Celtic Promise from Caws Teifi Cheese has been named Best Welsh Cheese at the British Cheese Awards 2022. The raw-milk washed-rind cheese, which is produced at Glynhynod Farm in Llandysul, Ceredigion, took the trophy after more than 500 cheeses were judged in a single day at The Bath & West Showground on Wednesday 5 October, as the British Cheese Awards returned following a two-year hiatus.
Trophies were awarded to all category and national winners during the British Cheese Awards Dinner on the evening of Wednesday 5 October, with the Supreme Champion award going to Ashcombe by King Stone Dairy in Gloucestershire and the Reserve Champion cup going to St.Jude by St.Jude Cheese in Suffolk.
Organised by The Royal Bath & West Society, the 27th edition of the British Cheese Awards saw over 500 entries judged in a single day, as the competition took place during The Dairy Show for the very first time. Among this year’s entries were 20 brand new cheeses that have been created since the awards last took place, representing the sudden boom in creativity that was witnessed within British cheese, following huge losses in business as the hospitality sector was closed down during successive lockdowns.
A 50-strong judging panel made up of cheesemakers, cheesemongers, cheese experts, buyers and commentators assessed entries in their individual classes during the morning session, awarding Bronze, Silver and Gold accolades to deserving products from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. During the second round, all Gold award winners from each category were judged alongside one another to identify the category winners, before all category winners were judged during the final round to find this year’s Supreme Champion and Reserve Champion.
British Cheese Awards 2022 trophy winners:
Champion
Supreme Champion: Ashcombe, King Stone Dairy Ltd
Reserve Champion: St.Jude, St.jude Cheese
Country Awards
Best English Cheese: Ashcombe, King Stone Dairy Ltd
Best Scottish Cheese: Morangie Brie, Highland Fine Cheese Ltd
Best Welsh Cheese: Celtic Promise, Caws Teifi Cheese
Best Irish Cheese: Kilmora, Killeen Farmhouse
Main Category Awards
Best Flavour-Added: Mexicana, Norseland Ltd
Best New Cheese: Big Nick, Chapel Cross Tearoom
Best Export: Gorwydd Caerphilly, Trethowan’s Dairy Ltd
Best Dairy Product: Greek Style Natural Yogurt, BV Dairy
Best Fresh: Hebden Goat, Tenacres
Best Soft White: Winslade, Hampshire Cheese Company Ltd
Best Semi-Soft: Merry Wyfe, The Bath Soft Cheese Company
Best Modern British: Moreton, King Stone Dairy Ltd
Best Blue: Organic Whole Blue Stilton, Cropwell Bishop Creamery Ltd
Special Awards
Best Traditional Cheddar: Pitchfork, Trethowan’s Dairy Ltd
Best Block Cheddar: Vintage Somerset Cheddar, Wyke Farms Ltd
Best Sheep Cheese: Flower Marie, Golden Cross Cheese Co Ltd
Best Cheddar: Vintage Somerset Cheddar, Wyke Farms Ltd
Best Territorial: Red Leicester, Wyke Farms Ltd
Best Goat Cheese: Killeen Goat Mature, Killeen Farmhouse
Best Organic Cheese: Organic Whole Blue Stilton, Cropwell Bishop Creamery Ltd
Best PDO/PGI Cheese: Animal Rennet Whole Blue Stilton, Cropwell Bishop Creamery Ltd
Best Prepared Block Cheese: Best Mature, Saputo Dairy UK
Best Cheese from a Member of the Specialist Cheesemakers Association: Winslade, Hampshire Cheese Company Ltd
Best Cylindrical: Coloured Cheshire, Belton Cheese Ltd
Feature image: (L-R) Stephen Jones from Somerdale International and Rob Savage from Caws Teifi
