Food and drink producers from across the county have been named amongst the best in the UK.
Winners of the Great Taste Awards 2024 have been announced after more than 500 judges took part in blind taste tests to rate the quality of food.
Great Taste, delivered by the Guild of Fine Food, is the world’s largest and most trusted food and drink accreditation scheme and awards one, two or three-star accolades.
Award-winning products from Staffordshire this year include everything from jam to cockerel and salt to ice cream.
Cottage Delight brought no less than 12 awards home to Leek including two-star ones for its sweet gooseberry whole fruit jam, classic breakfast thick cut marmalade and madras curry paste.
One-star winners were Morello cherry whole fruit jam, classic lemon curd, mango and aubergine chutney, Indian spiced lime pickle, stingin’ scorpion chilli sauce, smokey chipotle barbecue sauce, gourmet burger sauce, peanut satay sauce and Thai jasmine coconut rice.
Packington Free Range, in Barton Under Needwood, went one further than last year to win nine awards this time around. Recognition was given for its chicken and pork products as well as cockerel and white eggs.
A spokesperson said: “We’re thrilled, especially for our super white eggs who have taken a fabulous two-star on their first ever entry.”
Nose to tail artisan butcher Perrys of Eccleshall scooped five two-star awards – for its matured rib eye steak, game pie, beef Wellington, short back dry cured bacon and porcetta.
Meanwhile, Stafford-based Sunnyside Drinks’ original alcoholic ginger beer, pictured above, described by judges as “a successful drink on its own or as a mixer”, was recognised with one star.
Founder Christian Heath said: “We are thrilled to receive this Taste Award.
“Many people think of ginger beer as overly sweet or artificially flavoured, so it’s great to be recognised for using only high-quality, natural ingredients to create a unique alcoholic ginger beer that’s both refreshing and delicious.”
Other Staffordshire winners include Asilia Salt, a gourmet sea salt company based in Stafford (two awards), Mr Trotter, Rugeley’s pork scratching producer (two awards), Suncream Dairies, in Wilnecote (one award), Stafford’s Flour & Co Bakehouse (one award).
