From Spiced Oat Biscuits to White Pudding and Double Roasted Peanut Butter, Northern Ireland takes home 148 Great Taste awards.
Today, thousands of artisan food and drink producers from around the world discover if any of their products have achieved a distinguished 1-,2- or 3-star from Great Taste - the world’s largest food and drink accreditation scheme based entirely on taste.
Across 89 judging days in Dorset and London, a group of more than 500 judges conducted comprehensive blind taste tests on 14,195 entries submitted from a staggering 109 different countries.
Each producer will also receive invaluable feedback on their submissions from an array of food experts.
Products from Northern Ireland have won not one, but an impressive 148 awards. 93 x 1-stars, 45 x 2-stars and 10 x 3-stars have been scooped including the following:
• Great Taste 3-star – Maud's Pistachio Swirl Ice Cream by Maud's Ice Cream Ltd (only 1.8% of entries received a 3-star – “extraordinarily tasty food & drink”)
• Great Taste 2-star – Granny Shaw's 'Shut Yer Gob' Irish Stout Toffee by Granny Shaw's Fudge Factory (only 11% of entries received a 2-star – “above and beyond delicious”)
• Great Taste 1-star – Gold & Browne's Gluten Free, Double Chocolate Brownie by Gold & Browne's (28.8% of entries received a 1-star – “food & drink that delivers fantastic flavour”)
John Farrand, managing director at the Guild of Fine Food comments:
“A huge congratulations to the Northern Irish producers who have been awarded Great Taste stars for 2023 with their outstanding food and drink.
“Every year, we welcome new and established producers making fantastic products around the world and this year has been no exception. The breadth and quality of food and drink has been outstanding and we wish everyone who entered huge success and hope they find the feedback from our expert judging panel beneficial as they continue in their onward journey.”
What is Great Taste?
Recognised as a stamp of excellence and actively sought out by food lovers and retailers alike, Great Taste, organised by the Guild of Fine Food, values taste above all else. All products in the line-up for judging are blind-tasted: every product is removed from its packaging so it cannot be identified, before entering a robust, layered judging process.
New for this year and to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Great Taste, the Guild of Fine Food offered 50 micro producers the chance to put one new product in front of its expert panel of Great Taste judges for free. The bursary was aimed at micro producers who have never entered Great Taste before or have a new product, which has never been entered before. The bursary panel, which consisted of Adrian Boswell, buyer at Selfridges, industry commentator and food entrepreneur Mallika Basu, and PR & marketing expert AJ Sharp, selected the 50 most eligible entries.
2023 saw 21 products entered through the bursary scheme win a Great Taste award including Karobi’s Ghee from Karobi’s (3-star), New Alt from Antur Brew Co. (3-star), Shoogle Junniperous Scottish Navy Strength Gin from Shoogle Spirits (2-star) and Traditional Napa Cabbage Kimchi from The Ferm (1-star).
The Great Taste 2023 judging panel:
“When I come across a product with the iconic black and gold Great Taste logo, I see it as a badge of honour and feel compelled to purchase it. Having knowledge of the effort required to attain such a rating and the exceptional flavour that accompanies it, I am confident the product will not disappoint." said a regular of the Great Taste judging panel.
The distinguished judging panel consisting of over 500 food & drink experts, included chefs, critics, recipe developers, buyers, journalists, retailers, broadcasters, and reputable industry professionals.
What happens now?
These Great Taste award-winners can now proudly display the iconic black and gold Great Taste logo as a badge of honour on their award-winning products.
The logo states whether the product was awarded 1-, 2- or 3-stars and that it was awarded in 2023, so make sure to look out for them in your local stockist!
Past winners have stated that displaying a Great Taste sticker has increased sales by as much as 50%, as consumers from around the world are enthused to taste the best food and drink products available each year.
For the full list of this year’s winners and where to buy them, head to www.greattasteawards.co.uk from 2pm today where you will also find a wide range of the award-winning products available to buy in delis, farm shops and independent retail outlets across the country.
