A CUT above the rest - the finest food and drink from East Sussex has been internationally recognised in the Great Taste Awards 2020.

Making the county proud are 52 business who have won a spot on the coveted Great Taste 2020 list and can now display the iconic black and gold rosette. 

Following 14 weeks of judging, the results of the world’s most trusted food and drink awards, Great Taste, have been announced with winners from the town. 

Blind tasted by 144 judges, the award is not only a badge of honour but a signpost to an outstanding product. 

Amongst the winners is REBEL who were awarded one-star by Great Taste for two of their products. 

The Argus:

The company is little over a year old and makes charcuterie in Hove.

Valuing animal welfare above all else, ensuring their meat is locally sourced from East Sussex and they even test the ph levels of their meat on arrival to check the animal's stress levels. 

Owner of REBEL, Will, said: "If they're not happy pigs they don't make it in our salami. 

"It's more expensive for people to buy in this way but hopefully people can eat a little less meat and use better sourced meat instead."

Their 'Do Ya?' is a spicy spreadable salami that is ideal for cooking with and using on pizzas and in pastas whilst their 'Hunter Salami' is their signiature meat.  

The Argus:

REBEL's Hunter Salami

Recognised as a stamp of excellence among consumers and retailers alike, Great Taste values delicious taste above all else, with no regard for branding and packaging. 

There were 12,777 entries into Great Taste this year from 106 countries.  Of those products, 205 have been awarded a 3-star, 1,294 received a 2-star and 3,818 were awarded a 1-star accolade. 

This year’s winners have been found through a combination of remote judging and socially distanced judging sessions, after the lockdown began just one week into the schedule.

As a result, the Great Taste judging process was reinvented to maintain a robust judging standard that did not compromise the quality of feedback to participants. 

Released in September the awards have come as a much needed boost to the food and drinks industry pre-Christmas. 

John Farrand, managing director of the Guild of Fine Food, organisers of Great Taste, said: "Building upon the recent increase in trade for both regional food producers and retailers, one of the few good news stories during lockdown, the Great Taste results will help to stimulate much-needed consumer support for independent retail and hospitality over the coming months, as the nation moves towards the most important Christmas period in a generation."

Search through all of the East Sussex winners in the table below:

 Will you be trying any of these products? Let us know in the comments.