Great Taste Awards 2023: Powys brands pick up multiple stars

A number of Powys companies picked up the much-coveted stars for their well-loved produce.

The Great Taste Awards test food submitted to their panel of over 500 experts with a blind taste test without branding and packaging.

Hilltop Honey in Newtown took the most accolades and greeted the news by saying “shut the front door, we won four”.

The company won two stars each for its new Manuka honey range as well as a star for its Cut Comb Slab Honey, plus its Blueberry and Goji, and its Cranberry and Almond energy bars.

Winsbury Dairy in Montgomery was not far behind, picking up single stars for its double cream, its lemon and dill butter, and its tellicherry pepper and pink himalayan salt, while its salted butter picked up a double star.

Just over the border, Three Tuns Brewery in Bishop’s Castle, picked up the highest possible accolade being awarded three stars for their stout which got rated as “exquisite”.

OTHER NEWS:

• Legacy of Powys football club's chairman will live on as his vision is realised
• Powys woman admits inflicting grievous bodily harm after bottling victim in nightclub
• Powys man who shed 11 stone after kicking junk food addiction becomes pro boxer

Smaller independent brands were also recognised for their excellent work.

Hwgga Brew, a nano brewery in Llandrindod Wells was awarded two stars for their Out of Order Black IPA.

They welcomed the news on social media and said: “It’s been a long time coming, but Out Of Order has got its award, and it’s not one… but two stars. Less than 10 per cent of entries get these… and it was even nearly three ‘very nearly perfect’.”

Pantri Swsen in Caersws who have won multiple awards for its preserves picked up two-stars for their Welsh Sloe Berry Jelly which judges said was one “not to be missed”.

The award-winning Radnor Preserves also picked up another accolade for its Hand-Cut Radnor Three Fruit Marmalade which picked up a star from the judges.

Gasm Drinks in Newtown, who are well known for their appearance on the BBC show dragon’s den, picked up a star for their flagship Plum Gasm which is “a blend of prosecco and spirit fused with plum juice - rose gold colour, plum aroma with a hint of elderflower and zesty lemon thyme.”

Meanwhile, Bubbling Stove in Welshpool run by Seren Charrington-Hollins picked up a star for Seren's Decadent Chocolate Brownie.