COUNTY ANTRIM
• Mauds Ice Cream Ltd
Pistachio Ice Cream
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• Ballylagan Organic Farm Shop
Ballylagan Butchery Coppa
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• Ballylagan Organic Farm Shop
Ballylagan Preserves Damson Jam
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• Ben's Ice Cream
Ben's Vanilla Delight
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• Lacada Brewery
Blue Pool
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• Devil's Churn
Devil's Churn Campfire Salted Caramel Sauce
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Devil's Churn - Devil's Churn Original Caramel Sauce ⭐️⭐️
• Our Brewery @ Geterbrewed Ltd
Do you Wanna Funk? - Hop Forward IPA by Our Brewery @ Geterbrewed Ltd
⭐️⭐️
• Draynes Farm
Draynes Farm Mango & Passionfruit Sorbet
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• Basalt Distillery Ltd
Giants Basalt Rock Gin
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• Granny Shaw's Fudge Factory
Granny Shaw's 'Shut Yer Gob' Irish Stout Toffee
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• Ten Watch Chocolates
Guinness Bonbon
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• Cocktail Keg Company
Ranch Water
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• Punjana Ltd
Thompson's 'Our Favourite Everyday' Tea
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• Punjana Ltd
Thompson's Irish Breakfast Tea
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• Punjana Ltd
Thompson's Punjana Tea
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• Punjana Ltd
Thompson's Scottish Blend Tea
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• Punjana Ltd
Thompson's Signature Blend Tea
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• Carnbrooke - Butchery & Food Hall
Wagyu Beef Fillet Steak
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• Carnbrooke - Butchery & Food Hall
Wagyu Beef Sausage
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• Carnbrooke - Butchery & Food Hall
Wagyu Côte de Boeuf
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• Carnbrooke - Butchery & Food Hall
Wagyu Ribeye Steak
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• Carnbrooke - Butchery & Food Hall
Wagyu Steak Burger
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• Blackfire Artisan Food
Bonfire Chipotle Sauce
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• Cocktail Keg Company
Carrot & Walnutt Daiquiri
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• Annie's Delights
Chilli Jam
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• Dundarave Estate
Christmas Pudding
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• Creightons of Balmoral Ltd
Creightons Curried Parsnip Soup
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• Devil's Churn
Devil’s Churn Caramel Sauce with Irish Whiskey
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• Lacada Brewery
East the Beast
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• Geterbrewed Ltd t/a Frankie & Eileens Gin
Frankie & Eileen's Gin
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• Gold & Browne's
Gold & Browne's Gluten Free, Double Chocolate Brownie
⭐️
• Granny Shaw's Fudge Factory
Granny Shaw's 'Shut Yer Gob' Treacle Toffees
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• Jam at the Doorstep
Handmade All butter sticky toffee pudding
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• Cocktail Keg Company
Irish Coffee
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• Hillstown Farm Shop
Irish Moiled 10oz Rib Eye Steak
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• The Lamb Van
Lamb Sausage Roll
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• Lough Neagh Fishermen's Co-operative Society Ltd
Lough Neagh Smoked Eel
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• Our Brewery @ Geterbrewed Ltd
Modern Love Pale Ale
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• Our Brewery @ Geterbrewed Ltd
Once in a Lifetime Oatmeal Stout
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• Ten Watch Chocolates
PB&J Bar
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• Our Brewery @ Geterbrewed Ltd
Pressure to Pick Italian Pilsner
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• Amber Catering & Cakes
Rhubarb and Ginger Wheaten Bread
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• Glens of Antrim Potatoes
Shindigs, Irish Sea Salt & Vinegar Ridge Cut Crisps
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• Glens of Antrim Potatoes
Shindigs, Mature Irish Cheddar & Sweet Onion Ridge Cut Crisps
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• Glens of Antrim Potatoes
Shindigs, Sour Cream & Shamrock Ridge Cut Crisps
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• Glens of Antrim Potatoes
Shindigs, Whiskey smoked Bacon Ridge Cut Crisps
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• Bertie’s Bakery
Sliced Wheaten
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• The Vintage Baker
Spiced Oat Biscuits
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• Punjana Ltd
Thompson's Decaf Tea
⭐️
• Carnbrooke - Butchery & Food Hall
Wagyu Sirloin Steak
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• Bertie’s Bakery
Wee Sodas
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• Lough Neagh Fishermen's Co-operative Society Ltd
Wild Lough Neagh Trout Fillet in a Garlic & Herb Marinade ⭐️