- Sweet Success For Afon Mêl Mead -

Great Taste, the world’s most coveted food and drink awards, has announced its stars of 2019. Out of 12,772 products sent in from over 100 different countries, New Quay Honey Farm was awarded a 3-star Great Taste award, which means the product was described by judges as extraordinarily tasty for its Heather mead

Check out the judges comments

‘What an absolute delight .... "it's just like sitting in a bee hive" ... what a wondrous smell.   This is pure class - there's not one thing about this Mead that judges didn't love. From the smell ... right down to the finish. Well rounded, not too sweet. Judges wanted to keep drinking this and it was only 11:38 in the morning - how do you guys get through the day? We both agreed out goes the Pudding Wine and in comes the mead with the soft ewes cheese and crackers. Sublime.’

'An appealing pale gold in the glass and goodness what a heather honey nose - so powerful it speaks of heady summer meadow aromas after a downpour. Delightful and surprising delicacy on the palate, yet maintaining a resonant honey flavour. The length is extraordinary, with all those heady meadow flavours coming through again on the finish. Not cloying in any way, even at room temperature, but beautifully balanced when chilled. There's a very slight hint of pleasing, balancing bitterness. We agree this would be brilliant with cheese, particularly the likes of Stinking Bishop, something washed rind and rich - this really would be the absolute perfect complement, that light touch of acidity cutting through the richness. In fact, we think this is a brilliant expression of mead.'

'Full on delightful honey aroma to this pretty bright and clear mead. Smooth in the mouth with an impressive balance of sweetness and acidity and again with the richness of the honey shinning through. Delicious floral notes. We very much enjoyed the length of finish with the balance of flavours continuing and a great clean finish.'

Judged by over 500 of the most demanding palates, belonging to food critics, chefs, cooks, restaurateurs, buyers, retailers and producers, as well as a whole host of food writers and journalists, Great Taste is widely acknowledged as the most respected food accreditation scheme for artisan and speciality food producers. As well as a badge of honour, the unmistakeable black and gold Great Taste label is a signpost to a wonderful tasting product, which has been discovered through hours and hours of blind tasting by hundreds of judges.      

Sam Cooper, owner of Afon Mêl explains: ‘We decided to enter this year as we’re celebrating 20 years of mead making’. We’re over the moon to win two great taste awards. A 3 star for our Heather mead and a 1 star for our Medium Honey mead. This has added such value to our business.’

The panel of judges this year included; cook, writer and champion of sustainable food, Melissa Hemsley, Kenny Tutt, MasterChef 2018 champion, author, Olia Hercules, chef and food writer, Gill Meller, Kavi Thakar from Dishoom, food writer and stylist, Georgina Hayden and author and chef, Zoe Adjonyoh, as well as food buyers from Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason, Sourced Market and Partridges.