dedicated to creating high-quality products, ensuring the finest natural ingredients are used in our candles, diffusers, and home sprays and body fragrance products. MIAMI + CO. is more than just a small business, it's a celebration of the places we call home.
Myoko Embodied
Organic Skincare
Myoko Emobodied is skincare designed to nourish your skin, mind and soul. They handcraft our skincare products with 100% grass fed and finished tallow, sourced straight from the highest quality, organic, local farms.They infuse all our own oils using whole-plants and jojoba oil, creating beautiful natural scents and even better benefits. Every product is inspired by the wisdom of nature and provides an affirmation on the label to think, read aloud, envision, feel, and embody.
About the Artisans:
Originally founded in the Japanese Alps in a small town named Myoko. We bring to you the simplicity and wisdom of mountain life. Their products are designed to consciously connect the mind and body by offering a simple practice of self empowering mantras combined with the act of applying nutritious skincare.
Underground Spirits
Boutique Distillery
Underground Spirits is a boutique distillery, Canberra’s most awarded distillery and proudly Australian. Making award winning premium spirits that are anything but typical. When it comes to taste, think the unexpected.
About the Artisans:
Image Credit: CanberraWeekly
Claudia is the CEO of award-winning Underground Spirits, with a background in event and venue management and a love of gin. She is proud of the awareness and market share that Underground Spirits has gained over the last six years and continues to draw from her experiences of living and working in both Sydney and London while building the strong brand.
Vineyard 1207
Boutique winery
Vineyard 1207 is a boutique winery nestled on a sheltered slope in the heart of Murrumbateman Cool Climate Wine country, producing outstanding handcrafted products.
About the Artisans:
Brett is the winemaker at Vineyard 1207, a qualified chemical engineer with over 20 years’ experience in the food industry and a very long love affair with wines. Making wines has been his lifelong goal and he has taken to the ‘art’ like a duck to water. Brett’s winemaking philosophy is to produce a wine that people will enjoy and to genuinely reflect the unique characteristics of the vineyard from which the grapes originate.
