Ireland's top hams, cheeses, ales and rashers: Winners of the Great Taste awards 2025 revealed
food
producers have taken 42 three-star awards in the 2025 Great Taste Awards, a bumper performance for the sector.
The three-star awards are the highest accolade in the respected competition, with this year's haul from producers in the Republic and the North substantially up on 34 in 2024.
This year saw a record number of entries, with more than 14,300 food and drink products submitted from 110 countries and assessed by a judging panel of more than 500 industry experts. The panel included chefs, critics, food technologists, retailers, food writers and other specialists. The judges spent 110 days poring over each product. Only 1.9 per cent of entrants received the Great Taste 2025 three-star award.
Ireland claimed 728 awards across one-, two- and three-star products. Companies in the Republic took 588, while 140 went to producers from the North. Although administered by the Dorset-based Guild of Fine Food, products made anywhere in the world can be entered for these awards, which organisers say represent the largest global accreditation scheme for food and drink. The organisers said there were several new locales in this year's cohort, including Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Rwanda, Serbia, the Seychelles and Zimbabwe,
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Judge Amy Poon applies her skill to deliberations. Photograph: Richard Faulks
Five entrants from the Republic secured three-star awards for more than one of their products.
Dunnes Stores
won for its Unsmoked Irish Boneless Whole Ham, Simply Better Austrian Organic Venediger-Taler, Simply Better Austrian organic Glockner-Taler, Simply Better French Brillat Savarin Affine AOC and Simply Better 14 Day Matured Irish Angus Fillet Sharing Steak.
Donegal-based Green Pastures was recognised for its Greek Yoghurt, 28 per cent Fat Soft Cheese. Creme Fraiche 30 per cent, 18 per cent Sour Cream and 25 per cent Sour Cream.
J & L Grubb Ltd won for its Cashel Blue and Crozier Blue.
Lidl
Ireland took the three stars for its Deluxe Unsmoked Silverside with Brown Sugar Glazing, Deluxe Irish Angus 3 Rib Roast on the Bone 40 Days Matured in Giftbox, 2 Deluxe Irish Duck Breasts with Garlic and Pepper and Deluxe Confit Duck Legs.
And
Musgrave
Retail Partners Ireland won for its
Supervalu
Smoked Thick Cut Rashers and Signature Tastes Smoked Rack of Bacon.
One entrant from the North secured three-star awards for more than one product. Antrim's Our Brewery was awarded three three-star awards for its Barrel Aged Wild Ale, Barrel Aged Keptinis Beer and Barrel Aged Oud Bruin Brown Ale.
Every year the products awarded a Great Taste 2025 three-star are entered into a further round of judging to establish nominations for the Golden Fork trophies. The Golden Forks will be announced at Battersea Arts Centre, London on September 9th when the Supreme Champion product for this year will also be revealed.
Judging cheeses. Photograph: Richard Faulks
The complete list of Great Taste one-, two- and three-star winners is available
here.
Three-star Great Taste Award winners based in the Republic
Achill Mountain Lamb: Achill Mountain Salt Marsh Lamb Rump in a Rosemary, Garlic and Sea Salt Marinade
Blackwater Honey: Blossom Honey
Bohó Nibz: Whiskey & Walnut Chocolate Bonbons
Boyne Valley Cheese: Boyne Valley Bán
Carlingford Oyster Company LTD: Louet Feisser No 2
Dunnes Stores: Unsmoked Irish Boneless Whole Ham, Simply Better Austrian Organic Venediger-Taler, Simply Better Austrian organic Glockner-Taler, Simply Better French Brillat Savarin Affine AOC and Simply Better 14 Day Matured Irish Angus Fillet Sharing Steak
Goatsbridge Fish Processors: Goatsbridge Hot Smoked Rainbow Trout Fillets
Green Pastures: Greek Yoghurt, 28% Fat Soft Cheese. Creme Fraiche 30%, 18% Sour Cream and 25% Sour Cream
Green Valley Farm t/a Killowen Yogurt: Killowen Farm Greek Style Blackcurrant Yogurt.
Huitre Du Connemara LTD: DK Connemara Oysters 'The Ladies Choice'
J & L Grubb Ltd: Cashel Blue and Crozier Blue
Lidl Ireland: Deluxe Unsmoked Silverside with Brown Sugar Glazing, Deluxe Irish Angus 3 Rib Roast on the Bone 40 Days Matured in Giftbox, 2 Deluxe Irish Duck Breasts with Garlic and Pepper and Deluxe Confit Duck Legs
McCabe's Coffee: Espresso 15
Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland: Supervalu Smoked Thick Cut Rashers and Signature Tastes Smoked Rack of Bacon
Olly's Farm: Heather Honey
OpenHive LTD: OpenHive Heather Honey Cut Comb
Silver Hill Duck: Silver Hill Duck Confit Legs
Sunshine Juice: Signature Tastes Freshly Squeezed Grapefruit Juice
Tara Gartlan Chocolate: Brown Butter Cake
The Farmhouse Bees & Trees Ltd: The Farmhouse Raw Ivy Blossom Honey
Toons Bridge Dairy: Toons Bridge Dairy Greek Style Buffalo Milk Cheese
Traditional Cheese Co Ltd: Deluxe Spanish Castellano PGI
Wexford Home Preserves: Handmade Wexford Blackcurrant Jam
Three-star Great Taste Award winners based in the North
Abernethy Butter: Cep Miso Butter
Basalt Distillery Ltd: Basalt Volcanic Rock Gin
Burren Balsamics: Blackberry & Thyme infused Balsamic Vinegar of Modena
Corndale Charcuterie: Corndale Farm Chorizo Picante
Kettyle Irish Foods: Kettyle Salt Moss Aged Ribeye Steak
Morelli Ice Cream: Morelli's Sicilian Pistachio Ice Cream
Our Brewery @ Geterbrewed Ltd: Barrel Aged Wild Ale, Barrel Aged Keptinis Beer and Barrel Aged Oud Bruin Brown Ale.
Rooney Fish: Millbay Oysters.
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