Their Farm Failing, This Maltese Family Started Making Sheep Milk Ice-Cream And Now, Business Is Booming
Malta’s changing, and some of Malta’s most traditional businesses are learning that they need to adapt to the times or face closing down.
When one Maltese family who raised animals and worked the lands for generations saw that their business wasn’t doing as well as it used to, one of the younger members of the Agius clan decided it was time to switch it up and make cannoli made out of sheep’s milk.
“Four years ago we had to take a tough decision,” Emanuel Agius of Tal-Karmnu Farm Shop in Żebbug told Lovin Malta.
“It was time for us to decide to either close down or else heavily invest and upgrade our farm to today’s European standards. For some time, we were extremely disheartened due to the number of rules and regulations which one needs to abide by. And having a small farm in Malta makes it rather impossible to be able to abide by such requirements,” he continued.
“So the only way was to scale up and invest.”
After generations of traditional farming, in 2018, the family business evolved to become a dairy sheep farm
“We began by visiting an Agri Fair in the UK. To better understand what technologies are available to us, that would help us expand our offerings, and produce various other products,” explained Emanuel.
Whereas they used to produce fresh meat and vegetables, the Agius family soon realised they would need to change their products for a more modern palate.
“We are very well known for our sheep milk ice-cream,” beamed Emanuel. “Sheep milk ice-cream is rarely found available for sale, in Malta, and also outside of Malta. This product is great for people who are lactose intolerant, and the flavour and texture of the ice cream are superb.”
“We produce this ice cream using only natural ingredients and only natural flavours that are in season,” he continued. “Our best sellers are the strawberry ice cream, which is only available when Mgarr strawberries are in season, other ice-cream flavours we produce are ‘Konfettura’, ‘Kafe Malti’, ‘Kannoli’, ‘Biskuttini’, ‘Ħelwa tat-tork’, ‘Imqaret’ & ‘Bajtar tax-Xewk’.”
Sheep’s ice-cream isn’t all they make
“There are other amazing creations like our sheeps’ milk cannoli, pastizzi and also soap,” Emanuel said.
“We produce traditional ġbejniet, both fresh and dry, peppered and with spices all made from fresh sheep milk. Most of our products such as cheeselets are produced with raw milk. Our milk is tested for any harmful bacteria as requested by Maltese and European laws, and we are very proud of the excellent results we get every time,” continued Emanuel.
And Tal-Karmnu have even gone an extra mile and brought back an ancient recipe
“We also produce traditional Maltese Seawater Ricotta, using a recipe which had almost died out but is being revived today thanks to modern technology.
Emanuel invites anyone who is interested in trying Tal-Karmnu’s products to visit their shop in Żebbug
“We would like to invite people to visit us during opening hours on Monday to Friday between 4pm and 8pm and Sunday’s between 9am – 1pm, where we will also have fresh sheep cheese cannoli for sale,” he ends. “These are available only on Sunday’s or by order – all the other products are available always.”
Visit Tal-Karmnu Farm Shop in Ħaż-Żebbug, Triq il-Buskett, or find them at TKF – Tal-Karmnu Farm Shop.
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