Eating out is one of the great pleasures of being on holiday and visitors to Essex will find there's no shortage of local delicacies to tempt the tastebuds. For centuries, the county has harvested fish and shellfish from its 350 mile coastline and the Colchester Native Oyster is still harvested off Mersea Island today. Favoured by top chef, Jamie Oliver, you can try some in the Oyster Bar in West Mersea. Legend has it the Romans grew grapes on the island and, with its gentle south-facing slopes, vines still flourish today at Mersea Island Vineyard. The vineyard also contains a tiny brewery whose concoctions include the aptly-named Oyster Stout, brewed with oysters in a tradition dating from 1900.

It is said that oysters have been harvested in the Blackwater estuary since Roman times. On the 1 September this year Maldon will be hosting the 7th annual Oyster and Seafood Festival in the Promenade Park. To celebrate this annual event the Maldon Brewing Company produces a deliciously full bodied beer with lots of coffee, chocolate flavours and real Maldon oysters from the River Blackwater!

Nearby Purleigh is also famed for its New Hall Vineyard, the venue for the popular English Wine Festival in September. The tidal waters of Maldon's Blackwater estuary have also given rise to another regional delicacy. Maldon Sea Salt has been manufactured here for over 2,000 years and is renowned for its high quality. Further south, don't leave Leigh-on-Sea without treating yourself to a tray of cockles. The cockle sheds here have been passed down through generations and offer the freshest (and cheapest) seafood for miles.

Your visit to Essex is not complete if you don't visit one of the 3 Tiptree tearooms and sample their exquisite home-made scones with cream and of course their world famous jams.