Great Taste, the largest and most trusted food and drink awards on the planet, took place this week – and less than 2% of products are awarded a 3-star each year. Meet some of the top winners in East Anglia.
Schwarz&Weiss, a traditional Bavarian dark wheat beer made by The Krafty Braumeister, based in Leiston, Suffolk:
Judges’ comments:
‘A beautifully complex nose, with cherries and smokiness, coffee and light florals. Perfectly balanced, with a delicious texture. The flavour keeps evolving on the palate bringing forward raisins and cinnamon. The finish is light and very pleasant. We love the mousse and slightly cloudy appearance, and the nose is enthralling with its medley of smoke, banana, caramel, bread notes. Everything on the nose comes through on the palate and those flavours ebb away nicely to leave an excellent finish. An apt colour, good head and bright effervescence convey notes of sauerkraut and toffee on the nose, toffee banana on the palate, and a bright, lifted lactic acidity on the finish. Entirely un-cloying, despite its rounded sweetness and richness – quite brilliant!’
Uli Schiefelbein, founder of The Krafty Braumeister, says:
‘Starting a new business and making it profitable is like running a marathon. This fantastic reward gives us the boost we need after a difficult year. We are proud to be producing a quality beer using the finest Suffolk malts. I hope more people will get to taste the delights of our German inspired beers. A big Thank You to our whole team, all the hard work paid off! 3-stars from the Great Taste Awards makes me really proud! Amazing!’
Blackcurrant Extra Jam, Stokes Sauces, based in Rendlesham, Suffolk:
Judges comments:
‘This blackcurrant jam had a wonderful bright aroma — almost glowing!
On our palates it is decadent, with the sharpness of the berries perfectly balanced with the sweetness. Texturally a delight. Sticky and luxurious.
An intense blackcurrant flavour and colour. Deep purply colour that is incredibly appealing on the eye, and ‘belongs on a painter’s palette!’’
A spokesperson for Stokes Sauces says:
‘Our goal and efforts have always been to create the finest, tastiest, well-balanced products –premium sauces, chutneys and preserves for premium, discerning taste buds.
Which is why we are always pleased when their quality is recognised by others. Excellent reviews from customers are praise indeed. Just as the praise from the prestigious panel of judges at the Great Taste Awards is an accolade received with overwhelming pride.
We could not be happier and thank all concerned.’
Bush Rum Original Spiced, a Caribbean-inspired golden spiced rum by The Bush Rum Co. based in Witham, Essex:
Description:
This takes the flavours of Caribbean rum shacks and brings them to life with hints of ginger, cinnamon and sweet vanilla. Drink it down and you’ll get a sprinkle of sweet vanilla, a bite of banana, and a roar of spice.
Eleanor Thrower, Brand Manager at Bush Rum, says:
‘We are thrilled to win 3-stars at the Great Taste awards – the world’s largest and most trusted food and drink awards. Bush Rum Original Spiced Rum mixes Guyanese Rum with a secret blend of spices to create a spiced rum full of flavour bursting with ginger, soft vanilla, toffee and warming spice. It is delicious mixed with cola and ginger beer or in a rum cocktail. Sustainability is at the heart of Bush Rum and this is the first and only rum to use a 100% recycled glass bottle with 100% recyclable packaging.’
Organic Light Brown Plain Flour, Marriage’s, The Master Millers, based in Chelmsford, Essex:
Judges comments:
‘This brown flour has a clean wheaten aroma and is soft and whilst not whole-wheat, has ample colouring. With excellent mixing characteristics and being very water absorbent, the dough rolled out well for a thin flan base and blind baked excellently to take the filling. This baked well and the base proved a perfect foil for the flan, having a gentle crispness and very pleasant mouth-feel. The flour was used to make a sweet biscuit, a Tantallon Cake, flavoured with lemon peel: the texture was superb, with shortbread-like snap – the flour texture came into its own, a pure delight. This flour fully deserves a three star rating.’
Hannah Marriage, Director at Marriage’s, says:
‘We are delighted to win four Great Taste Awards this year and are very proud of the team that produces our flours. To achieve a three-star award for our Organic Light Brown Plain Flour is wonderful and demonstrates the excellent flavour this adds to a variety of home bakes. Our range of 18 home baking flours has now won 67 Great Taste Awards between them – testament to our dedication to producing superior quality flours.’
Kati Vardon, Marketing Manager at Marriage’s, adds:
‘In the past few years, we have seen a shift towards healthy eating and ingredients with a higher fibre profile. It’s lovely to see a three-star award going to this versatile organic flour. It joins our Moulsham Strong Malted Seeded Bread Flour that also won a 3-star award in 2019.’
All Great Taste 3-star award-winning products will be re-judged to find this year’s regional Golden Fork Trophy winners and the Great Taste Supreme Champion 2021. These results will be announced at the Great Taste Golden Fork Reception on Sunday October 17, set to be held at the Yorkshire Event Centre in Harrogate following the first day of Fine Food Show North, a trade-only exhibition organised by the Guild of Fine Food.
Featured image: Uli Schiefelbein of the Krafty Braumeister
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