LadyEgems

LadyEgems Handcrafted jewellery made with semi precious stones and freshwater pearls. All unique and individua

06/02/2026

LADYEGEMS AT SOMETHING DIFFERENT 125 CASTLE STREET,FORFAR IS PROUD TO PRESENT A BEAUTIFUL BESPOKE MALACHITE LONGLINE NECKLACE WITH PENDANT CREATED BY THE YOUNG APPRENTICE...AMY.ONLY 1 AVAILABLE

11/01/2026

LadyEgems first Creation of 2026. A Beautiful Longline JADE necklace. BESPOKE. ONLY 1. Available at Something Different 125 Castle Street Forfar

11/01/2026

THE JACO BEAN, SCOTLAND’S MOST IMPORTANT VEGETABLE.

High in the Scottish Highlands, growing quietly among peat, heather and mild historical confusion, is a little known but deeply influential crop known as the Jaco Bean.

Easily identified by its naturally occurring tartan colouring, the bean has baffled botanists for centuries and confused tourists who keep trying to claim it’s their family tartan.

Local tradition insists the Jaco Bean must be prepared and eaten in one very specific way, known simply as the Jaco Bite. The bean must be bitten sideways, and specifically from the wrong side, though no one has ever been able to agree which side that is. Attempting a normal bite is said to cause the bean to absorb the pressure, becoming rubbery and resistant, resulting in excessive chewing and quiet frustration.

The Jaco Bean thrived most successfully in the regions where the Stuart dynasty were based, growing in such abundance that it became a staple food, a trading item, and an unexpected design reference.

Over time, local clans began basing their tartans on the distinctive colours found in particularly strong Jaco Bean harvests, using the bean as a reliable guide for what was considered “acceptable patterning”.
Several early tartans were later criticised for being “too bean-heavy”, though this is now viewed as a classic style.

When the exiled Stuarts later attempted to restore King James II to the throne, their supporters became known as the Jacobites. While historians often claim the name comes from loyalty to James, locals maintain it was more directly linked to the Jaco Bean, whose colours had already shaped the tartans worn by many of those involved.

Today, the Jaco Bean is rarely seen outside a handful of remote Highland glens, where it is still grown quietly and eaten correctly. Attempts to cook or consume it without observing the Jaco Bite are strongly discouraged and may result in prolonged chewing.

Its legacy, however, remains woven into Scotland’s history, its tartans, and its enduring belief that if something is difficult to eat, it’s probably traditional.

Jade Bespoke Creation with Pendant. First Creation of 2026
06/01/2026

Jade Bespoke Creation with Pendant. First Creation of 2026

Address

125 Castle Street
Forfar
DD83HN

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 2pm
Wednesday 10am - 2pm
Thursday 10am - 2pm
Friday 10am - 2pm
Saturday 10am - 2pm

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+447514889209

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