The best products from the North East have been picked out by judges in the Great Taste Awards 2021.
This year, 355 expert judges including chefs, critics, restaurateurs, and buyers from the likes of Fortnum and Mason and Selfridges chose from tens of thousands of products to name the Great Taste Award winners.
Winners are split into three categories: 1 Star, 2 Star and 3 Star. The award-winning producers get the right to add the Great Taste Award's "stamp of excellence" logo to their packaging.
Read more:Tynemouth Food Festival returns this weekend
This year, 14,113 products were entered from 108 countries, which were whittled down to 5,383 winners. Of those, 4,027 were awarded 1 star for "A food that delivers fantastic flavour."
There are 1,138 2-star winners, for products that are "above and beyond delicious", while 218 achieved a 3-star Great Taste Award for "Extraordinarily tasty foods".
We've gone through the 2021 Great Taste Award winners list to single out producers from Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and County Durham. The region has three 3-star winners: Burtree Puddings, based in Darlington; Travelling Bee, a honey company from Gateshead; and Di Meo's, the Whitley Bay-based ice cream, sorbet and gelato makers who won a three-star award for their Pistacchio Gelato.
Great Taste award winners 2021
Below are the Great Taste Award 2021 winners from Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and County Durham.
The winners are named, along with the product which earned the Great Taste Award, what type of product it is and a brief description from the producer.
Ice creams, beers, teas, coffees, cheeses and jams are among the Great Taste Award winners from the North East this year.
3 Star Winners
Burtree Puddings, Darlington, County Durham
Sticky Toffee Pudding & Sticky Toffee Sauce
- Sticky Pudding - warm indulgent artisan sticky pudding made with free-range eggs double cream butter - no additives - light with a rich sauce
- www.burtreepuddings.co.uk
Travelling Bee Company, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear
Scottish Heather Honeycomb Section
- Scottish Heather Comb
- Honey in its purest form. Natural, and unprocessed Scottish Heather Honeycomb.
- www.travellingbee.co.uk
Di Meo's Ice Cream, Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear
100% Pure Bronte Pistacchio Gelato
- 100% pure Bronte pistachios from the fertile slopes of Sicily’s Mount Etna transformed in small batches by us into a sinfully nutty, sublime gelato.
- www.dimeos.co.uk
2 Star Winners
Teesdale Cheesemakers Limited, Bishop Auckland, County Durham
Ronnie
- North Waxed Cows Cheese
- A white dales style cheese that is cut and waxed at a week old then matured slowly for ten weeks to increase acidity and deepen the flavour.
- www.teesdalecheesemakers.co.uk
Northumbrian Pantry, Hexham, Northumberland
Hannah Glasse's Paco Lilla
- Piccalilli / Indian Relish
- Inspired from an 18th Century piccalilli recipe. Cauliflower,Courgette,Carrot,Shallot,Pepper,Green Beans,Cabbage. Briefly blanched for added crunch, cooked in small batches. Honey brings sweetness with mustard, turmeric, cumin, coriander spices.
- www.northumbrianpantry.com
Estate Tea Co, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear
Kukicha Sencha
- Japanese green tea
- Kukicha Sencha is a Japanese green tea produce by the renowned Otsuka Tea Gardens in Shizuoka, Japan. It is made from a 50/50 split of shade-grown stems and leaves. Expect an aroma of ripe mango, with a juicy flavour and umami finish.
- www.estateteaco.co.uk
Travelling Bee Company, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear
Scottish Heather Honey
- Honey
- From the wild heather moors of Argyll Scotland. Often considered the King of honey. Naturally harvested, a beautifully scented colourful and full-bodied honey.
- www.travellingbee.co.uk
Urban Future Farm Ltd (TA Belle & Herbs Farm), Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear
Yellow Kraut
- Sauerkraut with pineapple
- Vibrant Sauerkraut made in micro-batches with all fresh ingredients with white cabbage, pineapple, ginger, fresh turmeric and sea salt, naturally slow-fermented, using no dried cultures. Sour, sweet and complex, provides an easy zesty, healthy side.
- www.belleandherbs.farm
Di Meo's Ice Cream, Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear
Mascarpone and Amarena Cherry Gelato
- Ice cream/gelato
- Locally sourced milk and cream combined with mascarpone cheese to our special gelato recipe and frozen in an old fashioned vertical ice cream machine then rippled with a tangy Amarena cherry variegato.
- www.dimeos.co.uk
1 Star Winners
McColl's Brewery, Bishop Auckland, County Durham
Let's Eat Pies and Talk About Men's Mental Health
- Beer
- A traditional Bitter with a twist..... Cold filtered through a blend of crushed Black and White Pepper purposefully created to perfectly accompany a lush pie. A full-body, a long bitterness is accompanied by delicate spicy, pepper notes.
