Dorset food businesses have won more than 70 prizes as part of the Great Taste Awards 2023.

The awards were announced on Monday (July 31) after more than 500 judges took part in blind taste tests to rate the quality of food producers across the country.

More than 14,000 food and drink products from 109 countries were assessed over the course of 89 judging days in London and Dorset, and only 1.8% of them were awarded three stars.

The awards organised by the Guild of Fine Food will judge products made anywhere in the world.

Now in its 30th year, organisers say it is the largest global accreditation scheme for food and drink. 

In total, Dorset food businesses got 72 prizes, with six of those being an ultra-rare three stars.

Dorset Great Taste Awards 2023 winners

The prizes here are split into the businesses that got three, two or one stars, and the product they won the prize for.

Three stars

  • Capreolus Fine Foods Ltd - Dorset Coppa
  • Hollis Mead Organic Dairy - Hollis Mead Organic Truffled Benville
  • Dorset Pastry Ltd - Organic Fine Puff Pastry
  • Dorset Pastry Ltd - Premium Fine Puff Pastry
  • Dorset Pastry Ltd - Premium Shortcrust Pastry
  • Angel Cottage Organics - Organic Whole Chicken
  • The Wasabi Company - Sansho Spiced Rum
  • Woodlands Dairy Ltd. - Woodlands Dairy Organic Sheep Milk Yoghurt

Two stars

  • The Dorset Dairy Co - 3% Dorset Strained Yoghurt (The Strawberry Edition)
  • The Dorset Dairy Co - Dorset Strained Yoghurt (Whole Milk)
  • Chococo - 43% Colombia Oat M!lk Chocolate Gelato
  • Market Centre ltd - Banu Saffron
  • Market Centre ltd - Saffron Traders
  • Market Centre ltd - The Saffron House
  • The Cherry Tree - Cherry with Amaretto Extra Jam
  • The Cherry Tree - Passion Fruit Curd
  • Solkiki Chocolatemaker - Chuao 70
  • Solkiki Chocolatemaker - Chuncho 70% Dark Chocolate
  • Baboo Gelato Ltd - Lemon Sorbet
  • Hall and Woodhouse Ltd - Outland Milk Stout
  • Dorset Pastry Ltd - Premium Sweet Shortcrust Pastry
  • Capreolus Fine Foods Ltd - Rampisham Tingler salami
  • Capreolus Fine Foods Ltd - Smoked Mutton
  • Capreolus Fine Foods Ltd - Smoked Pancetta
  • The Dorset Sauce Company Ltd - The Dorset Sauce Company Béarnaise
  • The Real Cure Ltd - Truffle Salami

One star

  • Chococo - 47% Colombia origin milk chocolate
  • Chococo - 72% Ecuador origin dark chocolate
  • Chococo - Black Forest Gateau
  • Chococo - Tawny Port & Fig
  • Filthy Fit - Almond butter with garlic and cayenne
  • Hall and Woodhouse Ltd - Badger Master Stoat Coffee Stout
  • Pure Milk Vodka Ltd (Black Cow) - Black Cow Pure Milk Vodka
  • Black Ven Distillery Ltd - Black Ven Dark Rum
  • Baboo Gelato Ltd - Blackcurrant Ripple Gelato
  • Baboo Gelato Ltd - Blood Orange Sorbet
  • Baboo Gelato Ltd - Elderflower Sorbet
  • Baboo Gelato Ltd - Vegan Chocolate Gelato
  • The Book and Bucket Cheese Company - Blyton
  • The Book and Bucket Cheese Company - Wilde
  • The Book and Bucket Cheese Company - Wordsworth
  • BH FAMILY LTD- T/A Mezebag Baraca - Chilli Dip
  • Winfrith Bakery - Damson & Sloe Gin Mince Pie
  • Winfrith Bakery - Green Olive & Lemon Sourdough
  • Capreolus Fine Foods Ltd - Dorset Air-Dried Beef
  • Capreolus Fine Foods Ltd - Dorset Chorizo
  • Capreolus Fine Foods Ltd - Dorset Guanciale
  • Capreolus Fine Foods Ltd - Dorset Rosette salami
  • Capreolus Fine Foods Ltd - Uphall Farmhouse Air-Dried Ham
  • Purbeck Ice Cream - Ecuadorian Dark 72% Chocolate Bar with Natural Orange
  • The Dorset Ginger Company Ltd - Extra Strong Ginger with Cinnamon
  • The Dorset Ginger Company Ltd - Raspberry with a hint of ginger
  • Ajar Of - Five Fruit Marmalade
  • Corfe Castle Spirits LTD - Gloriette King's Cut Gin
  • Reads Coffee Roasters Limited - Limekiln Espresso
  • Meggy Moo's Dairy - Meggy Moo's Semi-Skimmed Milk
  • M’s Bakery ltd - Mini cheese scones
  • Dorset Shellfish - Mixed Crab Meat
  • Dorset Cereals Ltd. - Muesli Crunch Dark Choc & Hazelnut
  • L'Incontro Ltd - Olive Oil Crispy Focaccia Genovese
  • The Dorset Dairy Co - Original Drinking Kefir
  • The Dorset Dairy Co - Strawberry Drinking Kefir
  • Lizzie Baking Bird - Plum eccles
  • Sea Sisters Limited - Sea Sisters Cuttlefish in Ink
  • Sea Sisters Limited - Sea Sisters Salt Pollock
  • Sea Sisters Limited - Sea Sisters Smoked Rainbow Trout
  • The Wasabi Company - Shiso Gin
  • The Cherry Tree - Sweet & Spicy Garlic with Nigella Seeds Pickle
  • Tack Room Distillery Ltd - Tack Room Distillery Bison Grass Gin
  • Tack Room Distillery Ltd - Tack Room Distillery Contemporary London Dry Gin
  • Tack Room Distillery Ltd - Tack Room Distillery Rhubarb & Blood Orange Gin
  • Open Air Dairy - West Country Mature Cheddar

What do the stars mean?

Great Taste says that the products earning 1 star are "simply delicious" and they are "a food that delivers fantastic flavour – approximately 25% of entries will achieve this rating each year."

Those with 2 stars are "outstanding" and "above and beyond delicious – less than 10% of entries will achieve this rating."

Finally, those with 3 stars are "exquisite" and "extraordinarily tasty food and drink – around 2% of products are awarded 3-stars each year. Don’t leave the shop without buying it!"