AWARD WINNERS
Top stuff
Meat producers Elchies Estates based in Speyside picked up an impressive two-star award for its goat shanks and a three-star award for its goat haunch in this year’s Great Taste. Both meats provide customers with “rich and characterful flavours” through a combination of “scientific knowledge and traditional methods”. It is butchered locally and available for delivery anywhere in the UK to restaurants and private customers. elchies.co.uk
Bell and Loxton received a two-star Great Taste award this year for its original cold-pressed rapeseed oil. Grown, pressed and bottled on the family farm, the oil boasts full traceability and is now available in attractive 500ml aluminium bottles. The judges described it as a “well-balanced oil” with “an extraordinary clean finish”. Ideal for frying, roasting, baking, drizzling and dressings. bellandloxton.co.uk
Out of a record-breaking 12,772 entries, Great Taste 2019 saw a total of 4943 awarded a 1-, 2- or 3-star. Discover a selection of those products that scooped the coveted award.
Following Zest & Zing’s two-star award win in 2018 for its White Truffle Sea Salt, this year’s Great Taste winners include an “extremely aromatic” blend of Katsu curry and a “nicely balanced” garlic chilli. With strong notes of cumin, the flavour of Katsu curry takes an “interesting journey”, hitting elements of citrus, a peppery heat and turmeric which pairs deliciously well with chicken. The garlic chilli blend is a “pretty-looking spice blend” with a good mix of colours, textures and flavours. zestandzing.co.uk
Dartmouth English Gin is a modern classic, renowned for being ultra-smooth, fullbodied and refreshing. It can be enjoyed on its own or served with tonic and makes an interesting foundation for cocktails, with the gin’s complexity and balance providing the perfect serve. Judges were impressed by the “well-balanced length” and “rounded aromatics” of this family crafted gin. dartmouth-gin.com
Having gathered a total of 63 awards to date for its singleestate named teas, Robert Wilson’s Ceylon Tea has this year added the Brunswick B.O.P. to its latest three-star award winning line up. These single-estate teas are crafted by skilled teamakers to specific requirements, during one of the two ‘quality’ seasons when character and flavour can be developed in the tea. wilsonfamilyteas. com
Carole Armitage Chocolates picked up a two-star award in Great Taste this year for its 80Noir Ultra Dark Chocolate Bar. The judges praised the “clever bar, that is nearly 80% cacao but without the corresponding intense bitterness.” Marketed as a ‘natural source of energy’ to boost mood and performance, this chocolate is “a must for milk or dark chocolate lovers” with a leaning towards health and wellbeing. carolearmitage.co.uk Based in London, The Olive Oil Co imports olive oil and vinegars from specialist producers across Italy. This year, it won a threestar for its Gustoso Apple Cider, which is made by maturing 100% concentrated apple juice in wooden casks. Judges said this glossy creation takes cider vinegar to “a new level” and they loved its fresh apple flavour and sharp acidity. theoliveoilco.com
Grabbing itself a flurry of Great Taste awards this year, Pollyanna’s Kitchen has enjoyed real success since its beginnings in 2017. Just the Crush scooped one-star, along with the popular Chillish (a 2-in-1 smokey Chilli oil ‘with bits’). The latter was joined by its follow up product, Just the Gubbins, which gained an impressive two-stars for its “sweet and smokey” blend of “intensely flavoured” ingredients. pollyannaskitchen.co.uk Vol.20 Issue 9 | October-November 2019
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