The Barbados Investment & Development Corporation (BIDC) congratulates Wyndhams Bajan Coffee Roasters for being internationally awarded a 2-star Great Taste award by industry experts for its Soup Bowl coffee blend. The 2-star rating (out of a possible 3 stars) ranks this local brand’s coffee as “…above and beyond delicious”.
Great Taste, the world’s most trusted food and drink awards, is recognised as a stamp of excellence among consumers and retailers alike. Great Taste values taste above all else. 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.
Out of 12,777 products submitted from 106 different countries, Wyndhams - Bajan Coffee Roasters was awarded a 2-star Great Taste award, which means judges dubbed it as “Outstanding” for its Soup Bowl coffee blend. Named after the iconic surf break in Barbados and part of the Wyndhams Surf Series of coffee blends, the judges were impressed by Soup Bowl’s “uniform roast, wonderful berry fruit notes that are expertly balanced with a darker, toasty milk chocolate flavour and long finish...” Of the 12,777 entries into Great Taste, 205 were awarded a 3-star rating, 1,294 received 2-stars and 3,818 were awarded a 1-star accolade.
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 unmistakable black and gold Great Taste label is a signpost to an outstanding product, which has been discovered through hours and hours of blind tasting.
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.
Great Taste 2020 will reach its exciting finale in late October, when the Golden Fork trophy winners and the Great Taste Supreme Champion 2020 are announced at the virtual Great Taste Golden Fork awards event.
Dominic Wyndham-Gittens, Co-Owner and Director of Coffee, commented on the win, “To achieve 2 stars for our first ever entry to the Great Taste Awards comes at a pivotal time for our company as we endeavour to grow beyond our shores to enter the international market. Personally, as the Great Taste Award is specific to the actual taste and flavour of our product, it validates our team’s hard work and sticking to our core ethos to be a quality focused, proudly Bajan coffee roaster.”
According to Wyndham’s BIDC Business Development Officer, Glendon Ashby, “This award amplifies the dedication, hard work and quality of the Wyndhams brand which will allow them greater export opportunities. The BIDC will continue to support the Wyndhams brand in its pursuits of excellence.”
BIDC CEO Sonja Trotman applauded the accomplishment, noting that, “Barbadian brands are showing resilience, tenacity and pride in our identity. We recognize this as a win, not only for Wyndhams Soup Bowl coffee, but by extension the Barbadian businesses community and Barbados at large. As Barbadians, we can all be proud of the international recognition this company has garnered. We see the possibilities for more Barbadian brands to refine their products and excel at home and abroad.”
Special thanks to Dominic Wyndhams Gittens for supplying content.
