Our Great Taste 2024 Winners
Seeded Crackers**
Crispy buttermilk crackers with a mix of spices and golden linseed, brown linseed, fennel, poppy, sesame, caraway and nigella seeds.
Judges comments: This is a lovely rustic-looking cracker with a great snap. It's baked well. It has a sweetness and the right amount of saltiness. The array of seeds and spices has been carefully considered to produce a beautifully balanced meld of tastes, flavours and textures. The pleasant, unaggressive but aromatic flavours linger appealingly on the palate - these would be great with cream cheese or a simple dip, but are terrific as a nibble.
Raspberry & Rose Jam**
Traditionally made in copper pans with whole fruit and cooked by hand in small batches by our friends at Tea Together.
Judges comments: This is a rich red jam that is more like a conserve. The raspberry flavour and aroma is excellent and tastes very natural. The rose flavour is very subtle, which is good, and it just enhances the raspberry flavour rather than being overpowering or too floral. It has a good length of finish that is perfectly balanced and not too sweet or sharp. The use of raspberry pips throughout was judicious and the amount of rose was carefully handled. It was refreshing and sweet without being too cloying, and with just a hint of raspberry tartness. Delightful.
Potato & Rosemary Sourdough*
Made with skin-on baked potatoes, rosemary, nigella seeds and olive oil, this loaf has a soft crust and rich, earthy flavour.
Judges comments: With a strong initial hit from the nigella seeds, this is a distinctive bread that has a nice sourdough tang. It has a good crust, and is as soft and chewy as described by the producer, while delivering depth of flavour. Beautifully made with innovative ingredients. A well-made loaf, with a lovely crumb and pleasant chew.
Pistachio Financier*
Little almond cakes studded with pistachios.
Judges comments: The judges loved the rustic, homemade look of these little financiers, generously topped with chopped green pistachios. The little cakes were moist with a tender crumb and with the salty, nutty flavours of pistachios coming through. They were also not too sweet and made for very pleasant eating.
Sour Cherry & Pistachio Biscotti*
Crunchy Italian almond biscuits with sour cherries and pistachios.
Judges comments: A real treat to dip into a cappuccino, they have the firm bite you would hope for from a biscotti and a happy, underlying almond flavour and citrus note. The sour cherry gives a nice pop of chewy sourness and the judges liked the crunchy sugar topping. There is a lovely texture - firm but not too hard and not at all drying. We liked the contrast between the pleasing chew of the cherries and the crunch of the nuts. All in all a lovely biscuit which the judges enjoyed.
Mixed Olive Sourdough*
Made with white flour, white starter and fresh yeast, this loaf is studded with green and black olives and seasoned with thyme and sea salt.
Judges comments: The generous filling of olive tempts the eye upon cutting into this loaf, while a few olives cheekily emerge from the crust. The texture is dense without being overly chewy and the quality of the olives further elevates the product. A delightful bread to graze upon.
Sour Cherry & Chocolate Scone*
A cross between a scone and a cookie, this American inspired baked has a cookie-like crust which gives way to soft, more scone like middle and is studded with dried sour cherries and dark chocolate drops.
Judges comments: Attractively presented with a rustic look. Generous and even distribution of cherries and chocolate. On cutting, the firm crust gives way to a very crumbly interior. The cherries give a rich burst of flavour and pair well with the chocolate, whilst also allowing the flavours of the scone to come through.
Strawberry Jam*
Traditionally made in copper pans with whole fruit and cooked by hand in small batches by our friends at Tea Together.
Judges comments: The gorgeous aroma of fresh strawberries follows through on the palate with the rich taste of the fruit without being overpoweringly sweet. There is a tangy freshness which is well-balanced in this soft set jam. It tastes and feels like a homemade jam with seeds and strawberry pieces strewn throughout. The texture is easily spreadable, without being too set, and there is a welcome tartness to offset the sweetness .
Seville Orange Marmalade*
Traditionally made in copper pans with whole fruit and cooked by hand in small batches by our friends at Tea Together.
Judges comments: This is a deep amber marmalade with small shreds of peel evident. The peel is well cooked: soft and not tough. The marmalade spreads well and the set is good. The flavour is classically bitter, not overly sweet. A thick-set marmalade with thinly sliced rind, this tastes of a well-cooked jam, leaving a rounded flavour of Seville oranges with little bitterness. We also think that the sweetness level was well-judged.
Croissant*
Our homage to the classic French rich, all butter flaky pastry.
Judges comments: What a beautiful big croissant with a lovely caramelised snap on the outside. The centre is light and well flavoured and the consistency is as flaky as one would expect of a croissant. The buttery sweetness of this made for a tempting product.
Pain au Chocolat*
Rich, dark chocolate batons wrapped in golden, flaky croissant pastry,
Judges comments: An enticing, generous looking pastry. Very buttery and flaky. Lovely open texture and the clear laminated pastry you would expect from a luxury product. Looks a bit mean on the chocolate front but it is very intense and well balanced.
Soho Bun*
Little cream buns loaded with chocolate chips.
Judges comments: An attractive bun that looks appealing - these have not skimped on the chocolate, which is a plus. The aroma is fresh and chocolatey, almost nutty. We enjoyed the contrast between the slightly crunchy outside and the fresh, soft interior. The volume of chocolate works well in terms of taste and texture. These are clearly well made.
