In review: Plant-Based Taste Awards judging event

Hartley Farm, home to fruit orchards, diverse pastureland and a 2.5-acre organic market garden, was the location of this year’s Plant-Based Taste Awards judging event, which took place in November.

Nestled in the village of Winsley, on the Wiltshire-Somerset border, the fifth-generation farm welcomed five judges and the FoodBev Media team for a plant-packed day of cooking, tasting and scoring. 

The judges – variously plant-based writers, Instagrammers, advocates and all-round enthusiasts – had no small task on their hands, with around 140 samples to try across 21 categories. 

Now in their second year, the Plant-Based Taste Awards invite entries from around the world, ranging from dairy alternatives to deli products. The session on 7 November marked the culmination of a mammoth logistical exercise characterised by a race to get samples to suitable storage facilities (and the FoodBev team has more than one unwitting taxi driver to thank for their part in the operation). 

The tasting session commenced with a breakfast food round in the morning and culminated, late-afternoon, in the much-anticipated ice cream and confectionery categories.

Anyone who still harbours doubts about the quality of plant-based foods or the longevity of the movement could not fail to be impressed at the remarkable standard of the products showcased this year.

Among the favourites, LoveRaw’s Nutty Choc Balls are sure to be making an appearance on more than one Christmas list this year, the Jack & Annie’s sausage patties remained a talking point throughout the day, while the quantity of ‘chick’n’ samples (upwards of 15!) was no dampener to the judges’ enthusiasm.

Following such a stellar line-up of products, we’re already looking forward to next year’s event! Read more about the winners here and for more information on the scheme, please visit foodbevawards.com.