Heavenly jam earns Taste award
WEXFORD HOME PRESERVES has won a coveted three stars, gold award for their Simply Better Handmade Irish Blackcurrant Preserve made by them especially for Dunnes Stores.
The small family business - which is based in New Ross - was awarded nine stars in total, receiving one star gold award each for their Irish Raspberry Jam, Three Fruit Marmalade, No Added Sugar Irish Raspberry Jam, No Added Sugar Three Fruit Marmalade, Simply Better Handmade Irish Raspberry Jam and Simply Better Handmade Three Fruit Marmalade. They are among a number of Wexford food producers to trimph at the awards which are bestowed each year on the very best food and drink products from more than 10,000 entries. Only the world’s best producers are deemed worthy of the highest three star gold accolade. This year only 14 were selected from all Irish entries. Laura and Tom Sinnott and the team said they are over the moon at receiving this huge recognition.
They commented: ‘ This award is for our whole team here who all work so hard and make this company such a joy to be a part of. It is also for our growers. We stick to sourcing all possible ingredients from local suppliers. We have great faith in them – in the quality of their fruit and in their professionalism in supply – and they do not let us down.’
The company make their preserves by hand, using traditional artisan methods.
Great Taste Awards judges described Wexford Home Preserves blackcurrant jam as ‘food for the gods,’ adding that ‘ the blackcurrant flavour would smack you in the face’.
This month the Top 50 Foods will be announced at an awards ceremony in London.
Wexford Home Preserves recently won ‘Best in County’ at the prestigious Blas na hÉireann awards and are this year’s winners of Food Producer of the Year in Wexford, as well as winning at the Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards.
Other Wexford winners include Nat- urally Cordial, Zaeire Artisan Chocolates, Baldy & Doyle, O’Neills Dry Cure Bacon Company and WILD About and Wexford Home Preserves. Fancy Fungi Mushrooms were awarded a two star gold award for their Forest Mix and a two star gold award for their shiitake mushrooms, O’Neills Dry Cure Bacon Co. were awarded two stars for their Dry Cure Back Rashers, Wild About got two stars for their Raspberry Chilli Chutney and Naturally Cordial got two stars for their Lemon and Raspberry cordial.
Mr Jeffares Blackcurrants won two stars for their Irish Blackcurrants Cordial with No Added Sugar, Staffords Bakery won numerous awards and Carrigbyrne Farmhouse also had success.