The Great Taste Awards

Britain’s speciality food and drink sector is alive and thriving if the number of products entered into this year’s Great Taste Awards is anything to go on. The country’s largest speciality food and drink awards scheme, organised by the Guild of Fine Food - The Great Taste scheme has become known for launching little-known artisan producers into the big time of the fine food world, whilst occasionally discovering the odd mainstream surprise. The number of products entered has risen by a fifth, with nearly 7,200 foods, ranging from olive oils to farmhouse ciders, put forward for judging.

The Great Taste Awards is the biggest independent benchmarking scheme for local, regional and speciality foods in Britain. Over 350 professional foodies are brought together each year to take part in 45 days of judging, deciding which foods deserve one-star, two-star or the ultimate three-star awards. Judges this year included Masterchef winner and restaurateur Mat Follas, restaurant critic and Masterchef judge Charles Campion, food writers Lucas Hollweg  and Xanthe Clay and over 300 food buyers from leading food halls, delicatessens including Harrods, Selfridges and Fortnum & Mason.

Now why would I be telling you all this? Well it’s just for shameless bragging rights really. For a second year in a row my wife's Jam & chutney business has won gold stars for her products. This year saw a gold star awarded for her Raspberry Jam, which now sits alongside gold stars for her Very Berry Jam & Bedfordshire Rhubarb. Her products are available at farmers markets throughout Herts, Beds & Bucks and also local farms shops and delicatessens.

www.greattasteawards.co.uk
www.humbershomemade.co.uk

Steve Humber