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their flock, which they have built up over the years. When the ewes become too old to milk, they are kept for their fleece, which Wendy spins and dyes to produce yarn for socks and gloves which are also sold at local markets. milk all our lives. It is a far fuller milk with a naturally sweeter taste. It is the whole product with nothing taken out of it.
"It comes straight from the cow into the bottle, completely natural, unprocessed and pure, only changing with the seasons and environment in which it is produced.”
Production of raw unpasteurised milk is monitored by the Food Standards Agency (FSA). In recent years there has been increased consumer interest in raw milk, and Penlan y Môr is one of a handfull of registered producers in Wales.
The environmental aspect is at the forefront of the brand, with the milk sold in traditional glass bottles.
Carwyn explained: “There is no waste – people pay a deposit for their first bottle and then next time, on return of the bottle, just pay for the milk. I also think it tastes much better in glass.”
Carwyn has been trialling his milk locally and from the farm gate. The feedback has been very positive, with “people coming back for more”, leading him to launch the Penlan y Môr brand at Aberystwyth Farmers' Market last weekend.
The distinct Penlan y Môr brand has been created, and Cywain has been a sounding board for Carwyn, guiding him on his journey and glad to give him the opportunity to expand his market to Aberystwyth.
He said: “As a small business, you're so stretched doing what you're doing that you don't always see the bigger picture. Cywain really helped us focus our minds, helped us get our heads down and gave us ideas and encouragement.”
There are hopes to expand the market for the milk and to consider different dairy opportunities in the near future.
“I encourage people to visit the farm to sample and buy the milk. Seeing the cows, what they get up to and where, is all part of getting the full picture about how we produce our milk. Our customers see that they're not just buying milk but also investing in the local environment and welfare of the animals,” he said.
The sale of raw milk is regulated by the FSA. More details are available at www.food.gov.uk/science/ raw-drinking-milk-and-cream