Raksmey Hong The Phnom Penh Post Thu, July 30, 2026

Judges evaluate food and drink entries during the blind-tasting process for the 2026 Great Taste Awards. Supplied

PHNOM PENH – Cambodian artisanal food producers have earned international recognition after securing 38 awards at the 2026 Great Taste Awards, one of the world’s most respected food and drink accreditation schemes, reinforcing the country’s growing reputation for premium agricultural products on the global stage.

Among the Cambodian winners, nine products received the coveted three-star distinction – the competition’s highest rating – while 14 earned two stars and 15 received one star, according to Guild of Fine Foods, the UK-based firm behind the awards.

Among the standout products highlighted by the organisers were “Whole Young Green Kampot Peppercorns” produced by Kadode Kampot Pepper, “Palmyra Blossom Sugar” from HESED Agriculture Trading Co. and “Mai Thai AAA Jasmine Fragrant Rice” by Surya Foods.

The annual awards are widely regarded as one of the food industry’s most rigorous accreditation programmes because products are judged entirely blind, without branding or packaging, by panels of chefs, critics, retailers, food writers and product specialists.

This year, more than 15,000 food and drink products from 3,919 companies across 116 countries entered the competition – a record number – with nine countries participating for the first time.

Only 306 products, representing just over two per cent of all entries, achieved the highest three-star rating, described by organisers as “exquisite and extraordinary”.More than 800 chefs, critics, retailers and food specialists assessed over 15,000 products.

The guild said judges evaluated every product solely on its own merits, considering taste above all else, followed by appearance, aroma, texture and mouthfeel. More than 800 industry experts participated in the judging process over 105 days in London and Dorset, the UK, as well as Ireland and Italy.

Guild managing director John Farrand explained that supporting independent producers has become increasingly important as food security emerged as a growing global concern.

“Food security is becoming an increasingly pressing issue across the globe, so it feels more pertinent now than at any other time in our thirty-year history to be supporting and promoting independent producers and retailers,” he said.

“Our directory of award recipients is a rich source of data, guiding people from all walks of life to make informed decisions about their food and drink choices. Great Taste is all about celebrating craftsmanship and dedication to well-sourced local ingredients and traditional, often simple production methods, which is more important now than ever,” he added.

The results add to Cambodia’s growing international profile for premium agricultural products, particularly Kampot pepper, which has long been recognised internationally as one of the country’s flagship geographical indication (GI) products.

Michael Winters, co-founder of Kadode Kampot Pepper UK, described Kampot pepper as a symbol of Cambodia’s agricultural revival following decades of hardship.

“For me, Kampot Pepper is synonymous with the rebirth of Cambodia in the 21st century,” he said.

“It is also a story of resilience, as this product was nearly extinct and forgotten in the late 1990s, with only a few thousand pepper poles left. It had little commercial value to the farmers of Kep and Kampot,” he added.

He credited local growers with preserving traditional cultivation methods despite difficult circumstances.

“Thankfully, there were still some farmers determined to keep the tradition alive, cultivating as naturally as possible, unchanged for multiple generations,” Winters noted.

He explained that Kadode has spent two decades building an independent network of smallholder farmers and developed its award-winning young green peppercorns to recreate the fresh, early-harvest pepper traditionally served in Cambodian cuisine.

“We have been involved with Great Taste for many years now. It has played an integral part in our success to elevate the humble Kampot peppercorn on the global stage,” he added.

Beyond recognising quality, the guild said one of the competition’s lesser-known benefits is the detailed feedback provided to every entrant, regardless of whether they receive an award. The assessments are intended to help producers refine recipes, improve consistency and strengthen their competitiveness in international markets.

The guild noted that the Great Taste black-and-gold accreditation logo enjoys strong consumer recognition in the United Kingdom. A YouGov survey conducted in December 2025 found that 58 per cent of UK adults recognised the label, while nearly three-quarters said the award made a product more appealing and served as a trusted recommendation.

All products awarded the highest three-star rating will now progress to a final round of judging for the Golden Fork Awards, often referred to as the “Oscars of food and drink”. Winners, including the overall Great Taste 2026 Supreme Champion, will be announced at Battersea Arts Centre in London on September 15.SOURCE: The Phnom Penh Post, Cambodia Thu, July 30

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