Big win for micro-roastery, as top notch shot hits the spot
Great Taste, the world’s most trusted food and drink awards, has reached its grand finale for 2020, with the Great Taste Golden Fork from the North of England presented to The Lost Barn Coffee Roasters from Tilston, Cheshire for its Bloomsbury Blend. Built on the site of a lost barn that was blown away during the catastrophic storm of January 1839, the micro-roastery produces small batch speciality coffee, tucked away in the grounds of a historic Cheshire estate. Blending naturally processed Mundo Novo beans from Brazil with washed Typica beans from Mexico, the winning espresso was described as “rich and well-rounded” by the Great Taste judges, who enjoyed its “chocolate and caramel notes with a hint of Biscoff biscuit flavour and a lovely nuttiness which develops into a bright and fresh acidity.” Having impressed at every stage of the blind-tasted judging process, as a record-breaking 12,777 entries were assessed over 14 weeks of remote judging and socially distanced judging sessions, the medium roast Bloomsbury Blend was celebrated as the best tasting product in the North during the virtual Great Taste Golden Fork award ceremony on Thursday 22 October. Taking place across the Guild of Fine Food’s social media channels and website, the online event brought together food lovers, producers, retailers, buyers and chefs to discover this year’s stars of food and drink, providing a vital boost for the industry as the nation moves towards the most important Christmas period in a generation. Held later in the year than usual, after the lockdown interrupted judging just one week into the schedule, the Golden Fork trophy announcements are the final instalment in a Great Taste calendar that has been reinvented at every stage, in order to stimulate much-needed consumer support for independent retail and hospitality over the challenging months ahead.
Great Taste, the world’s most trusted food and drink awards, has reached its grand finale for 2020, with the Great Taste Golden Fork from the North of England presented to The Lost Barn Coffee Roasters from Tilston, Cheshire for its Bloomsbury Blend. Built on the site of a lost barn that was blown away during the catastrophic storm of January 1839, the micro-roastery produces small batch speciality coffee, tucked away in the grounds of a historic Cheshire estate. Blending naturally processed Mundo Novo beans from Brazil with washed Typica beans from Mexico, the winning espresso was described as “rich and well-rounded” by the Great Taste judges, who enjoyed its “chocolate and caramel notes with a hint of Biscoff biscuit flavour and a lovely nuttiness which develops into a bright and fresh acidity.” Having impressed at every stage of the blind-tasted judging process, as a record-breaking 12,777 entries were assessed over 14 weeks of remote judging and socially distanced judging sessions, the medium roast Bloomsbury Blend was celebrated as the best tasting product in the North during the virtual Great Taste Golden Fork award ceremony on Thursday 22 October. Taking place across the Guild of Fine Food’s social media channels and website, the online event brought together food lovers, producers, retailers, buyers and chefs to discover this year’s stars of food and drink, providing a vital boost for the industry as the nation moves towards the most important Christmas period in a generation. Held later in the year than usual, after the lockdown interrupted judging just one week into the schedule, the Golden Fork trophy announcements are the final instalment in a Great Taste calendar that has been reinvented at every stage, in order to stimulate much-needed consumer support for independent retail and hospitality over the challenging months ahead.
The Times Top50 2020 Awards
Great Taste 2020 judges (Photo:Great Taste)
There are some truly delicious looking products on the winning list this year, including three-star coffee and a 'rich, malty and warming' craft beer.
Great Taste are regarded as one of the world’s most trusted food and drink awards - if you see their coveted logo on any products, you know it will be delicious. Out of a massive 12,777 entries only 42% were awarded with a Great Taste accolade- 459 of which are based in Northern England alone.
There are some truly delicious looking products on the winning list this year, including three-star coffee and a 'rich, malty and warming' craft beer.How is food rated?
This year’s food, drinks and treats were found by a group of judges who have been putting their tastebuds to the test since the first week of lockdown. Awards are based on a variety of factors, from the texture and appearance to the quality of ingredients.
3-star: Extraordinarily tasty foods – only around 1.5% of products are awarded a 3-star each year – don’t leave the shop without buying it!
2-star: Above and beyond delicious – 10% of entries will achieve this rating
1-star: A food that delivers fantastic flavour. Approximately 30% of entries will achieve this rating each year.
Cheshire’s Great Taste winners
There was only one three-star winner in Cheshire this year- and that honour went to The Lost Barn Coffee Roasters for their Bloomsbury Blend.
The judges applauded this “rich and well-rounded” blend of naturally processed Mundo Novo beans from Brazil and washed Typica beans from Mexico, enjoying the coffee’s “chocolate and caramel notes with a hint of Biscoff biscuit flavour and a lovely nuttiness which develops into a bright and fresh acidity.”
Great Taste Golden Fork nominations
A VILLAGE-BASED artisan coffee producer has been nominated for a prestigious prize.
The Lost Barn Coffee Roasters in Tilston, Cheshire, is in the running to win Great Taste's Golden Fork trophy for the northern region. The business has been nominated for its popular 'Bloomsbury Blend' product, which has recently been awarded the highest rated, three-star Great Taste accolade.
Run by husband and wife team Blair and Jo McKerchar along with business partner Martyn Moloney, The Lost Barn Coffee Roasters was set up in 2018 and has built a strong reputation for their speciality coffee.
Great Taste, which is widely acknowledged as the most respected food accreditation scheme for artisan and speciality food producers, received a record-breaking 12,777 entries – judged over 14 weeks – for its one to three star rated awards.
Recipients of awards from across the UK and Ireland have now been whittled down into regional nominees for the Golden Fork trophies.
The winners are set to be announced during a virtual ceremony on Thursday, October 22, taking place across the Guild of Fine Food’s social media channels and website.
Beginning at 10am with the first regional trophy, the Golden Fork winners will be revealed at 30 minute intervals throughout the day, building up to the announcement of the Great Taste Supreme Champion 2020 at 6pm.
A host of Great Taste supporters and judges will reveal the winners, with a line-up including food writer and cook Xanthe Clay, baker and author Martha Collison, wine writer and presenter Jane Parkinson, food and drink broadcaster Nigel Barden, and James Golding, Chef Director of THE PIG hotel group.
A VILLAGE-BASED artisan coffee producer has been nominated for a prestigious prize.
