SEVERAL businesses in Flintshire and Wrexham have been recognised in the Great Taste Awards 2023.

The awards are a food and drink accreditation scheme, after more than 500 judges took part in a blind test to rate the quality of food products, with feedback from chefs, buyers, food writers and retailers.

The Great Taste website said: "Great Taste offers a unique benchmarking and product evaluation service, that encourages confidence and commercial success for quality food & drink businesses.

"This in turn generates a greater awareness for products locally, regionally, nationally and internationally."

Here are all the Wrexham and Flintshire-based winners, listed with the product and the company and the stars they received:

  • Mountain Produce (Wrexham) - Cold Pressed Sunflower Dressing Oil (Three stars)
  • Mountain Produce (Wrexham) - Cold Pressed Rapeseed Oil (Two stars)
  • Happy Hedgehog Foods Ltd (Wrexham) - Mango apple cider vinegar (Two stars)
  • Happy Hedgehog Foods Ltd (Wrexham) - Sweet hot sauce (Two stars)
  • Happy Hedgehog Foods Ltd (Wrexham) - Sweet raspberry vinegar (Two stars)
  • Magic Dragon Brewing (Wrexham) - Old Magic (Two stars)
  • Magic Dragon Brewing (Wrexham) - Eyton Gold (One star)
  • Magic Dragon Brewing (Wrexham) - Border Bitter (One star)
  • Wrexham Lager (Wrexham) - Bootlegger 1974 Pilsner (One star)
  • Happy Hedgehog Food Ltd (Wrexham) - Strawberry balsamic (One star)
  • Ma Baker (Wrexham) - Buckwheat crackers (One star)
  • Hafod Brewing Company Ltd (Mold) - Blanchard's ESB (One star)
  • Grazed Brownies (Wrexham) - The 'OG brownie) (One star)

What do the stars mean?

Great Taste says that the products earning one star are "simply delicious" and they are "a food that delivers fantastic flavour – approximately 25% of entries will achieve this rating each year."

Those with two stars are "outstanding" and "above and beyond delicious – less than 10 per cent of entries will achieve this rating."

While those with three stars are "exquisite" and "extraordinarily tasty food and drink – around 2 per cent of products are awarded three stars each year. Don’t leave the shop without buying it!"