Botree wins 23 stars from the Great Taste Awards 2021

With our Red Salted Pepper Berries winning 3 stars and our single origin spices winning a combined 20 more stars, 2021 is the year the Guild of Fine Foods recognizes the full gamut of BoTree’s seasoning excellence.

We are over the moon about the stars! We might sound like we’ve lost our mind, but we have never had so many Great Taste awards and we are so, so happy! The Guild of Fine Food has just released the list of their coveted Great Taste Awards for 2021 and we’ve won 23 stars for 14 of our products. 

Three Star Winners

The accolade we’re most proud of is the 3 stars awarded to our very own, Kampot-produced Red Salted Pepper Berries. The judges said:

“You have perfected perfection”

What more can we ask for? We often use ‘seasoning perfection’ to explain how our products enhance your food, so to hear this coming from the severe judges of the most respected food awards in the UK, is just amazing. 

Our Red Salted Pepper Berries also had judges say things like  “Gosh, this is good pepper”, “A pepper so good, one almost wants to eat it on its own”, “Stunning!” and “Wonderful”. To learn more about what the judges say, please visit our blog.

Two Star Winners

2 stars were awarded to another of our Cambodian products: our recently launched Palmyra Flower Sugar, which the judges thought was “quite delicious.” Judges also said “An interesting product with a wonderful crunchy texture. There are excellent flavour notes to this pure, simple clean product that shows great finesse in its simplicity.” If you haven't tried it yet, now is the time. Buy it here. 

We also won 2 stars for some of our most popular single origin spices: 

Our Turkish Oregano Buds wowed the judges with their “ truly incredible aroma”, and their “superb burst of flavour”.  Described as ‘an innovative way of presenting oregano” the judges saw that “pride has been taken in this product and the flavour is excellent”. There were also quite a few exclamation points in the judges’ remarks: “We loved them! These are stunning!! Gorgeous little buds that pack a massive punch of flavour”. So follow their advice and “pop one on your tongue and the essential oils are so strong that they almost burn. They numb. This is intense. Just a few are needed in cooking such is the intensity. Buy them here.

Our incredible Royal Cinnamon also stunned the judges, who gave it 2 stars. They “felt that as a cinnamon spice this was delicious, better than we had previously experienced and would relish using this in many different ways.” And they  added “ A really unusual and characterful cinnamon, displaying a fresh and vibrant flavour and no dull powderiness. A surprising and interesting spice that we can't wait to get cooking with.” Another judge also said “ We would love to cook with it and think it is extraordinary and unusual.” So what are you waiting for? Get cooking with it. Buy it here.

There’s another spice that you might have not cooked with yet: our Buffalo Ginger, which also got 2 stars. “Wonderfully characterful and vibrant and would be a delightful addition to so many dishes. An absolute delight.” As the judges said “We can imagine this would be delicious when cooked in food.”, so go ahead and try it! Buy it here.

Our trifecta of chilli also got 2 stars: our Black Urfa Chilli Flakes, Cobanero Chilli Flakes and Silk Chilli Flakes were all recognized for their excellence and diversity in flavour, texture and experience. Described as “a fascinating ingredient”, our Black Urfa Chilli is “a delightful and brilliant example” of “a comforting heat without being too hot and does not distract from the fruity and earthy character”. Our Silk chilli flakes have “a freshness that is commendable” and our Cobanero chilli flakes have “a lot going on for a single ingredient”. They “would be an excellent thing to have in the kitchen”.

One Star Winners

The final six stars were given to our “delightful-looking” Cured Sumac; our Ground Black Lime for its “intriguing flavour”; to the “ long and satisfying aroma” of our Herati Saffron; to our New Harvest Turmeric, which ‘amazed’ the judges; and to our Smoked Pimenton Paprika, with its “beautiful red colour and rich smoky notes - the full log fire”; and to our Nile Coriander Seeds which "utterly seduced" the judges with its "bright and authentic coriander flavour."

We have much to celebrate this year- we’ll do it by cooking a feast for our extended family with all the winning spices (and of course our range of Kampot pepper, which won multiple stars in the previous years). Will you celebrate with us?