Great Taste Awards reveals the best food and drink from across Cheshire
Businesses from across Cheshire have been awarded a coveted Great Taste award for their products.
The world’s most trusted food and drink accreditation scheme run by the Guild of Fine Food has announced its latest annual results.
Products are awarded 1, 2 or 3 stars, with 3-star the highest accolade and signifying ‘extraordinary tasty’ products. The awards involve a blind tasting process by a panel of industry professionals.
This year saw a record number of entries, with 14,340 products being submitted from 110 countries across the globe.
Cheshire entered 133 products, 17 of which received 1-star, 28 achieved 2-stars and 4 were awarded 3-star.
Krum Gelato in Chester:
Achieved a prestigious three-star award (the highest possible) for their Pistachio Gelato, showcasing their mastery of traditional Italian gelato making with high-quality, authentic ingredients, including Sicilian Bronte pistachios. As well as Krum Gelato on Watergate Street, husband and wife, chef Valentina Aviotti and Fabrizio Gobbato, also own Augusto Pizzeria on Northgate Street.
The Lost Barn Coffee Roasters in Malpas:
This roastery won 2 stars for its Bloomsbury Espresso Blend and Ethiopia Haru, and also 1 star for both its Colombia La Leona and Brazil Bom Jesus Barrel-Aged Coffee. Blair McKerchar and his wife Jo are the talent behind The Lost Barn, a coffee roastery business which has been quietly scooping up awards since it opened. Their commitment to ethical sourcing, small-batch roasting, and sustainability is also a core part of their identity. Read our previous interview with the founders of Lost Barn Coffee here.
Bio&Me:
The UK’s fastest growing gut health food brand Bio&Me won four Great Taste Awards for products including its Original and Vanilla Kefir Drink, Low Sugar Naturally Granola, and Cocoa Hazlenut Oat Bar. The Chester-based company was founded by Dr Megan Rossi, known as ‘The Gut Health Doctor’ and Jon Walsh.
Elephant Roastery in Neston won 2 stars for its Elephant House Blend of coffee.
Judges said that the coffee, which is roasted in Neston, is ‘perfectly balanced with intense fruity notes and a gently syrupy viscosity’ and has ‘a hint of nuttiness on the nose, along with a clean almost minty herbaceous aroma’. Tash Bailey, Elephant’s Head of Coffee, said:
“We’re over the moon to share that our House Coffee has just scooped a coveted 2-star Great Taste Award – an accolade given to fewer than 10% of entries. It means the world to us, because it celebrates not just the flavour in your cup, but the passion, precision, and countless hours we pour into every roast – and it’s a big win for locally roasted coffee right here in Neston.”
Hill Farm Real Food in Tarporley:
Recognized for their Beef Bone Broth and Cultured Ghee with 2 stars each, this family-run, regenerative organic farm focuses on regenerative organic practices, 100% grass-fed cattle, and ethical, sustainable production methods.
Delamere Dairy, Knutsford:
A long-standing champion of goat milk products, dairy farmers Liz and Roger Sutton have received multiple accolades for their Goats’ Butter, Medium Goats’ Cheese, and Semi-skimmed Goats’ Milk, offering delicious alternatives for those with cow’s milk allergies or intolerances.
The Estate Dairy in Cheshire:
Awarded for their 10% Greek Style Yoghurt and Unsalted Cultured Butter, this B Corp certified dairy prioritizes quality, consistency, and sustainable practices like using large-format glass containers and refillable milk kegs. Shaun and Rebecca Young established The Estate Dairy in 2016, a family-run business located on the historic Cholmondeley Estate in Cheshire, focused on high-quality dairy farming.
Great Northern Spice
A Northwich-based spice company, was recognised for its Cape Malay Curry Blend, praised by judges for its ‘rounded spices working well together’ and its authentic natural flavour.
Crafty Bees in Warrington:
Their innovative Wildfire Hot Honey, made with organic wildflower honey and a blend of fresh chilies, has earned a Great Taste Award, appealing to consumers seeking unique and ethically sourced condiments.
Mobberley Ice in Mobberley:
Received a two-star award for their festive Mince Pie Ice Cream, handcrafted over three days using local, natural ingredients, demonstrating the success of innovative, locally sourced products.
Clotton Creamery, Tarporley:
The Cooke family, sixth generation farmers, won an award for their Fresh Vanilla Custard, made with free-range milk, British cream, and Madagascan vanilla, showcasing their commitment to luxury dairy products beyond their renowned clotted cream.
Mrs Darlington's in Crewe:
A long-established Cheshire producer, their Orange and Ginger Marmalade has earned an award, highlighting the enduring appeal of traditional, homemade preserves and the value of generational recipes.
Red Willow Brewery, Macclesfield:
While specifically recognized for their Breakfast Stout, RedWillow Brewery boasts a strong reputation and numerous Great Taste Awards across diverse styles like IPAs, lagers, and stouts.
13 Oaks Gin:
A small family-run craft distillery based in Wrenbury, won 1 star for its Pink Citrus Gin.
Great Taste is recognised as the most influential food and drink accreditation scheme in the world, not only because it was established over 30 years ago, but also for the robustness of its multi-layered review process.
The judging panel of over 500 industry experts, including chefs, critics, food technologists, retailers, food writers and other specialists, pored over each product over the course of 110 days.
Every entry is judged on its own merit as a standalone product and tasted completely blind. The judges consider flavour first and foremost, followed by appearance, aroma, texture and mouthfeel before it is determined whether the product warrants one of the famous black and gold seals of approval.
John Farrand, Managing Director of the Guild of Fine Food said: “Great Taste continues to play its part in international food and drink diplomacy.
“Whilst the world is in slight chaos, barriers continue to be broken down as our experts assessed entries from over 100 countries.
“Amongst the list of winners on our directory, you’ll find ingredients and products that should inform your menu, help stock the shelves in store or be a firm favourite in your kitchen cabinet.”
The products awarded a Great Taste 2025 3-star are entered into a further round of judging to establish nominations for the Golden Fork trophies, which means they are considered amongst the best in the world.
The Golden Forks will be announced at Battersea Arts Centre, London on 9 September when the Supreme Champion product for this year will also be revealed.
