Great Taste, the world’s most trusted food and drink awards, has announced its stars of 2020. Out of 12,777 products sent in from 106 different countries, Azada, Tarragona (Spain) have been awarded a 2-star Great Taste award for the Organic Wild Thyme Olive Oil. It was recognised for its layers of flavour: herbs, smoke, olive groves – and a long-lasting buttery silkiness, which was really well balanced. In addition, Azada was also awarded a 1-star Great Taste award for the Organic Wild Rosemary Olive Oil. This is all due to its intense aroma of fresh rosemary and wonderful buttery aroma.
Judged by 144 of the most discerning palates, belonging to food critics, chefs, cooks, restaurateurs, buyers, retailers and producers, as well as food writers and journalists, Great Taste is the most coveted of all food and drink awards. As well as a badge of honour, the unmistakeable black and gold Great Taste label is a signpost to an outstanding product, which has been discovered through hours and hours of blind tasting.
This year’s winners have been found through a combination of remote judging and socially distanced judging sessions after the lockdown began just one week into the schedule. This necessitated a swift and comprehensive reinvention of the Great Taste process to ensure that robust judging standards were maintained and the quality of feedback was not compromised, all in time to provide a much-needed boost for food and drink producers during the all-important Christmas period.
Kevin, the Founder, explains: At Azada, the future of food is healthy, plant-based and sustainable. We avoid processed foods with long ingredient lists because we like to eat real food. Having been awarded multiple Great Taste Stars confirms that healthy, sustainable food can have fantastic flavour. Healthy food doesn’t have to taste boring!
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 cake, coffee, kippers or kombucha 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 12,777 entries into Great Taste this year and of those products, 205 have been awarded a 3-star, 1,294 received a 2-star and 3,818 were awarded a 1-star accolade. The panel of judges this year included; cook, writer and champion of sustainable food, Melissa Hemsley, cook, writer, stylist and voice of modern vegetarian cooking, Anna Jones, celebrated Spanish chef, José Pizarro, Kavi Thakrar from Dishoom, food writer and cook, Xanthe Clay, and baker and author, Martha Collison, as well as food buyers from Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason and Waitrose. These esteemed palates have together tasted and re-judged the 3-star winners to finally agree on the Golden Fork Trophy recipients and the Great Taste 2020 Supreme Champion.
Great Taste 2020 will reach its exciting finale in late October when the Golden Fork trophy winners and the Great Taste Supreme Champion 2020 are announced at the virtual Great Taste Golden Fork awards event.
Date: 23 September 2020.
For more information: Anisha Mistry at Azada, anisha@azada.es
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