BAKERS, brewers and artisan producers are all celebrating after being chosen for the prestigious Great Taste Awards.

Two Gwent producers, Bill King in Torfaen and the Apple County Cider Company in Monmouthshire, were among the winners that had products awarded three stars.

Only 192 products of the 12,634 products judged received three stars in 2018.

Mr King said: "To be judged to have achieved this level by judges from all areas of the food industry is hugely exciting.

"We are especially proud of our Sticky Gingerbread, which received three stars. We love it, our customers love it and it got the highest rating from the Guild of Fine Food in what are known as The Food Oscars.

"The award means so much to Janet and I. Not only for what it says about our Gingerbread but also what it says about our approach to baking and producing the best we can, be it bread, or the only sweet item we make."

The Dabinett medium cider from the Apple County Cider Company was another winner.

Owner Steph Culpin said: “We are over the moon.

"It's huge to get that achievement from someone just blind tasting products. We thought it had star quality and this confirms it."

Great Taste, organised by the Guild of Fine Food, is the acknowledged benchmark for fine food and drink.

More than 500 judges were involved in the selection process, which took place over 65 judging days from March through to early July, to award one, two and three star awards in 35 categories, ranging from spices and liqueurs to cured meat and charcuterie and frozen desserts.

The products were tasted by judges in teams at the Guild of Fine Food's headquarters in Gillingham, Dorset, as well as the London base at 42 Southwark Street.

The Gwent Winners are:

One star:

Bara Brith - Alextine Catering Ltd t/a Green Flute Bakery - Newport

Daddy's Brinjal Pickle- Miss Daisy's Kitchen, Blaenau Gwent

Rhubarb cider / Yarlington Mill medium sweet cider / - Apple County Cider Company, Monmouthshire

Buttery & Boozy Mincemeat - The Preservation Society, Monmouthshire

Triple S Stout / Ember- The Untapped Brewing Company Ltd, Monmouthshire

Sambal Hijau / Shadow Tribe Hot Chilli Sauce - Parva Spices, Monmouthshire

Woodland Raised Rare Breed Pork Chop - Forest Coal Pit Farm, Monmouthshire

Rum and Raisin - Brookes Wye Valley Dairy Company, Monmouthshire

The Welsh Faggot - N S JAMES, Monmouthshire

Two star:

Whoosh - The Untapped Brewing Company Ltd, Monmouthshire

Signature Sambal - Parva Spices, Monmouthshire

Woodland Raised Rare Breed Pork Belly - Forest Coal Pit Farm, Monmouthshire

Ty Gwyn blackcurrant coulis - Ty Gwyn Jams, Monmouthshire

Three star:

Dabinett medium cider from the Apple County Cider Company

Sticky Gingerbread - Bill King Artisan Baker

Find out more at greattasteawards.co.uk