- mccollsbrewery.co.uk
Screaming Chimp Chilli Sauce Ltd, Witton Gilbert, County Durham
Chimpotle
- A smokey chilli sauce
- It's a natural, vegan-friendly, medium heat pouring chilli sauce, no additives, using fresh chillies. It is smokey due to using Chipotle and has a unique blend of spices and is sweetened with a little maple syrup.
- www.screamingchimp.com
Wiga Wagaa Chilli's, Consett, County Durham
Jerk BBQ Sauce
- This Jerk BBQ sauce is ideal for barbecuing ribs, steaks, pork, chicken, vegetables, fish and seafood. Use it to marinate before barbecuing and to baste while cooking.
- www.wigawagaa.com
Dip 'N' Pour, Thornaby, County Durham
Dip 'N' Pour Vegan Hot
- Cooking and condiment sauce
- Vegan Hot Sauce, Tomato curry based, gluten-free, no added salt and sugar, no artificial preservatives, incl. onions, chillies, veggies and turmeric. Secret ingredients make the sauce very unique & versatile to eat hot & cold.
Teesdale Cheesemakers Limited, Bishop Auckland, County Durham
Teesdale Blue
- Blue Cheese
- Mould ripened blue-veined semi-soft cheese made with cow's milk from the family farm. Gravity-fed and slow pasteurised to maintain the high butter hence the yellow hue and creamy taste. Small batches made (300 litres). Hand pricked over 400 times.
- www.teesdalecheesemakers.co.uk
Parlourmade Cheese, Mordon, County Durham
Mordon Old Mouse
- Cheese
- A traditional farmhouse cheddar style cheese made with unpasteurised milk from our own herd of cows. Cloth bound and matured for at least 9 months, this cheese develops a full flavour and is best served at room temperature.
- www.parlourmade.co.uk
Burtree Puddings, Darlington, County Durham
Rich Chocolate Pudding & Belgian Chocolate Sauce
- Sticky Pudding - warm
- Indulgent Artisan Sticky Pudding made with free-range eggs, Belgian chocolate, double cream and butter - no additives - light with a rich oozy Belgian chocolate sauce
- www.burtreepuddings.co.uk
Burtree Puddings, Darlington, County Durham
Lemon Posset
- Chilled fresh lemon dessert
- Handmade Artisan Old English Fresh Lemon Cream Dessert
- www.burtreepuddings.co.uk
Beau's Ice Cream, Peterlee, County Durham
Strawberry Gelato
- Gelato
- Strawberry gelato made from real whole strawberries and a twist of lemon. No artificial colours/flavours/preservatives. Created in small batches based on Italian techniques.
- www.beaus-icecream.com
Beau's Ice Cream, Peterlee, County Durham
Praline Gelato
- Gelato
- Hazelnut praline gelato. No artificial colours/flavours/preservatives. Made in small batches, based on traditional Italian techniques.
- www.beaus-icecream.com
Beau's Ice Cream, Peterlee, County Durham
Raspberry Ripple Gelato
- Gelato
- Vanilla bean gelato with raspberry fruit coulis swirled through. No artificial colours/flavours/preservatives. Made in small batches, based on traditional Italian techniques.
- www.beaus-icecream.com
Beau's Ice Cream, Peterlee, County Durham
Chocolate Chip Gelato
- Gelato
- Chocolate gelato with dark chocolate flecks. No artificial colours/flavours/preservatives. Made in small batches, based on traditional Italian techniques.
- www.beaus-icecream.com
M*lkman, Peterlee, County Durham
Gluten-Free Organic Oat Milk
- Alternative milk
- Our gluten-free organic oat milk is produced in the UK using gluten-free Scottish oats and British ingredients. The product is suited to a wide range of applications, sold in a reusable glass bottle.
- www.mlkman.com
Coffee & Kin, Alnwick, Northumberland
Coffee & Kin Discover Coffee Capsules
- Coffee capsule
- Compostable & plastic-free coffee capsule packed with 100% arabica speciality grade roasted coffee. Enjoy hints of spicy pepper & chocolate from India; honey, orange & apricot from Nicaragua; and delectable cookies & brown sugar from El Salvador.
- www.coffeeandkin.co.uk
Coffee & Kin, Alnwick, Northumberland
Coffee & Kin Explore Coffee Capsules
- Coffee capsule
- Compostable & plastic-free coffee capsule, packed with 100% arabica speciality grade roasted coffee. Enjoy hints of honey, roasted hazelnut & orange from Honduras & dark chocolate, caramel & raspberry from Brazil. It has a tropical fruit aftertaste.
- www.coffeeandkin.co.uk
Northumbrian Pantry, Hexham, Northumberland
Blackcurrant Jam with Juniper
- Blackcurrant Jam
- Blackcurrant jam cooked in small batches by hand with the dried juniper berries offering subtle notes of pine.
