Gold for Ireland as Bewley’s scoops eleven Gold Medals

Bewley’s has won eleven gold medals at the prestigious international Great Taste Awards 2010 for its coffee and tea. This is a record number of awards for an Irish coffee and tea company and also means Bewley’s was the most successful hot beverage producer in the categories in which it competed.

Pictured in Bewley’s Grafton Street Café are Barista Alessandro Dearte and Caron McMahon, Bewley’s with some of the winning products.

Among the award winners were Bewley’s Fairtrade Harmony Blend, the only espresso blend from the UK and Ireland to win three gold stars, and Bewley’s Special Blend Fairtrade Tea and Earl Grey Loose Tea, which both received two gold stars. Bewley’s Original Blend, Gold Blend, Irish Afternoon, Decaffeinated Blend and Irish Afternoon Loose Tea all received one gold star each. Bewley’s famous Café Blend coffee and Special Reserve Signature Espresso were also awarded a gold medal each.

The Great Taste Awards, organised by the Guild of Fine Foods, are the acknowledged benchmark for speciality food and drink. They have been described as “the Oscars” of the food world and the “epicurean equivalent of the Booker Prize.”

All products are judged by at least three different judging panels. All the tasting is blind and the judges are fine food retailers, chefs, restaurant critics, food writers and other industry experts.

Pictured in Bewley’s Grafton Street Café are Barista Libby Harkey and Noel-John McLoughlin, Marketing Manager, Bewley’s

Over 1,300 companies entered the Great Taste Awards 2010, submitting over 6,000 products.

Paul O’Toole, Bewley’s Master Roaster, commented, “We are delighted that for the third year in a row, Bewley’s have won more Great Taste Awards for our coffees and teas than any other Irish company. This record number of awards is testament to our strong tradition in both tea and coffee.

“The Great Taste Awards are one of the major international authorities on food and drink. The eleven gold medals confirm what Irish consumers have known for generations, that Bewley’s products are of the highest quality.

“We are unique among Irish tea producers as the four Bewley’s teabag varieties currently available in Irish supermarkets, Original Blend, Gold Blend, Special Blend and Decaf Blend all won gold!”