REVUP Caribbean’s Cohort 1 Alumnus Mount Pleasant Farm’s 70 per cent dark chocolates has been awarded the Golden Great Taste Stars in 2022.

Coldbush Organics, makers of the Mount Pleasant brand of chocolates, is regarded as one of the pioneers in artisanal Jamaican farm-to-bar chocolate production.

Mount Pleasant Farm chocolates was named among the top food and drink producers globally this year, picking up the highly prized golden star Great Taste awards for its 70 per cent dark bars.

Established in 1994, Great Taste is organised by the Guild of Fine Food and is the world’s largest, longest standing and most respected food accreditation scheme for artisan and speciality food producers. Great Taste, the Guild of Fine Food is known for publishing the industry-leading magazine, Fine Food Digest.

Mount Pleasant chocolates are now among the 39.1 per cent of products that have achieved an award in the most trusted food and drink accreditation scheme in the industry.

More than 14,000 products were put through the competition’s rigorous blind judging process; and Mount Pleasant Farm chocolates received the following comments from the judges at the food and drink awards: “This chocolate looks deceptively simple; however, it has developing layers of flavour — fruity, rounded, and there is a balanced sweetness despite its 70 per cent cacao. The flavour goes on and on — a deliciously grown-up chocolate, worthy of its heritage.”

Recognised as a stamp of excellence and actively sought out by food lovers and retailers alike, Great Taste, values taste above all else. All products in the line-up for judging are blind tasted: every product is removed from its packaging so it cannot be identified, before entering a robust, layered judging process.

This year, the judging took place over 90 days across two judging locations (Dorset and London) with a panel of more than 500 judges. This year’s line-up saw food and drink products submitted from a staggering 110 different countries from across the world.

Hellen and Averell French, founders of Coldbush Organics and innovators of the farm-to-bar chocolate concept in Jamaica with their brand Mount Pleasant Farm chocolates commented: “We are delighted to have won a Great Taste award for our dark chocolates and coffee bars, and in the same breath celebrating our Observer best new product award for a chocolate spread in 2013/2014. Our dream has always been to be recognised internationally, and we are so proud to be adding an international food taste award; the iconic black and gold Great Taste logo to our chocolate bars and to be ranked among the industry’s most powerful products!”

“The Mount Pleasant chocolate brand is a work in progress; our pledge is to deliver authentic Jamaican cocoa products to discerning, health-conscious consumers, chocolate lovers and chocolate occasionalists with great chocolate taste and presentation that is at an international standard! Our products are from farm to table, and we work with people the community and make sure our environment is natural and sustainable. These are also the key elements in our process and growth so to be where we are today (we say we because it’s our customers, supporters, and mentors) It’s just wonderful,” the founders continued.