FOOD and drink makers from across Essex have been recognised in the annual Great Taste awards for 2020.

Following 14 weeks of judging, the results have been released, with many producers in East Anglia now celebrating.

Out of a record breaking 12,777 entries from 106 different countries, 42 per cent were awarded a highly prized Great Taste accolade with 272 based in East Anglia.

While these producers enjoy their success and begin displaying the unmistakable gold and black Great Taste logo, with 1-, 2- or 3- stars, on their award-winning products, they will wait with much anticipation to see if they also scoop the top awards for their region.

These final honours, including the Great Taste 2020 Supreme Champion, will be announced at the virtual Great Taste Golden Fork awards event, set to take place in October.

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.

The Great Taste ratings:

  • 3-star: Extraordinarily tasty foods – around 1.5 per cent of products are awarded a 3-star each year – don’t leave the shop without buying it!
  • 2-star: Above and beyond delicious – 10 per cent of entries will achieve this rating
  • 1-star: A food that delivers fantastic flavour. Approximately 30 per cent of entries will achieve this rating each year.

How Essex's food and drink makers fared

So Drinks based in Braintree scooped three stars for its Seville orange gin.

Hadley’s Dairy, run by Colne Engaine farmer Jane Hadley, scooped a number of awards.

Its Single Origin Hot Chocolate, The Parlour Pink Rhubarb Ice Cream and The Parlour Raspberry Ice Cream were all awarded two stars.

The firm's Hand rolled Fresh Cream Truffles, The Parlour Vanilla Ice Cream, The Parlour 70% Single Origin Chocolate Ice Cream, The Parlour Red Gooseberry Ice Cream and The Parlour Gooseberry Sorbet all received a star rating by judges.

W. & H. Marriage & Sons Ltd, flour millers in Chelmsford, also scooped a number of two and one star accolades.

Two stars were awarded to its Very Strong Wholemeal 100% Canadian, Organic Country Fayre Malted Brown, Golden Wholegrain Bread and Golden Wholegrain Plain.

There were one stars for Finest Strong White, Finest Plain White, Finest Self Raising White and Dark Rye.

Daily Grind/Novus Teas, based in Bradwell-on-Sea, won two stars for its Fleur D'Orient Oolong infusion.

Its Novus Black Spirals, Novus Citrus Chamomile and Novus Oriental Beauty all claimed one star.

Tiptree's Thursday Cottage claimed two stars for its Gingerbread Caramel Spread and one star for its Lemon Curd while the Sticky Pickle Co, in Braintree, got two stars for its Lime Pickle and one star for its Beetroot Chutney.

Fairfields Farm Crisps, in Wormingford, received one star for a number of products.

Its Sea Salt & Black Pepper, Sweet Chilli and Adnams Ghost Ship flavours all claimed awards.

The Saffron Ice Cream Company, in Audley End, won stars for their Summerdown Farm Mint Choc Chip and Traditional Chocolate flavours.

Bishop Nick Brewery in Braintree was awarded one star for its Heresy brew.

Colchester-based The Foraging Fox picked up one award for its All Natural Coconut, Chilli & Lime Mayo.

Cupcake Daisy, in Chelmsford, scooped one star for its Instant 'One Cup' Hot Chocolate Discs (White Chocolate).

There were also stars for Chappel Chocolate House's Rosemary and Sea Salt Caramel, Carr's flour mill's Artisan Bakers Flour and Bradfield's Barn Farm Drinks Opal Apple Juice.

Kelly Turkey Farms in Danbury picked up stars for its Kellybronze Turkey Whole Bird and Kellybronze Rare Breed Turkey.

McLaren's Christmas Pudding, in Mayland, won a star for its Christmas Pudding while Gray's based Kimchi With Everything won a star for its Kimchi - Intense Quite Spicy.

Maylandsea Smokery got one star for its Hot-Smoked Mackerel fillets while Taking the Pea won for its Smoked Ham Coated Crunchy Peas.