A thyme honey from the Greek island of Crete was crowned the ultimate winner of Great Taste 2024 at the Golden Forks ceremony at the Battersea Arts Centre in London.
The event on 10th September marked the culmination of the Guild of Fine Food’s Great Taste award scheme, which this year saw 13,672 products from 115 countries blind-judged by a panel of 500 to identify the best food & drink items among them.
5,590 products entered this year received either a 1-, 2- or 3-star award, and “Authentiko”, the raw honey made by producer of 16 years, Melicreta-Leontarakis, in the seaside village of Ligaria, was recognised among these award-winning products.
It was one of 10 in the running for the Supreme Champion title, along with a Taiwanese black tea, a blue cheese from Ireland and Scottish sea salt flakes (full list below). It was also one of 16 Golden Fork trophy winners recognised for the best tasting products in their region, and, as of this year, for attesting a commitment to sustainability and to being a ‘Better Business’ – looking after its community, team, environment and supply chain. The final two awards still required producers to score very highly in Great Taste, and respectively went to foraged fruit producer, Seabuckthorn Scotland CIC, and to Huddersfield’s Dark Woods Coffee.
Another trophy was given to a producer enrolled in the Great Taste bursary programme, which gives 50 micro-producers the opportunity to take part in the awards scheme for free. Single-estate spice trader Food of Gods received the Golden Fork for Outstanding Bursary Winner for its Kandy Heirloom Cinnamon from Sri-Lanka.
Finally, Dà Mhìle Distillery’s Absinthe received the Nigel Barden Heritage Award, and investigative journalist Joanna Blythman was recognised by the Guild of Fine Food for her Contribution to Food & Drink.
Supreme Champion Eleni Leontarakis said: “We entered Great Taste because we thought it would help us tell people about the work we do every day. So much thought goes into it and to be recognised for the work that we do is just amazing.”
“We never expected to do so well in Great Taste but it gives us a reason to keep pushing everyday. We’re so happy.”
Meanwhile, Guild of Fine Food director John Farrand said: “It is important to understand that Great Taste is merely the process that identifies 1-, 2- and 3-star winners and, in doing so, encourages makers to improve. Now at its climax, in announcing the Golden Forks we are celebrating the very best producers; those who take care to ensure their products hit the markers of trusted raw ingredients, simple production methods, and food & drink that has personality, but ultimately, that tastes great.”
He added that the Guild team was “particularly chuffed” to do its bit for international trade and relations by welcoming entries from 115 countries in Great Taste 2024.
“And, in addition, bestowing two new awards, one to a company that demonstrates inspiring business acumen, and the other to an organisation showing genuine commitment to sustainability. These winners must at the same time, be making outstanding food & drink.”
The full list of Great Taste 2024 winners – and information about where to buy their products can be found at gff.co.uk/directory.
10 Great Taste Supreme Champion 2024 contenders
- Stoney Cross from Lyburn Farmhouse Cheesemakers, England
- Scottish Sea Salt Flakes from Blackthorn Salt, Scotland
- Smoked Duck Breast from Black Mountains Smokery, Wales
- Porchetta from Hannan Meats, Northern Ireland
- Cashel Blue from Cashel Irish Farmhouse Cheesemakers, Ireland
- Jamón de Bellota 100% Ibérico DOP Guijuelo from César Nieto, Spain
- “Authentiko” Cretan Thyme Honey from Melicreta-Leontarakis, Greece
- Bosco Honey from Louisa’s Honey, Italy
- Crème Fraîche d’Isigny AOP 40% from Isigny Sainte-Mère, France
- Smaller Green Leafhopper Honey Flavour Black Tea (Floral and Fruity notes) from Junjie Lin Tea Garden, Taiwan
Golden Fork trophies for 2024:
- Golden Fork from England: Stoney Cross from Lyburn Farmhouse Cheesemakers (www.lyburnfarm.co.uk)
- Golden Fork from Scotland: Scottish Sea Salt Flakes from Blackthorn Salt (www.blackthornsalt.co.uk)
- Golden Fork from Wales: Smoked Duck Breast from Black MountainsSmokery (www.smoked-foods.co.uk)
- Golden Fork from Northern Ireland: Porchetta from Hannan Meats (www.hannanmeats.com)
- Golden Fork from Ireland: Cashel Blue from Cashel Irish Farmhouse Cheesemakers (www.cashelblue.com)
- Golden Fork from Spain: Jamón de Bellota 100% Ibérico DOP Guijuelo from César Nieto (www.cesarnieto.com)
- Golden Fork from Greece:“Authentiko” Cretan Thyme Honey from Melicreta-Leontarakis (www.melicreta.gr)
- Golden Fork from Italy: Bosco Honey from Louisa’s Honey (www.louisas-honey.com)
- Golden Fork from the Rest of the Europe: Crème Fraîche d’Isigny AOP 40% from Isigny Sainte-Mère (www.isigny-ste-mere.com/en)
- Golden Fork from the Rest of World: Smaller Green Leafhopper Honey Flavour Black Tea (Floral and Fruity notes) from Junjie Lin Tea Garden
- Golden Fork for Outstanding Bursary Winner: Kandy Heirloom Cinnamon from Food of Gods (www.foodofgods.com)
- Golden Fork for Sustainability: Seabuckthorn Scotland CIC (www.seabuckthornscotland.com)
- Golden Fork for Better Business: Dark Woods Coffee (www.darkwoodscoffee.co.uk)
- Nigel Barden Heritage Award:Dà Mhìle Absinthe from Dá Mhìle Distillery(www.damhile.co.uk)
- Guild of Fine Food Contribution to Food & Drink: Joanna Blythman
- Great Taste 2024 Supreme Champion: “Authentiko” Cretan Thyme Honey from Melicreta-Leontarakis (www.melicreta.gr)
