press release
Ummera Smoked Products is among the Great Taste winners of 2020
Great Taste, the world’s most trusted food and drink awards, has announced its stars of 2020. Out of 12,777 products sent in from 106 different countries, Ummera Smoked Products in Ireland was awarded a 3-star Great Taste award, which means the product was described by judges as extraordinarily tasty for its Smoked Organic Irish Salmon.
Judged by 144 of the most discerning palates, belonging to food critics, chefs, cooks, restaurateurs, buyers, retailers and producers, as well as food writers and journalists, Great Taste is the most coveted of all food and drink awards. As well as a badge of honour, the unmistakeable black and gold Great Taste label is a signpost to an outstanding product, which has been discovered through hours and hours of blind tasting.
This year’s winners have been found through a combination of remote judging and socially distanced judging sessions, after the lockdown began just one week into the schedule. This necessitated a swift and comprehensive reinvention of the Great Taste process to ensure that robust judging standards were maintained and the quality of feedback was not compromised, all in time to provide a much-needed boost for food and drink producers during the all-important Christmas period.
Anthony Creswell, MD of Ummera Smokehouse explains: Seventeen years ago we were awarded a Silver 2 Star for our Smoked Organic Salmon, then Ten years ago in 2000 we were seriously honoured to be awarded a 3 Star Gold and a Golden Fork for our Smoked Silverhill Duck Breasts, and so we thought that ten years on we should enter again. And now we can put the 3 Star Gold logo on our smoked salmon! A couple of comments from the judges:
“Lovely texture, great mouthfeel, moist but in no way greasy, and a level of smoke that is measured to perfection. The salt level is also spot-on - in no way intrusive, its presence detected but only serving to lift and enhance the flavour and honesty of the fish. As one judge commented, 'as good a piece of smoked salmon as I've had in years.”
“This smoked salmon has a deep brownish orange colour and a smokey nutty wood aroma. The flesh is tender, creamy and rich in the mouth and the fish is moist but not flabby or greasy. There is a lovely natural fruity sweetness and a pleasant amount of salt that helps to brighten, lift and accentuate the fish's flavour. The fish is buttery and rich and has maintained plenty of clean minerality . The smoke brings a richness and fruitiness although is possibly a little too intense - some found a hint of acrid bitterness. Over all however this is fine piece of fish that has been well smoked.”
“A simple description for a product that delivers glorious flavours. This smoked salmon has been treated with great care, skill and precision. There is just the right level of smoke. It is rich but light, enhancing not dominating the fish. The salmon has an excellent texture, meaty and full of flavour. The salt is perfectly balanced, adding depth to a product that provides everything you could ask for in smoked farmed salmon.”
Recognised as a stamp of excellence among consumers and retailers alike, Great Taste values taste above all else, with no regard for branding and packaging. Whether it is cake, coffee, kippers or kombucha being judged, all products are removed from their wrapper, jar, box or bottle before being tasted. The judges then savour, confer and re-taste to decide which products are worthy of a 1-, 2- or 3-star award.
There were 12,777 entries into Great Taste this year and of those products, 205 have been awarded a 3-star, 1,294 received a 2-star and 3,818 were awarded a 1-star accolade. The panel of judges this year included; cook, writer and champion of sustainable food, Melissa Hemsley, cook, writer, stylist and voice of modern vegetarian cooking, Anna Jones, celebrated Spanish chef, José Pizarro, Kavi Thakrar from Dishoom, food writer and cook, Xanthe Clay, and baker and author, Martha Collison, as well as food buyers from Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason and Waitrose. These esteemed palates have together tasted and re-judged the 3-star winners to finally agree on the Golden Fork Trophy recipients and the Great Taste 2020 Supreme Champion.
Great Taste 2020 will reach its exciting finale on October 22nd, when the Golden Fork trophy winners and the Great Taste Supreme Champion 2020 are announced at the virtual Great Taste Golden Fork awards event. And, you've guessed it, Ummera are in the final three for Ireland!
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Date: 7th October 2020
For more information:
Anthony Creswell
info@ummera.com +353 23 8846644
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