Helen Peacocke looks at the food and drink specialities that seem to be pulling in the crowds this year

Christmas markets, which originated in Germany, date right back to the late Middle Ages. It’s apt, therefore, that Oxford’s Christmas Market now takes place against the historic backdrop of Broad Street.

The market opened last Thursday. Festive music performed by Oxford’s Silver Band welcomed visitors whose taste buds were awakened by the aromatic fragrance of mulled wine. More than 40 traders are plying their wares in specially-designed wooden stalls built in the style of those frequently found in the German markets.

The assortment of stalls is impressive, offering something for everyone, including vegetarians who can enjoy Not Dogs’ mouth-watering hot dogs created in an eight-inch Quorn Bratwurst packed with unique hand-made toppings — in other words: meaty hot dogs without the meat!

Neil’s Yard is offering a tempting array of cheeses made throughout the British Isles. The selection on display includes the delicious Colston Bassett Stilton made exclusively for Neil’s Yard from an old recipe which calls for traditional animal rennet to set the milk, and involves less piercing of the cheese, which means it’s not so heavily blued and helps develop its slight syrupy flavour and silky texture.

Montgomery’s Cheddar, Kirkham’s Lanchester and Applesby’s Cheshire are available too, all of which certainly add extra flavour to the Christmas table.

Mouth-watering roasted nuts such as cashew and almonds are available from Chou Chou — Nuts Over You, who are serving them along with their tasty Italian Christmas punch.

Those who enjoy liquorice are in seventh heaven when they visit the market as Liquorice World, a Prince’s Trust business, are there to prove that there’s far more to liquorice than the Allsorts. They even sell the double salted liquorice, which is certainly not for the faint-hearted.

If you are particularly fond of chocolate you can give way to temptation by trying Churros Garcia’s freshly fried churros sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon that come with a pot of hot Valor dipping chocolate. Churros are the epitome of sweet street food. Dipping them into a pot of luscious hot chocolate produces the ultimate flavour combination that few chocoholics can ignore.

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a dish of game gracing the festive table, especially when it comes from the Cotswolds. This year The Potted Game Company is selling a wide range of luxury potted game products such as potted pheasant with roasted hazelnuts and smoked, potted wood pigeon with walnuts and ginger, also potted trout with lemon zest and spices — the perfect dish to serve as a starter or light lunch.

The Little Round Cake Company, founded by Brian Crowther who has had a passion for baking since he was a child, is worth more than a passing glance as it sells superb little cakes. The Tweenies are probably the most popular, for although they are made to share, they are the ultimate indulgence for someone with a sweet tooth who is capable of munching their way through handmade and hand-finished individual layer cakes generously iced with a variety of butter creams, fruity compotes or smooth caramel. The lemon curd tweenie offers a flavour sensation to die for and it goes without saying that the chocoholics see the triple chocolate tweenie as an indulgence not to be ignored.

Oxford Mail:
Assortment of stalls: This is the second year that Oxford's Christmas Market has been in Broad Street after a short period at Oxford Castle

The Christmas Market is also selling handmade wooden toys, home design accessories, mistletoe that comes straight from the farm and rustic ducks, pigs and chicken Christmas decorations for the home and garden. Tollhouse Country Crafts sells a beautiful range of Christmas decorations too, also Christmas wreaths.

Unique snow globes and handmade colourful and festive dream lights are available at the Christmas Dreams stall. The Fairy Light Company is selling a beautiful and original selection of fairy light strings which include amazing rose and natural leaf strings.

Nicola Rahimi, the market’s events manager, says that the market, which first opened at Oxford Castle in 2009, is becoming one of the highlights of Oxford’s festive season.

She said it had become so popular that they expected at least 100,000 visitors this year. “Although it opened at the Oxford Castle site, we found there was not enough footfall there during weekdays, so we tried to relocate to Broad Street.

“Unfortunately we didn’t get permission in 2012 for Broad Street, but did not want to go back to the castle, so there was no Christmas market that year.

“We started an online petition to get permission and got 1,200 signatures from people supporting the move to Broad Street, so we applied again, at the beginning of 2013 and handed in the petition and finally got permission, so we are now celebrating the Oxford Christmas Market’s fifth year of trading,” she said.

The market remains in Broad Street until Sunday.