From chocolate truffles to kombucha, delicacies from across the county have been celebrated in the Great Taste Awards 2020
Food producers across East and West Sussex are celebrating the results of this year’s Great Taste judging. More than 80 Sussex products have been awarded the Great Taste accolade, widely recognised as the most respected food accreditation scheme for artisan and speciality food producers.
Two local products gained the coveted 3-star rating – the Cranberry Gin Christmas Pudding from Bee & Bear Bakery in Battle, East Sussex and HOLOs Kombucha Citra Hops from Pulborough, West Sussex.
Other products ranged from Sussex Gin and Chocolate Truffles from Noble and Stace in Easebourne, Edgecumbes Hand Roasted Speciality Coffee roasted in Ford, Brighton Gin and a number of different flavours from Bird & Blend Tea Co in Hove.
Recognised as a stamp of excellence among consumers and retailers alike, Great Taste, organised by the Guild of Fine Food, values taste above all else, with no regard for branding or packaging. Whether it is cake, coffee, kippers or kombucha being judged, all products are tasted blind. The judges then savour, confer and re-taste to decide which products are worthy of one, two or three stars. This year the scheme attracted a record breaking 12,777 entries from around the world, with 679 of the prize-winners based in the south east.
The panel of judges included cook, writer and champion of sustainable food Melissa Hemsley, cook, writer, stylist and voice of modern vegetarian cooking Anna Jones, celebrated Spanish chef José Pizarro, Kavi Thakrar from Dishoom, food writer and cook Xanthe Clay, and baker and author Martha Collison, as well as food buyers from Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason and Waitrose.
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Sussex’s Great Taste 1-star winners:
Gun Brewery, How’s the Serenity Vermont Pale
Gun Brewery, Numb Angel Lager
Gun Brewery Project Baylon APA
Brighton Gin Pavilion Strength
Brighton Gin Seaside Strength
Generation Distillers, Generation 11 Sussex Dry Gin
Ringden Farm Cox Apple Juice
Ringden Farm Apple and Mango Juice
Ringden Farm Apple and Blackcurrant Juice
Ringden Farm Lightly Sparkling Apple Juice
Edgecumbe’s Sussex Royal Premium
Bird & Blend Tea Co Sticky Chai Tea
Bird & Blend Tea Co Fairytale of NY tea
Bird & Blend Tea Co Moondrop Dreams Tea
Bird & Blend Tea Co Breakfast’s Ready Honey tea
Spirit of Hemp Organic Pure Hemp Tea
Edgecumbe’s Hand Roasted Speciality
Back Yard Coffee House Blend
Emaya Pure Life The Original Tumerichai Star Latte
Emaya Pure Life The Original Tumerichai Orange
Joyfuel Peanut Butter Tiffin
Farretti Bakery Olive Ciabatta
The Hungry Guest Christmas Cake
Julien Plumart Passion Fruit Macaron
Oatopia Breakfast Bar
Charlene’s Chocolate Factory Caramel Salt & Smoke
Black Mocha The Black Mocha Bar
The Raw Honey Shop Raw Pyrenees Mountain Honey
The Raw Honey Shop Raw Manuka (Jelly Bush) Honey
The Raw Honey Shop Raw Green Fir
Pollyanna’s Kitchen Chillish
Pollyanna’s Kitchen Garlish
A little bit naughty Platonic Plum Chutney
The Hungry Guest Arrabiata Sauce
Kikkoman Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce
Kikkoman Less Salt Soy Sauce
Kikkoman Poke Sauce
Pollyanna’s Kitchen Chillish Just the Gubbins
Kikkoman Teriyaki Marinade
Lebanese Fine Foods and Wines Rose Water
Huney Beest Wild Bee Bread
The Weald Smokery Smoked Dry Cured Bacon
Rebel Do Ya?
Rebel Hunter Salami
Higgidy Steak and Red Wine Pie
The Weald Smokery Sliced Scottish Salmon
The Weald Smokery Smoked Haddock
The Weald Smokery Smoked Trout Fillet
The Fresh Fish Shop Marinated Cornish Sardines
The Fresh Fish Shop Smoked Salmon Pate
Court Lodge Organics Labneh
Bookham Harrison Sussex Charmer Cheese
Belato Gusto Vegan Coconut and Palm Sugar Gelato
Gelato Gusto Pink Peppercorn Gelato
Gelato Gusto Vegan Raspberry and Hibiscus Sorbet
Miall’s Gin and Tonic Sorbet
Cowdray Farm Shop Beef Bolognese
Cowdray Farm Shop Cottage Pie
Cowdray Farm Shop Steak and Ale Stew
Kikkoman Tamari Gluten-free Soy Sauce
Belle & Wilde Rosemary Toasts
Sussex’s Great Taste 2-star winners
Gun Brewery Spin Drift IPA
Wobblegate Eden Cider
Harley House Pure Sussex Gin
Generation Distillers Generation 11 Overproof Gin
Rumbustian Spiced Rum
Ringden Farm Apple and Ginger Juice
Prince & Sons English Breakfast tea
Bird & Blend Tea Co Blueberry and Peach tea
Bean Smitten Revive Blend
Noble and Stace Sussex Gin and Orange Truffles
J Cocoa 55% Coffee Milk Chocolate
Lebanese Fine Foods and Wines Sumac
Tailormade Bakery Pork Pie
The Croque Shop Pork, Cheese and Marmite sausage roll
Court Lodge Organics Natural Pouring Yoghurt
Court Lodge Organics Organic Strawberry Drinking Yoghurt
Miall’s Mojito Sorbet
Sussex’s 3-star winners:
HOLOS Kombucha Citra Hops
Bee & Bear Bakery Cranberry Gin Christmas Pudding
