Great Taste Stars Shine for The Artisan Kitchen

Nine Great Taste Awards recognise the flavour and craftsmanship of The Artisan Kitchen’s small-batch preserves in 2016

The Artisan Kitchen in Gloucester celebrated another wonderful year of recognition at the Great Taste Awards 2016, the world’s most respected blind-tasted food competition.

From more than 10,000 entries, our small-batch marmalades and jams earned five one-star awards and four two-star Great Taste Awards.

These awards recognise flavour above everything else. Judges evaluate each product through blind tasting, meaning only taste, balance and craftsmanship influence the results.

Each star therefore represents both creativity and a deep respect for the craft of preserving.

A diverse range of award-winning preserves

The 2016 awards recognised a wide range of inventive marmalades and jams from The Artisan Kitchen collection.

Among the winners were Seville Orange Aperol Marmalade and Seville Orange Moonshine Marmalade, both celebrated for their bold citrus flavour and distinctive character.

Summer Fruit Vanilla Jam also gained recognition, bringing together ripe seasonal fruit and gentle vanilla warmth in a beautifully balanced preserve.

Other award-winning creations included Sweet Orange Sea Buckthorn Marmalade, Sweet Orange Espresso Marmalade and Leafy Lemon Limoncello Marmalade.

The judging panel also recognised West Country Cider Sweet Orange Marmalade, West Country Cider Seville Orange Marmalade and Sicilian Grappa Sweet Orange Marmalade for their imaginative flavour combinations.

Judged by experts from across the food world

More than five hundred judges took part in the Great Taste tastings that year. The panel included chefs, critics, food writers and buyers from leading retailers.

Every entry was blind tasted several times before a final decision was made. Because branding and packaging are removed, judges focus purely on flavour and quality.

The distinctive black and gold Great Taste badge therefore acts as a trusted signpost for customers and retailers looking for genuinely exceptional food.

“I’m absolutely thrilled with the news. The Great Taste Awards are a fantastic stamp of approval for our innovative products and a testament to the quality ingredients we love to use.”

Sarah Churchill, Founder of The Artisan Kitchen

Why Great Taste matters

Great Taste has become one of the most respected food awards in the world because it focuses entirely on flavour.

Judges never see packaging or branding. Instead, they taste every product blind and discuss the results carefully before awarding stars.

In 2016 only 141 products achieved the rare three-star rating. Meanwhile, 878 received two stars and 2,520 earned one-star recognition.

The judging panel included respected figures such as Valentine Warner, Charles Campion, Tom Herbert of Hobbs House Bakery and Frances Quinn, winner of The Great British Bake Off.

Buyers from Harrods, Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason and Waitrose also took part, alongside chefs from THE PIG Hotels and HIX Restaurants.

Continuing the artisan tradition

For The Artisan Kitchen, these nine awards reinforce the importance of careful small-batch preserving.

Every jar begins with thoughtfully sourced fruit and develops slowly through patient cooking and creative flavour pairing.

Explore the full collection of handmade jams and marmalades to taste the difference for yourself.