A host of Cumbrian food and drink makers have been given the seal of approval for their products from a prestigious industry guild.
The Great Taste Awards are the largest and most trusted food and drink accreditation scheme and this year, 87 products in Cumbria were awarded stars.
Among them was Clare Walker, 56, of High Harrington, near Workington, who won two stars for her raspberry jam, meaning it is above and beyond delicious. The award was especially sweet as it was the first time she had entered any of her products.
Fewer than 10 per cent of entries achieve the two star rating.
Clare said: “People had told me my jam was good but it was the first time I entered, so I wasn’t really expecting to win, it was really to get some feedback from a professional judge and to see how good the product actually was.
“I was thrilled to get the two stars, especially when they said only 10 per cent of entries get it. I thought, well that’s really good, that’s a really good achievement.”
Clare set up her business, Cumbrian Coastal Kitchen, in 2019.
She said: “I started making jams for friends and family to use up the gluts of fruit from the garden and it expanded from there. I started doing it part time alongside my job, and then eventually in February 2021 I gave up work and devoted more time to it.”
Clare added that she aims to keep all her ingredients local to cut down on food miles. Her products, which also include chutneys and fruit vinegars are sold at local markets and they are stocked by a number of independent shops.
Lakeland Artisan
Lakeland Artisan won 10 Great Taste awards this year. Based in Kendal, the firm produces liqueurs and spirits.
Geoff Monkman, managing director, said: “We are thrilled to have received 10 awards this year, and highly delighted that our latest product Fell Tonic Water, has been recognised. Fell Tonic is one of four Mawson’s drinks that received awards this year and combined with our newly launched ready to drinks cans, the brand is going from strength to strength.”
Cumberland Saucy Gin
Solway Spirits’ Cumberland Saucy Gin, produced exclusively for Chestnut House at Pooley Bridge, won a two star award. It is produced by a distillery in Dumfries & Galloway.
John Farrer & Co
Lake district tea and coffee merchant John Farrer & Co picked up two one-star awards for Farrer’s Signature Lakeland Special Tea and its Banka Natural Coffee from Yunnan, China.
Rob Bains, Farrer’s general manager, said: “We’re delighted to have been awarded two more Great Taste Awards this year bringing our total to six. Every single award we receive recognises the hard work of every member of our team, showing that we are creating coffees and teas that people enjoy and are doing justice to the tea and coffee that we source and roast for our customers.’’
Wolftown
Ulverston’s Wolftown won a one-star award for its citrus gin.
Founder John McKeown said: “We are once again delighted to announce that Wolftown Citrus Gin has gained another accolade and they don’t get more iconic than
a Great Taste Award. When you see that Great Taste logo on a product, you know it’s a mark of quality, so to be able to showcase both of our products under this banner now, is very satisfying to say the least.”
Eden Yard
Eden Yard’s rapeseed oil has won a one-star award.
Grown on the Taylor family farm in the Eden Valley, near Penrith, the oilseed rape is harvested and then traditionally cold-pressed producing an extra virgin oil.
Owner Jannike Taylor said: “I am absolutely thrilled that our local oil has been recognised in the world renowned Great Taste Awards. It has been a whirlwind eight months for us but we are just delighted that they have recognised the incredible and unique taste produced by growing in the Eden Valley.”
Hawkshead Relish
Hawkshead Relish has an amazing 80 Great Taste awards to its name – thanks to the latest accolades for its rhubarb and ginger jam and improved sticky toffee sauce.
Maria Whitehead, co-owner of Hawkshead Relish, said: “It’s always wonderful to receive good news, especially when it comes to Great Taste awards, the Oscars of the food and drink sector. Adding two more Great Taste Awards to the total we’ve achieved over the years, which brings the total we’ve received up to 80 is a fabulous way of recognising the skill and dedication of the team.”
Ginger Bakers
Ginger Bakers collected a one-star Great Taste award for its vegan spiced fruit cake with pecans, bringing its tally of Great Taste awards won since 2006 up to 19.
Lisa Smith, owner of Ginger Bakers, said: “Great Taste awards highlight outstanding products to consumers, providing them the assurance that they have received a reliable stamp of approval. Winning an award like this is a great boost to every member of the team, and it’s hugely important because the as winning can open all sorts of potential business opportunities for a family business like ours.”
Heritage Meats, Yew Tree Farm, Coniston
Cumbrian farmer and food producer Jon Watson operates his butchery and online shop from Yew Tree Farm, a working Lakeland Hill farm spread over seven hundred acres of herb rich pasture and rugged fell, set against a backdrop of the Lakeland’s Yewdale Valley. The farm specialises in Herdwick Hogget, Herdwick Mutton and Belted Galloway Beef.
Jon said: “I’m thrilled to receive another Great Taste Award for the Herdwick I rear at Yew Tree Farm. It’s testament to the way we rear our animals and shows that traditional farming methods, coupled with careful nurturing deliver great results that people can genuinely appreciate and recognise as being the best quality available.”
This year saw 14,205 entries being submitted, from 110 countries for judging. Over 500 expert judges digested and cogitated their way through the entries and 5,556 products won an award.
The panel of over 500 judges this year included the likes of BBC Good Food editor Keith Kendrick, Delicious Magazine editor Karen Barnes, Bake Off contestant and author Chetna Makan, MasterChef Professionals finalist Santosh Shah, food and drink consultant Mallika Basu, restaurateurs including Kavi Thakrar, Dishoom, as well as journalists such as Felicity Cloake, The Guardian and Xanthe Clay, Telegraph.
