FOOD and drink businesses from the Tivyside area are celebrating after picking up a string of accolades at the Great Taste Awards 2019.

Recognised as a stamp of excellence among consumers and retailers, Great Taste, organised by the Guild of Fine Food, values taste above all else, with no regard for branding or packaging.

Whether it is honey, kombucha, coffee or beer being judged, all products are removed from their packaging before being tasted. The expert panel of judges then savour, confer and re-taste to decide which products are worthy of a 1-, 2- or 3-star award.

And now, following 75 days of judging, the results have been released from a record-breaking 12,772 entries sent in from over 100 different countries.

Llandysul-based Da Mhile Distillery and Caws Teifi Cheese, at Glynhynod Farm led the way with an incredible seven awards for owner John Savage-Onstwedder,

On the drinks side, their apple brandy won a coveted 3* award, while their oak-aged gin took a 2* prize and seaweed gin 1*, along with a 1* for their Orange 33 liquer.

Their Celtic Promise Cheese (2*), Saval cheese (1*) and organic Welsh haloumi (1*) were also successful.

New Quay Honey Farm enjoyed the sweet taste of success with its Afon Mel heather mead taking a 3* crown which the judges described as “really impressive, crisp, balanced and rounded with an almost sherry-like dryness on the finish,” whiles medium honey mead a 1*.

Cardigan café/bar Crwst’s salted caramel sauce won a 1* award, while Allaways Coffee at Tanygroes took 1* awards for its Wake and Seadog coffee blends.

The final honours, including the Great Taste 2019 Supreme Champion, will be announced at the Great Taste Golden Fork Dinner on Sunday, September 1, in London.