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, Forthay Granola was awarded a 1-star Great Taste award, which means judges dubbed it a food that delivers fantastic flavour for its Honey, Nuts & Cranberries Granola.
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.
Deborah Lamplugh, Owner and Founder explains:
“A huge big thank you to all of our guests at Forthay Bed & Breakfast that persuaded me to market and sell Forthay Granola to more than those around our breakfast room tables. We go to great lengths to ensure not only is our granola delicious and tasty, but also nutritious, gluten-free and does not contain any sugar or additives. Each bag is freshly made and home-baked from our farmhouse kitchen.
It is a huge honour to receive this award from Great Taste and such incredible feedback, We are a new business based in Gloucestershire born from the Lockdown. Great Taste provides a fantastic opportunity to receive valuable feedback from professionals in the industry to further improve, as well as recognition for a great tasting product. I hope it is the first of many.”
The Judges Comments:
“This looks and tastes like home made granola – a really good variety of seeds, fruit and nuts, generously cut. There are good sized pieces of coconut, almonds and other nuts and soft juicy dried fruit. Everything tastes fresh and lightly handled. With or without milk, it is crunchy and full of flavour. The honey gives just the right amount of sweetness added to the fruit.”
“Generously packed granola with a balanced coconut and nutty aroma. Good sized pieces of mixed fruit. The appearance is attractive, with well toasted pieces of coconut and oats. The oats retain a good crunch, even in milk, and the level of sugar is well balanced, not oversweet, and complemented by quality and juicy fruit and crunchy nuts. We thought this was delicious.”
“Wonderful looking granola packed with a quality array of ingredients. There is a good crunch which releases an interesting array of flavours from the well handled, oats, fruit, nuts and seeds to produce a very satisfying enjoyable granola. The oats are particularly tasty.”
