Great Taste Awards handed out for 19 food items in Bradford

A total of 20 Great Taste Awards were handed out to food companies across the city and surrounding areas for the 2023 edition – the most in West Yorkshire.

The annual awards honour businesses across the country with the best products and gold stars are awarded to recognise the excellence of either their food or drink items.

They are organised by the Guild of Fine Food, with more than 100 judges – leading critics, chefs, buyers and restaurateurs – pouring through thousands of entrants to come up with a definitive list.

• See the winners from 2022 here

Products receive a one, two or three-star rating if they are ranked among the best by judges, with the majority receiving no rating at all, which goes to show how exclusive and illustrious the Great Taste Awards are.

Around two per cent of products receive three-star ratings (meaning extraordinarily tasty) each year, with less than 10 per cent achieving two-stars (outstanding) and roughly 25 per cent of entries awarded with three stars (simply delicious).

The city and district’s awards tally dropped slightly from 25 last year but the total of 20 was still above its haul in 2021 (19) and higher than the next best in West Yorkshire (Leeds and Marsden with 19 each).

These were shared among 11 different businesses – a rise on 10 in 2022 – with one two-star award and 19 one-star prizes.

Two Lasses Spirits founders Rebecca and Lindsey and the Yorkshire Spiced Rum

A new entry - Two Lasses Spirits, of Bingley – got the highest accolade in the Bradford district for its Yorkshire Spiced Rum.

Mumtaz, in Legrams Lane came away with almost a third of the city’s haul, picking up six one-star awards for its Makhani and Tikka cooking sauces, as well as its Achari, Peri Peri, Chicken Tikka and Lamb Chops marinades.

Mumtaz Headquarters, Legrams Lane (Image: Telegraph & Argus)

This was the curryhouse and business’s first appearance in the list since 2015.

There were two familiar names to receive awards again this year – Chef Akila and Aagrah Foods.

Chef Akila, based in Keighley, made it five years in a row on the list – after first appearing in 2019 – with a one-star award for its Kannur Prawn Curry, Kadala Curry and Five Lentil Dal.

Aagrah Foods, in Shipley repeated its effort from last year with two one-star awards.

Aagrah founder Mohammed Aslam (Image: Other)

These were for the food firm’s Mini Poppadoms and House Garam Masala Spice Blend.

Another curry-based business that made it onto the list was Yaadgaar Trade, in Wibsey, which received a one-star award for its Curry Cooking Sauce.

Lottie Shaw’s, based in Brighouse, was another returnee and achieved a one-star prize for its Proper Posh Yorkshire Parkin Ginger Biscuits.

The accolades for sweet treats continued in style as Just Desserts Yorkshire, in Shipley made a splash for the first time since 2021 with one-star awards for its Manchester Tart and Lemon Pudding.

Just Desserts Yorkshire's Lemon Pudding and Manchester Tart (Image: Other)

The other one-star prizes went to: Vanilla etc., in Keighley for its Madagascan Vanilla Extract Alcohol Free; Casa Espresso, in Shipley for its Charlestown Espresso Blend – for the second year in a row; Eldwick Creamery for its Foot oft' stairs; and Miller Treats, in Bingley for its Caroboo Salted Caramel Nutty Carob Bar.

West Yorkshire’s food businesses received 90 awards in total, with just six picking up coveted three-star prizes – the same as last year.

Dark Woods Coffee, in Marsden was again the major player in the county, picking up 19 awards in total – four three-stars, 10 two-stars and five one-stars.

One of the other three-star awards went to Northern Monk, for its Holy Faith beer, which is based in Leeds but began life in Bradford under founder and current managing director Russell Bisset.

The business also earnt a one-star award for its Holy Hop Water.