Cumbrian firms have been handed prestigious awards which marks them out as the cream of the crop.
Great Taste 2024 saw a total of 520 awards presented in the North of England, including 365 1-star, 129 2-star and 26 3-star accolades by the Guild of Fine Food.
Almost 3,500 companies from 115 countries around the world entered Great Taste this year, between them offering 13,672 products for review.
The UK entered 8,008 products from 2,528 companies.
Each entry was blind-tasted by the guild’s expert judging panel of over 500 food critics, chefs, recipe creators, buyers, retailers, and other specialists in the field of food and drink.
Entries were analysed across 92 judging days, each receiving detailed feedback, whether or not they obtained an award.
John Farrand, managing director of the Guild of Fine Food, said: “It’s hugely important to us at the guild to inject some positivity into the speciality food and drink industry.
“Given the economic headwinds that both independent retailers and small and medium producers are facing, the announcement of the 2024 crop of Great Taste stars is now an annual fillip for us all.
The awards are globally recognised as a mark of excellence and eagerly sought after by producers and food lovers alike.
James Cranston, of Cranstons in Penrith, said: “We are thrilled to have won a Great Taste award for our black pudding sausage and traditional ham on the bone.
“We are passionate about our products and our butchery and kitchen teams work really hard to ensure these products are excellent day in day out, we are all so proud to have their quality recognised. The latest two awards bring our tally of great taste awards to 19 in the last five years, a brilliant achievement.”
Cumbrian winners
3 stars
- Guava banana – True North Coffee Roasters, Staveley
- Habanero chilli jam – Mr Vikki’s, Penrith
2 stars
- Grilling cheese – Appleby Creamery
- Black Dub Blue – Appleby Creamery
- Chilli and ginger jam – Christine’s Kitchen, Gilcrux
- Westmorland pepper cake – Ginger Bakers, Kendal
- Colombia La Cabana Coffee – Farrers, Kendal
- Lemon & herb Amarillo chilli sauce – Legendary Sauce Company
- Chilli jam – Mr Vikki’s
- Harry’s Brown Sauce – Mr Vikki’s
- Orange cardamom marmalade – Mr Vikki’s
- Tomato nigella chutney – Mr Vikki’s
- Spicy mushroom curry pickle – My Gourmet Mushroom, Kendal
- English blossom honey – Nook Farm Honey
- Salted liquorice – Ravenglass Handmade Ice Cream Co
- Festival tipple marmalade – Shed 1 Distillery, Ulverston
- Steak & kidney pie – Wagtail Kitchen, Kendal
- Zingi Bear Switchel – Zingi Bear, Hincaster
1 star
- Eden Smokie – Appleby Creamery
- Spicy garlic and tomato salsa dip – Claire’s Handmade, Wigton
- Sweet piccalilli – Claire’s Handmade, Wigton
- Cumberland sausage with black pudding – Cranstons, Penrith
- Traditional ham on the bone – Cranstons, Penrith
- Blackcurrant jam – Cumbrian Coastal Kitchen, Harrington
- Damson jam – Cumbrian Coastal Kitchen, Harrington
- Chilli rapeseed oil – Eden Yard, near Penrith
- Organic apple juice – Eva’s Organics, Carlisle
- Brandy and orange mince pie – Ginger Bakers
- Chocolate and chestnut tray cake with smoked sea salt – Ginger Bakers
- Vintage Cheddar – Golden Hooves, Aspatria
- Traditional long sliced smoked Scottish salmon – Grants Oak Smoked, Maryport
- Traditional rope hung smoked Scottish salmon – Grants Oak Smoked, Maryport
- Sticky toffee waffle sauce – Hawkshead Relish
- Burundi Kibingo Natural Coffee – Farrers
- Ethiopia Haru Washed Coffee – Farrers
- Katherine’s Jersey Ice Cream – Just Jersey – Katherine’s Jersey Milk
- Kin Toffee Apple Vodka – Kin Vodka
- Artman Classic – Lakeland Mues
- Free Runner – Lakeland Mues
- Super seedy sourdough toasting loaf – More? The Artisan Bakery
- Alfonso mango chilli jam – Mr Vikki’s
- Guy Fawkes gunpowder mustard – Mr Vikki’s
- Harry’s chipotle BBQ sauce – Mr Vikki’s
- Indian garlic pickle – Mr Vikki’s
- King Naga – Mr Vikki’s
- Sambal – Mr Vikki’s
- #5 Gigli – Northern Pasta Co
- Orton Grange vending – Orton Grange, near Carlisle
- Pork & caramelised onion sausage roll – Pie Demand
- Rinaldo’s Burundi – Rinaldo’s Coffee
- Chameleon Espresso – Rinaldo’s Coffee
- Cumberland sausage – Roast Mutton, Kendal
- Marmalade sausage – Roast Mutton, Kendal
- Quince vodka – Shed 1 Distillery
- Cinder Toffee Rum – Sipping Fox
- Straight Up Bergamot edition gin – Sipping Fox
- Park House Cheddar – Torpenhow Cheese Co
- Allerdale Cheese – Thornby Moor Dairy
- Blue Whinnow – Thornby Moor Dairy
- Lemon curd gelato – 3 Hills Gelato, Torpenhow
- Fazenda Passeio – True North Coffee Roasters, Staveley
- Geisha Spirits – True North Coffee Roasters, Staveley
- Kenya Karatina – True North Coffee Roasters, Staveley
- Steak and mushroom pie – Wagtail Kitchen
- Apricot & roasted walnut chutney – Wild & Fruitful, Keswick
- Sweet chilli & tomato relish – Wild & Fruitful, Keswick
