THE world’s most coveted blind-tasted food awards, Great Taste, has just released the Great Taste stars of 2015 - and a Crediton business is among the top prizewinners.

Louise’s Larder, of Higher Neopardy, Crediton, is amongst the producers celebrating a three-star award.

It received the recognition for its Rhubarb, Rose and Cardamom Jam.

Louise’s Larder was amongst 10,000 Great Taste entries this year and of those products, only 130 have been awarded a three-star accolade.

The panel of judges included “Masterchef” judge and restaurant critic Charles Campion, “Great British Bake Off” winner, Frances Quinn and food buyers from Harrods, Selfridges, Waitrose and Marks and Spencer.

Louise Madge has always had an interest in cooking and baking and created Louise’s Larder after she left the City of London working for an investment management company.

Louise and her husband, John, who left the Army after 24 years service, have been developing the business since early January 2015 whilst trading at a number of farmers’ markets and agricultural shows throughout the county.

Louise explained: “This is the first time we have entered any competition let alone the Great Taste Awards and are utterly amazed and delighted to have won a three-star award for our Rhubarb, Rose and Cardamom Jam.

"The only reason we entered the awards was to get some constructive feedback for our product."

Louise’s Larder is a small family-run business producing a range of artisan jams, chutneys, cordials and baked goods.

Louise and John create unique flavours using local produce and traditional small batch cooking methods in their kitchen at home.

Since 1994, when Great Taste was established, 100,000 products have been evaluated. This year the products were blind-tasted by panels of specialists: top chefs, cookery writers, food critics, restaurateurs and fine food retailers.

The judges were looking for great texture and appearance. They judged the quality of ingredients and how well the maker has put the food or drink together, but above all, they look for truly great taste.

Working in small teams, the experts taste 25 foods in each sitting, discussing each product as a co-ordinating food writer transcribes their comments directly onto the Great Taste website which producers access after judging is completed.

Over the years, numerous food businesses, start-ups and well-established producers have been advised how to modify their foods and have subsequently gone on to achieve Great Taste stars.

Any food that a judging team believes is worthy of Great Taste stars is judged by at least two further teams. Only when there is a consensus will an award be given – that means at least 16 judges will have tasted every accredited product.

For a Great Taste three-star award, every single judge attending the session, which can be as many as 40 experts, must unanimously agree the food delivers that indescribable "wow" factor.