Aberdeenshire business Mearns Marmalade takes top Great Taste award with fruit cheese
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Fettercairn-based preserves microbusiness Mearns Marmalades has been named among the top food and drink producers in the world this year by picking up a highly prized three star Great Taste award for its Redcurrant And Rosemary Fruit Cheese.
More than 14,000 products were put through the competition’s rigorous blind judging process and Mearns Marmalades’ fruit cheese was described as a: “beautifully constructed product" and "melt in the mouth with mouth watering tendencies” at what is considered the Oscars of the food and drink industry.
Over 5500 products (a mere 39 percent of those entered) from across the world received awards - including 25 from Aberdeenshire - with only 241 being given the full three stars.
While products receiving one star are considered 'food and drink that delivers fantastic flavour' and two star winners are considered 'above and beyond delicious', those which receive three stars are considered 'extraordinarily tasty' and often described as 'exquisite'.
Described as a firm-set deep red fruit cheese with a gentle fruity aroma, judges commented: "The zing of the redcurrants hits you with fruity notes and is followed by the gentle warmth of the rosemary.
"A very well balanced product which we enjoyed tasting.
“For several minutes after tasting, this was still singing on the sides of our tongues”.
This year's judging took place with more than 500 judges over 90 days, and saw entries from 110 countries.
Mearns Marmalades' owner Jay Greengrass said: “I’m thrilled to have won a three star Great Taste award for my Redcurrant And Rosemary Fruit Cheese.
"I didn’t dare to dream that I could win this accolade; I entered it in the hope of receiving useful developmental feedback from some of the world’s most experienced food industry people.
"I’m so proud that some of my food heroes have tasted my fruit cheese and have deemed it worthy of having the iconic black and gold Great Taste logo on its jars.
“Mearns Marmalades is just me, Jay Greengrass, working from my domestic kitchen, making tiny batch artisan preserves that your granny would have made.
"Whenever I can, I use some of the world’s best produce that grows just a few miles from home, here in the Howe o’ the Mearns.
"I named my business Mearns Marmalades because I’m so proud of the local produce grown in the surrounding farms, and sell it at local Mearns markets and in a number of north east shops.
"Ten of my marmalades have won medals at the World Marmalade Awards and my chilli jam won a one star Great Taste award last year.
"So to now have a fruit cheese judged as being one of the best-tasting foods in the world is evidence of just how wonderful produce from the Mearns really is.”
The fruit cheese - a very concentrated fruit preserve - is made with just redcurrants, rosemary and sugar and cooked down slowly over a few hours in tiny batches by hand.
It’s called ‘cheese’ because of its firm texture, and is generally paired with all kinds of dairy cheeses on a cheeseboard and eaten with or in place of crackers.
It also partners meat very well as a side condiment, or can add a fruity depth to stews and gravies.
Redcurrant And Rosemary Fruit Cheese is available wherever Mearns Marmalades has a market stall, and at farm shops throughout the north-east.
For more information on Mearns Marmalades you can check out Jay's website or follow Mearns Marmalades on Facebook and Instagram.
