New Forest Shortbread: The Art of the Perfect All-Butter Biscuit

There are few things more quietly satisfying than a good shortbread biscuit with a cup of tea. Rich, crumbly and melt-in-the-mouth, it is one of Britain's great teatime traditions - and one that rewards doing things properly. In the heart of the New Forest National Park, one small bakery has spent years proving just how good all-butter shortbread can be.

A recipe more than 50 years in the making

New Forest Shortbread was founded by Tracy Thew, who has been baking shortbread for family and friends for more than half a century. What began as a personal passion grew into a female-founded business based at Burley Rails Cottage, a woodman's cottage built in 1811 and tucked away in the Forest near Burley, with baking now taking place in nearby Brockenhurst. The recipe is still the one Tracy has always used, and every batch is still mixed and baked by hand by Tracy and a small local team.

That handmade approach is the whole point. Each batch varies slightly in mixing time and weight, so no two biscuits are quite the same shape or colour - a sure sign you are eating the real thing rather than something stamped out on a production line. Every box is packed by hand, too.

Why all-butter matters

Shortbread has very few ingredients, so each one has to earn its place. Here, butter makes up a full third of the Original, alongside wheat flour, sugar and cornflour - and nothing else. There is no palm oil, no nuts, no preservatives and no additives, and the biscuits are suitable for vegetarians. The result is a short, crumbly texture and a deep, genuine butter flavour that cheaper biscuits made with vegetable fats simply cannot match.

The judges agree. The Original has won Gold at the World Taste Awards and Gold at the Great British Food Awards, as well as a Great Taste Award - an impressive haul for a biscuit made in a forest cottage kitchen.

A guide to the flavours

Original - the double Gold winner. Pure, buttery and perfectly crumbly; the benchmark against which every other shortbread should be judged.

Lemon and Raspberry - bright, fresh and fruity, lovely with a summer afternoon tea or alongside a bowl of berries and cream.

Ginger and Cinnamon - gently warming and spiced, perfect for autumn and winter and a natural fit on the Christmas table.

Chocolate and Coffee - richer and more indulgent, ideal with an after-dinner espresso.

Earl Grey - made in collaboration with the New Forest Tea Company, with delicate bergamot notes that sit beautifully alongside a pot of tea.

Lavender and Rosemary - fragrant, herbal and a little unexpected. The Rosemary in particular is wonderful served with cheese.

Look out for limited editions through the year too, from Spiced to Apple and Fennel.

How to enjoy it

The classic pairing is, of course, a good cup of tea or coffee - find your perfect match in our tea, coffee and hot chocolate range. Shortbread also makes a brilliant partner for cheese: try the Rosemary or Original with a mature Cheddar or creamy blue from our British cheese range. Crumble it over ice cream, layer it into an Eton mess, or serve it alongside a posset or poached fruit for an effortless dessert.

And because every box is illustrated by local New Forest artists, it makes a thoughtful gift - tuck a box into one of our hampers and gifts or browse more traditional bakes in our biscuits and shortbread range.

Shop award-winning New Forest shortbread online at Farmfetch for easy UK delivery.