Revealed on Tuesday 1st August, their Cremet, handcrafted from goat's milk and cow's double cream, achieved 'exquisite' and 'extraordinary' in the judges' blind taste tests. Out of 14,195 entrants, only 248 received the coveted rating of 3-stars.
The top rated products, which includes Sharpham Cremet, will now go on to be judged in the prestigious Great Taste Golden Forks awards. The Golden Forks and Supreme Champion will be announced at the ceremony and tasting on the 11th September.
Sharpham Cremet is a wonderful soft mould ripened cheese, made with goat's milk with added double cow's milk cream. There is nothing else like it produced in whole of the UK.
Cremet has a creamy, mousse like texture when it's younger, but it deepens to a full, rich flavour with earthy undertones when it ripens.
This spectacular cheese, produced by the UKs first B Corp cheesemakers, has already won a number of important and significant awards, including, Best Cheese Award and British Product of the Year, at the Great British Food Awards.
The cheese category was judged by acclaimed chef Marcus Wareing who chose Sharpham Cremet as the winner. All winning products went on to be judged by a panel of tasters at Partridges. Partridges selected Cremet as the overall product of the year.
In 2023 alone, Cremet has also won a Gold Taste of the West Award, Gold at the Artisan Cheese Awards and Gold at Devon County Show.
Judges notes:
This is so rich and creamy, it feels ridiculously indulgent - but who doesn't need a bit of indulgence! This is a clever, expertly made soft cheese, in which you can really taste the goats cheese and the rich cream. The mould is minerally and flavourful, and the paste is so creamy that it melts in the mouth. One special aspect of this cheese is the peppery notes that come through right on the finish. This may be unique to this producer - congratulations on a very special cheese.
This is a wonderful cheese. We loved the appearance - the enticing rind and pure white paste, the clean yet luscious creamy texture, the combination of dairy creaminess with the fresh lemon element from the goats cheese and the soft rind. Beautifully balanced and cleverly crafted.
A very well-constructed cheese. From the subtle hint of goat on the nose to the very well balanced length of flavour on the palate, it is really well done. Not a hint of ammonia to be found. The balance of goat and cow delivers an amazing creaminess. Silky smooth. Absolutely delicious.
It's certainly an innovative and pleasing cheese.
Said a 'delighted' Greg Parsons, who is co-owner of Sharpham Cheese: “Britain is renowned world-wide for producing some of the highest standard cheeses, so we're really very thrilled to see Cremet recognised as one of the nation's favourites."
He went on to add: "The awards are testament to the hard work that goes into our high quality products, from the farmers who supply our milk to the drivers who deliver it and everyone else in between.
"Great Taste Awards are revered for their experienced and knowledgeable judges, so the award with such complimentary feedback is high praise indeed.”
Nicky Parsons, co-owner of Sharpham Cheese said: “Although originally created by Debbie Mumford, Peter Haworth and the cheese making team have not only continued the high quality standards but they've excelled to bring Sharpham their first ever Great Taste 3-stars.”
This year, judging took place over 89 days in Dorset and London, with a panel of in excess of 500 judges putting the products to the test. The line-up saw food and drink products submitted from an extraordinary 109 different countries across the world.
The Great Taste 3-star Sharpham Cremet costs £14.85 for 480g and is available from www.sharphamcheese.co.uk