Cantinho das Aromáticas Wins at the Great Taste Awards 2014

Luís Alves quarta-feira, setembro 03, 2014 Add Comment Edit

This year we have already earned one Gold medal and two Silver medals at the Portuguese National Competition for Salt, Aromatic Herbs and Traditional Condiments, with several of our products. When we entered the biggest and most prestigious global competition for food products (the Oscars of food products), The Great Taste Awards 2014, we did so with the hope of attaining a few awards, as we were certain that the herbs we produce can stand among the best in the world.

Truly surprising was the fact that we won the highest award in this competition, to which only a very few can aspire!!! Our Reserve Lot Lemon Verbena, by winning 3 Stars, is among the 153 best food products in the world!!! Our Reserve Lot Lemongrass also was awarded One Star.

To understand the magnitude of winning this award, it is important to understand the criteria for evaluating and awarding the 3 stars:

1 Star – Close to perfect, a virtually faultless food

2 Stars – Faultless, outstanding

3 Stars – Exquisite! Wow! Taste that!

From among 10,000 products entered to the Great Taste 2014 competition, 3 Stars were awarded to only 153 products in various categories, by a panel of extremely talented judges, including: Charles Champion, MasterChef and food critic; Sheila Dillon, journalist and BBC presenter; Frances Quinn, the grand champion of The Great British Bake-Off; Natalie Coleman, MasterChef 2013; the buyers responsible for the Food Halls of Harrods, Fortnum & Mason, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Whole Food Markets; and chefs including 1-Star Michelin Chef Russell Brown.

It is important to understand that the judges for the Great Taste Awards do not judge the branding or packaging of the company. They had access only to the product (with nothing to reveal the brand), concentrating on the flavour, quality, texture and appearance of the product for evaluation.

Only when there is consensus is a prize awarded – which means at least 16 judges tasted each accredited product. In order to obtain 3 Stars, all of the judges (which could be up to 40 specialists) must agree unanimously that what they are tasting has that indescribable “wow!” factor.

This year, only two Portuguese products achieved 3 Stars!!! Among all the award-winning products in the category from various countries, we are the only company that produces its own herbs from seed to final product. Furthermore, since the start of the Great Taste Awards in 1994, it is rare that a company competing for the first time for these awards wins 3 Stars.

There is no better way of recognising our project and the tireless work of the team we have created here at Cantinho das Aromáticas, together with all the research and knowledge we have shared with others. We are a case study in Portugal and we are already a part of the recent history of Portuguese agriculture because of our work with farmers.

Most of those who follow our project love our image, our packaging, and our productive garden. What we like even better, they also tell us we are good at communicating what we do. Nevertheless, this award demonstrates once more that, above all, we are excellent farmers!!! We take the greatest care in understanding and tending the garden eco-system and in practical farming techniques, always holding a holistic vision of aromatic plant production. The vindication of all this work is supported by this tremendous international recognition. We are proudly one more group of Portuguese who love and are very good at what we do.

With this award, we hope to take a prominent place in the best stores in the world for food products of the highest quality. But above all, we love to keep you company there in your house, in the kitchen, at the dinner table, in your infusion when you wake in the morning, or at night to give you pleasure and inspire your dreams.

Lemon verbena, Reserve Lot wins 3 stars at Great Taste Awards 2014. It has already earned one Silver medal at the Portuguese National Competition for Salt, Aromatic Herbs and Traditional Condiments 2014. You can buy it here.