The Coffee Fairy, winner of a Great Taste Award 2009
July 2009
The Coffee Fairy, winner of a Great Taste Award 2009
Martina Gruppo from Midhurst is celebrating after winning a prestigious Great Taste Award. The Coffee Fairy has been presented with a coveted two star Gold Great Taste Award for its shade grown coffee.
Grown in the cloud forests of the northern Nicaraguan mountains, the coffee has a soft, sweet acidity with rich flavors of nut and dark chocolate.
Roasting expert, Phil Smith, describes the coffee as “full bodied, fruity and smooth. This exceptional Arabica coffee from Nicaragua is a cut above the rest.”
“We are absolutely over the moon about this award,” said Martina, Company Director of The Coffee Fairy. “Telling the farmers in Nicaragua was a particularly special moment as they were justifiably proud that the quality of their coffee has been recognised. The coffee is really excellent, so smooth with a really delicious flavour, it’s a great coffee with a fantastic story, no wonder we are so proud!”
The Coffee Fairy coffee is bought directly from a small group of farmers ensuring its ethical credibility, and through the sale of the coffee, educational bursaries are being created for the children and adults in this community. The Coffee Fairy has also inspired schools, individuals and independent groups in the United Kingdom, to raise funds for these communities to improve facilities and buy new resources. The project guarantees that every bag of coffee sold makes a difference.
The Great Taste Awards, which is organised by the Guild of Fine Food, is now in its 16th year and going from strength to strength. More and more consumers recognise the gold & black logo as the benchmark for independently proven, fine food. Many of the winning products are made locally, making the most of local resources and supporting rural economies, and searching for award-winning products from a specific region is couldn’t be simpler: a full list is available at www.greattasteawards.co.uk, and can be searched by region, award or product category. What’s more, these amazing products can be sampled for free in delis and farm shops up and down the country during October, as part of the Guild’s Taste Gold promotion.
The Great Taste Awards judging standards, devised by the Guild of Fine Food, are the most rigorous in the UK. Every entry is blind tasted by teams of experts. By the time it earns gold, it will have been assessed by at least three different teams. All the judges’ comments are made available to producers. If no gold is awarded, they need to know how and why. The awards ceremony for will take place at a glittering event hosted by specialist food and drink presenter Nigel Barden at Fortnum & Mason’s on September 7th, when the Supreme Judging Panel will taste all regional winners live in front of a packed crowd to decide which entry is to be crowned Supreme Champion 2009. Blur bass player, farmer and writer Alex James, chef Mark Hix, and Thomasina Miers of Masterchef fame are among those already confirmed for the panel, and there may be a surprise panelist to be unveiled on the night.
Bob Farrand of the Guild of Fine Food, said: “Lovers of fine food and drink only pay for the best if they’re certain what they’re buying is the best. Every food with a Great Taste Award gold has been independently proven to be just that - and it tastes great too”
-ends-
Notes to editor:
Date: July 2009
Press information: Diana Littlewood (dianalittlewood@hotmail.com)
Company Director: Martina Gruppo (thecoffeefairy@gmail.com)
www.thecoffeefairy.com
The Great Taste Awards Press Office:
Sarah Lewis (sarahl@completemediagroup.co.uk)
Jennifer Goss (jennifer@completemediagroup.co.uk)
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7420 3550
For more information on the Great Taste Awards: www.greattasteawards.co.uk
For more information on the Guild of Fine Food: www.finefoodworld.co.uk
For more information on retailers taking part in Taste Gold: www.britainsbestdelis.co.uk
