The results are in for the highly anticipated Great Taste Awards 2025, and Welsh food and drink producers have once again demonstrated their exceptional quality on the global stage. Announced today, July 29th, by the Guild of Fine Food, this year’s awards saw a record-breaking 14,340 products from 110 countries vying for the prestigious accolades.
Wales truly held its own, with 428 products entered and an impressive 154 receiving awards. This includes 104 1-star awards, 41 2-star awards, and a fantastic 9 coveted 3-star awards, marking them as truly outstanding.
Among the Welsh winners making waves are:
- Môrish Seaweed Ale from Bragdy Cybi (www.bragdycybi.cymru) – a stellar 3-star recipient, proving that innovative flavours are hitting all the right notes.
- Anglesey Spring Wildflower Honey from Anglesey Bees (www.angleseybees.co.uk) – a sweet success with a 2-star award.
- Eyton Gold, Golden Ale from Magic Dragon Brewing (www.magicdragonbrewing.com) – earning a well-deserved 1-star.
The Great Taste Awards are renowned as the world’s most influential food and drink accreditation scheme, a reputation built over 30 years and reinforced by its incredibly rigorous judging process. A panel of over 500 industry experts, including chefs, critics, and food technologists, spent 110 days meticulously tasting each product blind. There’s no fancy packaging or brand names to influence them, just pure flavour, appearance, aroma, texture, and mouthfeel are considered.
Globally, 39.6% of entries received an accolade this year, but only a tiny 1.9% (273 products) achieved the highly sought-after 3-star award. This makes the Welsh 3-star winners even more commendable! Producers also receive invaluable feedback from the judges, helping them to continually refine and improve their products.
John Farrand, managing director of the Guild of Fine Food, highlighted the awards’ role in international food and drink diplomacy, noting how barriers are being broken down as experts assess entries from over 100 countries. He encouraged everyone to explore the list of winners, whether for their home kitchens or local Cardiff eateries.
For those truly exceptional 3-star products, the journey continues with nominations for the Golden Fork trophies, celebrating the best of the best. We’re especially proud to see these Welsh nominees in the running for the Great Taste Golden Fork from Wales:
- PGI Welsh Lamb Rolled Loin from Dolwen Welsh Lamb and Beef (www.dolwenlambandbeef.co.uk)
- Blackcurrant and Cassis Sorbet from Mario’s Luxury Dairy Ice Cream (www.mariosicecream.com)
- La Bouche from Seidr Ci Ddu (www.ciddu.co.uk)
The Golden Fork from Wales is proudly sponsored by Food and Drink Wales (gov.wales/foodanddrinkwales). The winners of the Golden Forks, including the Supreme Champion product for 2025, will be revealed at a grand event at Battersea Arts Centre, London, on September 9th.
It’s clear that Welsh produce is making its mark on the world, bringing a taste of our incredible local talent to a global audience. Why not seek out these award-winning Welsh delights in your local Cardiff shops and restaurants?