HCM CITY — Le Fruit, a French-owned and Vietnamese-based brand, has won the Great Taste 2016 Award in London for its pomelo and mandarin marmalade and kumquat marmalade.

Out of 10,000 products judged, Le Fruit from Việt Nam was the first Vietnamese brand recognised at the Great Taste Awards.

The judges were unanimous in their praise of Le Fruit marmalades, which are handcrafted in the Cửu Long (Mekong) city of Cần Thơ.

The judges said the marmalades were “marvelous” with “bright colours and true fruit flavours”.

“The bitter sweet of the pomelo and the intense fresh fruit of the mandarin are working side by side to create a beautifully crafted marmalade,” they said.

A Great Taste judge praised the Le Fruit kumquat marmalade for its shreds of peel and “complex citrus profile”.

Le Fruit, which has a range of 11 fruit jams and marmalades simmered in a copper cauldron, offers vibrant fruit flavours and innovative fruit combinations.

Judged by over 500 food critics, chefs, cooks, restaurateurs and producers as well as food writers and journalists, Great Taste is widely acknowledged as the most respected food accreditation scheme for artisan and speciality food producers.

Great Taste is the world’s most coveted blind-tasted food awards, which celebrates the very best in fine food.

Recognised as a stamp of excellence among consumers and retailers alike, Great Taste values taste above all else.

Established in 1994, it encourages and mentors artisan food producers, offering a unique benchmarking and product evaluation service leading to an independent accreditation.

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

Since 1994, more than 100,000 products have been evaluated by Great Taste. — VNS