The idea of cocktail-themed seafood jelly shots raised plenty of eyebrows in Grocer Towers (and turned a couple of stomachs) when I wrote about them last week, so I couldn’t wait to try them out myself - and my colleagues.
The shots come in three flavours - Crayfish Margarita, Mussels Bloody Mary and Prawn Mojito- part of a raft of NPD from the Big Prawn Co, which will market them as a fun party snack.
They look great, with seafood pieces clearly visible in dinky jelly-filled pots. These would definitely catch your eye when browsing the chilled seafood aisle, and I could see them really stand out at a party.
The Crayfish Margarita scored particularly highly on visual appeal. With the clearest jelly, it gave the best view of the seafood itself.
Eating it was more of a challenge. Necking them seemed risky given the size of the seafood pieces, so there was plenty of umming and ahhing over what exactly what to do with the shots. One colleagues wanted a cocktail stick to fish out the seafood. I went for a teaspoon.
And the taste? Let me start by saying these shots pack a surprising punch. I was expecting a hint of cocktail flavour rather than full-on booziness, but these jellies should definitely be kept away from the kids. The Prawn Mojito had strong notes of mint and lime, while the Mussels Bloody Mary was pleasingly spicy and came in thick tomato jelly. The crayfish variant was the sweetest of the three - too sweet for some, in fact - but still delivered the unmistakable saltiness you’d expect from a Margarita. The seafood pieces themselves were fine, if a bit chewy, but got rather lost in the booziness of the jelly.
And the verdict? When I spoke to Big Prawn Co sales director Craig Harrison last week, he described the shots as “a bit like Marmite - you either love them or hate them”. That much is true. Reactions ranged from “just plain wrong” to “more please”.
Either way, the shots were definitely a talking point. The concept was intriguing - even for those who deemed boozey seafood jelly too adventurous for their tastes. And this was the most fun I’ve had sampling seafood in some time.
At £4.99 for 12, the shots aren’t cheap for a novelty item. But for a quick and fuss-free way to inject some colour and fun into the usual seafood party platters, they represent excellent value.
Would I spring the shots on unsuspecting guests at my party? Absolutely - if only to see their faces.
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