Great Taste awards reveal Cornwall’s best food and drink in 2024

The Guild of Fine Food has released the results for Great Taste 2024 and Cornwall has won 27 awards, including 17 1-star, nine 2-star and one 3-star, the highest accolade available at this level. Nearly 3,500 companies from 115 countries around the world entered Great Taste this year, between them offering 13,672 products for review.

The UK entered 8,008 products from 2,528 companies. Each entry was meticulously blind-tasted by the Guild's expert judging panel of more than 500 food critics, chefs, recipe creators, buyers, retailers, and other specialists in the field of food and drink. Entries were analysed across 92 judging days, each receiving detailed feedback, on whether or not they obtained an award.

Winners from Cornwall include: Great Taste 3-star: Cornish Yarg from Lynher Dairies Cheese Company (www.lynherdairies.co.uk) Great Taste 2-star: Lindsay's Cranberry, Apple & Orange Marzipan Festive Pie from Tanglewood Kitchen (www.tanglewoodkitchen.co.uk) Great Taste 1-star: Monterey Gin from Helford River Distillery (www.montereygin.co.uk)

Only 1.9% of all entries (266 globally, 131 from the UK) received a 3-star award, given to 'delicious food and drink'. With 10.1%, 1,386 in total globally, being awarded 2 stars, 'above and beyond delicious' and 28.8%, 3,938 globally, being awarded 1-star, 'food and drink that delivers fantastic flavour'. Those who have received 3 stars went on to be judged in a further stage of the competition. The best of those 3 stars from each country or region have been nominated for a Golden Fork, an 'Oscar of the food and drink world'.

John Farrand, managing director of the Guild of Fine Food comments: "It's hugely important to us at the Guild to inject some positivity into the speciality food & drink industry. Given the economic headwinds that both independent retailers and small and medium producers are facing, the announcement of the 2024 crop of Great Taste stars is now an annual fillip for us all. It's not just excellence from the UK, but from across the world, as we celebrate the best from 115 countries. We're doing our bit for cultural relations across the planet when there is so much legislation trying to prevent it. It's a real privilege to support and underpin independent makers through the process of Great Taste."

The awards are globally recognised as a mark of excellence and are eagerly sought after by producers and food-lovers alike. For a full list of this year's 1-, 2-, and 3-star winners, and a guide on where to buy them, visit www.gff.co.uk/directory