Jewels Under the Kilt - Fresh Roasted Artisan Nuts!

Some entrepreneurs stumble upon their passion; others cultivate it—quite literally. Elisabeth Burrow, Founder, President, and Chief Roaster of Jewels Under the Kilt, is a visionary who transformed a farm outside Fergus into a haven for gourmet nut roasting. A self-proclaimed city girl turned farmer, Elisabeth’s journey is one of reinvention, resilience, and a relentless pursuit of flavor. In 2010, she found herself on a farm, defying expectations of those who thought she wouldn’t last outside the city. But Elisabeth knew better. She embraced the land, reconnecting with the joy of working with her hands, growing vegetables, flowers, and—most unexpectedly—nuts. In 2013, alongside her partner, she planted 150 nut and fruit trees, setting the foundation for what would become a groundbreaking artisan roasting business. Today, Jewels Under the Kilt is more than just a brand; it’s a testament to how passion and perseverance can turn the simplest ingredients into something extraordinary. In this interview with Delivery Rank, Elisabeth shares the inspiration behind her journey, the science of nut roasting, and what it truly means to grow something from the ground up.

Transitioning from a bustling city life to a farm is a significant shift. What aspects of farm life surprised you the most, and how did it change your perspective on entrepreneurship?

Everyone was worried that I had gone crazy moving up to farm country. The funny thing is I am a small-town girl. I was exhausted from the tuna can life and was looking forward to lots of room. What was great and unexpected when we did finally move was farmers are more open to share the How To's and how to work with the land. My neighbours have all played a part in my entrepreneurial journey.

Roasting nuts became your passion and the foundation of your business. What was the “aha” moment when you realized this could become a full-fledged venture?

The aha moment came my first year, when by November I was asked to come and sell nuts at the biggest agricultural fair in Canada. It is called the Royal fair. I was so excited for this opportunity. I wasn't quite a business until I entered this fair. We met other nut growers from all over Canada. People started to ask if we wholesaled our nuts. That year. I was taking boxes to the post office everyday until January, because of the press we received at finally show casing nuts as an agricultural product.

Your patent process for roasting nuts has become central to your brand. What’s the process like for developing a new flavor, and how do you draw inspiration for your creations?

New flavours come from inspirations all around me.  I am a classically trained flutist, creating nuts for me is like creating a sonata.  I have to have the right nut for the flavour combinations. So, I start by creating the dish in  reverse. The best way for you to understand is to create a nut. It was summer and I was thinking about the ice cream truck and that time that they served orange creamsicles . I decided I wanted to recreate that memory for everyone. So you start with the flavour how to get that flavour well I knew I needed fresh oranges, vanilla . What would make the cream part? We are no dairy. We chose almonds as the nut because it has almost a marshmallow cream taste with the Madagascar Vanilla and the fresh orange to create Orange vanilla cream Almond. Now that everything is ready to hopefully make that flavour profile that will trigger that ice cream truck memory. We layer the ingredients into the bowl mix and then Nut magic happens. The patented process allows me to make any kind of flavour combos from Savoury to sweetish all the while keeping all the nutrients in the nut .

Maple syrup played an unexpected role in masking the flavor of store-bought nuts early on. How does your relationship with this iconic ingredient influence your brand identity today?

Maple is used as a preservative not a sweetener. It basically all comes off the nuts and stays in the roasters.  The syrup allows me to keep the nutritional value of the nut intact but still create an amazing natural crunchy exterior. We just created a new product from what's left in the roasters called Tilt your Kilt. It is an amazing product created from the bi product of the roast.

Your adventurous spirit is evident in your journey. How does this spirit reflect in the storytelling and branding of Jewels Under the Kilt?

I love nuts . I love to share great nuts. I believe we can crack our differences and embrace humanity when we share nuts. I'm inspired by nut magic and fun. I'm like the Willy Wonka of nuts. My company is based on a child with #upsyndrome , She shows me every day what differences can bring to the business. She is my driving force

To read more about Jewels Under the Kilt, please visit https://www.jewelsunderthekilt.com/