Beechwood Fine Foods of Tring is among the Great Taste Winners of 2019

Great Taste, the world’s most coveted food and drink awards, has announced its stars of 2019. Out of 12,772 products sent in from over 100 different countries, Beechwood Fine Foods, located in Frogmore Street, Tring was awarded a 1-star Great Taste award for both Poachers Pickle and Dark and Chunky Marmalade, which means judges considered both as delivering fantastic flavour. More particularly the judges commented of Poachers Pickle, ‘Nicely spiced. Lovely texture. We like the lingering warmth’ and of the marmalade, ‘A rich and indulgent look to this firm set marmalade. Soft peel with bitter sweet molasses citrus contrasts, depth and complexity. An appealing marmalade.’

Judged by over 500 of the most demanding palates, belonging to food critics, chefs, cooks, restaurateurs, buyers, retailers and producers, as well as a whole host of food writers and journalists, Great Taste is widely acknowledged as the most respected food accreditation scheme for artisan and speciality food producers. As well as a badge of honour, the unmistakable black and gold Great Taste label is a signpost to a wonderful tasting product, which has been discovered through hours and hours of blind tasting by hundreds of judges.

Sarah, co-owner of Beechwoods, explains: ‘This is fabulous, I make all our range of preserves, jams and chutneys and to go up against many of the bigger players in the industry and to come out with another two awards this year to add to the now increasing number across the range is just great! I could not be happier and it certainly makes all the hard work very worthwhile’; she adds, ‘if you have not tried our homemade preserves please pop in to see us at the deli or when we are out and about at various fetes and shows locally as we will always have tasters available.’

Recognised as a stamp of excellence among consumers and retailers alike, Great Taste values taste above all else, with no regard for branding and packaging. Whether it is vinegar, granola, bacon or cheese being judged, all products are removed from their wrapper, jar, box or bottle before being tasted. The judges then savour, confer and re-taste to decide which products are worthy of a 1-, 2- or 3-star award.

There were 12,772 entries into Great Taste this year and of those products, 208 have been awarded a 3-star, 1,326 received a 2-star and 3,409 were awarded a 1-star accolade. The panel of judges this year included: cook, writer and champion of sustainable food, Melissa Hemsley; Kenny Tutt, MasterChef 2018 champion; author, Olia Hercules; chef and food writer, Gill Meller; Kavi Thakar from Dishoom; food writer and stylist, Georgina Hayden, and author and chef, Zoe Adjonyoh, as well as food buyers from Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason, Sourced Market and Partridges. These esteemed palates have together tasted and re-judged the 3-star winners to finally agree on the Golden Fork Trophy winners and the Great Taste 2019 Supreme Champion.

Great Taste 2019 will reach its exciting finale on Sunday 1 September, when the world of fine food gathers at the InterContinental Park Lane Hotel, London to find out the Great Taste Golden Fork trophy winners for each region, with the final applause reserved for the Great Taste Supreme Champion 2019.

For more information contact Sarah Murray at Beechwood Fine Foods, 42 Frogmore Street, Tring HP23 5AU. Telephone: 01442 828812 or email hello@beechwoodfinefoods.com.