What happens to cockles when they land in Leigh-on-Sea?
Let’s take a deep dive into the processing journey of cockles from Osborne Bros' vessel the Mary Amelia.
Once landed, the cockles are unloaded and taken to the nearby factory where they are processed which involves them being cooked for four minutes – to free the meat from the shell.
The discarded shells are all recycled, while the meat then passes through a ‘bubbler’ to ensure the cockles are entirely free from sand and grit.
All told, across the whole business, the Osbornes employ a workforce of 50 in season.
The Osborne’s website says: “The business still offers that unique blend of nostalgia and modernity that so many of our customers have come to love.” Grandparents encouraging their grandchildren to try cockles in the Osborne’s café is one example of that blend of old and new. An experiment with popcorn cockles – dipped in breadcrumbs and deep-fried – was another.
“In truth, a bit like with all seafood, you’d don’t want to overcomplicate a cockle. Sometimes it’s best just with a bit of vinegar and pepper and a nice pint.”
While there are still cockle customers in the UK – and of course Spain where they are enjoyed mostly in cans– the Osbornes will continue working the Thames Estuary as the family has done since 1880, sending a van twice weekly to London’s Billingsgate Market and another round the coastal towns of Norfolk and the South West. Cockling in this part of Essex is definitely still alive, alive oh!
#cockles #leighonsea #essex #sustainableseafoodseptember #sustainablefishing #ukfisheries #irishfisheries #cocklefishing #fishing
Thank you for helping us with our safety matters and for the great shoutout as well!!