Hundreds of food and drink producers across the European Union have been recognised for their exceptional craftsmanship at this year’s Great Taste Awards, with 81 products securing the highest accolade — the coveted three-star rating.
Organised annually by the Guild of Fine Food, the Great Taste Awards stand as the world’s largest and most respected food and drink accreditation scheme. In 2025, a staggering 14,340 products from around the globe were submitted for assessment and blind-tasted over three months by a panel of expert food industry professionals. Of these, 5,680 entries earned one, two, or three stars.
According to the award criteria, achieving three stars represents an elite standard: “A product must display no minor or major faults and be produced from excellent quality raw ingredients using production techniques that complement the ingredients to produce an entry of outstanding quality. In the case of primary products such as meat or fish, a high competence in sourcing or husbandry must be evident with the product presenting balanced taste, aroma and texture.”
- Two Aceto Balsamico di Modena PGI (Balsamic vinegars) from Italy
- A Brie de Meaux PDO from France
- A Cecina de León PGI (cured beef) from Spain
- A Gorgonzola PDO from Italy
- A Los Pedroches PDO (ham) from Spain
- A Mangalitza Pork Lard from Hungary
- An oak and flower honey from Greece
- A 70% Single Origin Chocolate made in Sweden using Maya Mountain cocoa
- A 100% Pistachio Paste from Poland
Fourteen of the EU’s three-star winners have also been nominated for a Golden Fork and will be celebrated at an illustrious event on Tuesday 9th September, when the supreme champion will be announced at the Battersea Arts Centre in London.
Last year, the Supreme Champion title was awarded to a raw honey made in the village of Ligaria in Crete. The 2025 Golden Fork nominees include Parmigiano Reggiano PDO matured for 48 months from Italy, Queso Castellano PGI from Spain, Organic Mountain Feta PDO from Greece, a chocolate spread from Slovakia and a virgin pumpkin seed oil from Hungary.
According to the Guild of Fine Food, the Golden Forks celebrate the very best producers; those who take care to ensure their products embody the principles of trusted raw ingredients, simple production methods, and food and drink that has personality, but ultimately, that tastes great. Such criteria drive the longstanding traditions and merits of many EU products, leading to these well deserved nominations. With quality, authenticity, safety and sustainability at the core of EU food and drink production, it is no surprise to have so many of its products recognised in these illustrious awards.