- www.northumbrianpantry.com
Buston Oils t/a Baste & Bray, Morpeth, Northumberland
Baste & Bray Rapeseed Oil
- Rapeseed Oil
- Cold-pressed rapeseed oil, natural flavour, no added ingredients. Filtered once from single-variety rapeseed grown on our farm. Small batch production.
- Baste & Bray on Facebook
Northumbrian Pantry, Hexham, Northumberland
Spiced Beetroot and Apple Chutney
- Chutney
- Beetroot, apples and onions cooked in small batches with red wine vinegar and a blend of ginger, coriander seeds, allspice, caraway seeds, and dried chilli. Sweet and earthy flavours with the dried chilli providing a warm finish.
- www.northumbrianpantry.com
The Proof of the Pudding, Alnwick, Northumberland
Hot Pudding
- Genuinely homemade sticky toffee pudding with dates and toasted pecan pieces and topped with a rich toffee sauce and toasted pecan pieces. Made with local dairy products and free-range eggs. No additives.
- www.theproofofthepudding.co.uk
Black Storm Brewery, Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear
Black Storm Pilsner
- Craft Lager
- A light crisp straw-coloured Czech style pilsner. Modest to firm in bitterness with a gently floral finish imparted by the single Saaz hop load.
- www.blackstormbrewery.com/
Estate Tea Co, Newcastle, Tyne & Wear
Earl Grey
- Naturally flavoured black tea
- Our own bespoke blend of Ceylon and Assam teas, flavoured with natural bergamot oil and cornflower petals for the classic look and taste of Earl Grey. Expect a vibrant floral bergamot aroma in the cup and a low astringency from the blended tea base.
- www.estateteaco.co.uk
Traidcraft, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear
Traidcraft Organic Mexican Blossom Set Honey
- Mexican Set Honey
- This Fairtrade floral and subtly spicy set organic honey is harvested at the smallholder farmer cooperative Flor de Campanilla in Mexico. This group harvest distinctively spicy honey in the forests of Lacandona, in the highlands of Oaxaca
- www.traidcraftshop.co.uk
Jeans Jams, Newcastle, Tyne & Wear
Passion Fruit Curd
- A handmade passion fruit curd.
- www.jeansjams.co.uk
Urban Future Farm Ltd (TA Belle & Herbs Farm), Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear
Kimchi
- Fermented Napa Cabbage
- Authentic recipe Kimchi in micro-batches with (all fresh) Napa cabbage, mouli, pear, spring onion, ginger, garlic, Korean chilli, sea salt, rice flour, kombu, fish sauce, our own fermented prawn & sesame. Naturally fermented without added cultures
- www.belleandherbs.farm
J & H B Ibbitson, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear
'Best of Both' Pork & Beef Sausage
- Pork & Beef Sausage
- A mix of grass-fed Aberdeen Angus beef and Scottish outdoor reared pork with our own blend of herbs & seasoning.
- www.ibbitsons.com
Beckleberry's Ltd, Blaydon, Tyne & Wear
Hazelnut Choux Royale
- Hazelnut ganache choux bun
- Large choux bun filled with whipped hazelnut and chocolate ganache
- www.beckleberrys.co.uk
Di Meo's Ice Cream, Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear
Di Meo's Traditional Vanilla Gelato
- Vanilla Gelato
- Our trademark vanilla gelato. Freshly sourced milk and double cream from local dairy farms churned in small batches to our family recipe and frozen in an old fashioned "vertical" ice cream machine.
- www.dimeos.co.uk
Di Meo's Ice Cream, Whitley Bay
Single Origin Sao Thome Dark Chocolate Gelato
- Single-origin cocoa made with the Amelonado cocoa bean varieties from the island Sao Thomé combined with locally sourced Northumberland milk and cream churned in an old fashioned vertical ice cream machine.
- www.dimeos.co.uk
Di Meo's Ice Cream, Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear
Real Strawberry Fruit Gelato
- Strawberry Gelato
- Fresh Northumberland strawberries churned in small batches with double cream from local dairy farms to produce a mouth-watering gelato that has a 50% fruit content.
- www.dimeos.co.uk
Di Meo's Ice Cream, Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear
Gingerbread Gelato
- Fresh milk and cream combined with spicy ginger and churned in small batches to our gelato recipe and frozen in an old fashioned "vertical" ice cream machine, then ripple with a homemade gingerbread variegato.
- www.dimeos.co.uk
Traidcraft, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear
Traidcraft Organic Fusilli Pasta
- Organic Fusilli Pasta
- This is truly high-quality organic fusilli pasta, made with durum wheat and 20% Fairtrade quinoa flour from small regional co-operatives in Bolivia. It's cultivated at an altitude of 12,000 feet near the largest salt lake in the world.
- www.traidcraftshop.co.uk
The award organisers say: " Every Great Taste award-winning product will now be able to display the unmistakable black and gold logo, a stamp of excellence that is recognised by retailers and consumers alike. A wide range of these winning products are already available to buy in delis, farm shops and independent retail outlets across the country."
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