The Taste Of Kent Awards 2026 Reveals This Year's Finalists
72 products and businesses shortlisted across 24 categories, as the Awards move to a brand new home in Medway
Produced in Kent is delighted to announce the finalists for the Taste of Kent Awards 2026, now in its 20th year as the longest-running and most prestigious food & drink awards in the South East. This year's finalists span 24 categories - from artisan food and drink products to independent retailers, hospitality venues and pioneering businesses - reflecting the depth of talent across Kent's food and drink community.
Carol Ford, Executive Chair of Produced in Kent said: “The Taste of Kent Awards are about celebrating the people, businesses and organisations that help make Kent and Medway one of the UK's leading food and drink regions. To be shortlisted as a finalist is a fantastic achievement and a reflection of the hard work, innovation and dedication that exists across our sector. Our finalists should be immensely proud, not only of their own success, but of the contribution they make to a thriving food and drink community that we're proud to champion through Produced in Kent.”
The 72 finalists were selected by a panel of industry experts, including chefs, buyers, food writers and sector specialists, following months of tasting, mystery visits and judging.
Nigel Barden, National food and drink broadcaster and this year’s lead judge, said: “It appears that the food and drink producers of Kent have become even more creative, as they utilise the multitude of ingredients available in this fabulous county. Many are grown here, courtesy of talented, resourceful farmers and market gardeners and others are gathered from further afield, but are utilised by talented Kent & Medway based producers, resulting in a plethora of tasty, inventive entries, which kept the palates of our judges excited and satisfied.”
For 2026, the Awards Ceremony moves to a brand-new location and will be hosted by The GlassBox theatre at MidKent College’s Medway campus - the first time in the Awards' history that the ceremony has been held in Medway. Finalists, sponsors and guests will gather on Thursday 8th October 2026 for a Kent sparkling wine reception, followed by an Oscar-style awards ceremony revealing this year's Gold, Silver, Bronze winners across all 24 categories, before post-awards networking with bowl food showcasing Kent produce, prepared by MidKent College's own catering students. The Gold winners will be announced on the Taste of Kent Awards Instagram (@TasteofKentAwards) on the night of the ceremony.
The Taste of Kent Awards 2026 are made possible by the generous support of the University of Greenwich as headline sponsor, together with sponsors & supporters: Brachers, Crowe UK, Defined Wine, Digitom, EKC Group, Found Food & Drink, insideKENT, Jestic Foodservice Solutions, Kent County Council, MidKent College, NFU Mutual Ashford, Tenterden & Whitfield, Oxbury Bank, Select Technology, Shepherd Neame & Southeastern Railway.
The Taste of Kent Awards 2026 Finalists:
Kent Savoury Pantry Product of the Year
Wholemeal Flour, Hinxhill Fields, Hinxhill near Ashford
Kentish Tomato Chutney, Karimix, Faversham
ÀTÀ Heat, Obas Kitchen, Benenden
Kent Sweet Pantry Product of the Year
Sourdough Granola, Madre, Margate
Rose Infused Honey, Penelobees Ltd, Canterbury
Roasted Hazelnut & Cocoa Spread, Trufflus, Rochester
Kent Savoury Bakery Product of the Year
Kent Cracker, Gilda Bakery, Bishopsbourne
Smoked Ham, Leek and Cheddar Quiche, Liz Reid, Tunbridge Wells
Red Leicester and Black Pepper Bagel, Pebble Beach Bakery, Littlestone
Kent Sweet Bakery Product of the Year
Tiramisu Doughnut, Bombo Doughnuts, Ramsgate
Kentish Fruit Huffkin, Gilda Bakery, Bishopsbourne
Sweet Focaccia with Cinnamon & Vanilla Icing, The Hunton Baker, Hunton
Kent Confectionery & Snack Product of the Year
Bean to Bar 70% Sierra Nevada, Colombia, N2 Sweet lab, Maidstone
Croissant Crisps, Pit Stop General Store, Folkestone
70% Ghanaian Dark Chocolate Bar, Trufflus, Rochester
Kent Cheese of the Year
Rowswell Red, Cheesemakers of Canterbury, Dargate
Ellie’s Original Goats Cheese, Cheesemakers of Canterbury, Dargate
Winterdale Shaw, Winterdale Cheesemakers, Fairseat
Kent Dairy Product of the Year
Brown Butter And Rosemary, Sour Plum Ice Cream, Bears Ice Cream Imaginarium, Whitstable
Strawberry, Olive Oil, White Chocolate Ice Cream, Bears Ice Cream Imaginarium, Whitstable
Raw Milk, Kingcott Dairy, Staplehurst
Kent Meat Product of the Year
Gluten Free Chicken Sausages, Korker Sausages Ltd, Cranbrook
Single Rib of Beef, S.W.Doughty, Doddington
Old English Sausages, White Rocks Farm, Underriver
Kent Fresh Fish or Seafood Product of the Year
Hythe Bay Turbot, The Seafood Deli Kitchen, St Mary's Bay
Dressed Crab, Seafoods, Bexleyheath
Tankerton Smokeshed Smoked Salmon, Tankerton Smokeshed, Whitstable
Kent Ready Meals & Prepared Food Product of the Year
Fish Pie, Frook Eats, Tunbridge Wells
Cherry Bakewell Cookie Dough, More Tasty Crumbs, Folkestone
The Luxury Seafood Boil Home Cook Kit, The Seafood Deli Kitchen, St Mary's Bay
Kent Non-Alcoholic Cold Drink of the Year
Spiced Apple Juice, Chegworth Valley, Harrietsham
Apple & Beetroot Juice, Chegworth Valley, Harrietsham
Zak's Kombucha - Citrus Hops, Zak's Kombucha, Wye
Kent Non-Alcoholic Hot Drink of the Year
Good Night Blend, Bergamia Tea Ltd, Sittingbourne
Corban's Tea - Double Mint, Corban Coffee, Sevenoaks
Fazenda Pantano, Corban Coffee, Sevenoaks
Kent Spirit of the Year
Vin de Noix, Hinxhill Fields, Hinxhill near Ashford
London Dry Gin, Invoke distillery Ltd, Sevenoaks
Amaretto Liqueur, Pleasant Land Distillery, Sandgate
White Cliffs Gin, Pleasant Land Distillery, Sandgate
Kent Beer of the Year
1698, Shepherd Neame, Faversham
Whitstable Bay Pale Ale, Shepherd Neame, Faversham
Bishops Finger, Shepherd Neame, Faversham
Kent Wine of the Year
Silverhand Strawberries and Cream Rose 2025, Silverhand Estate, Luddesdown
Silver Reign, Silverhand Estate, Luddesdown
2019 Cuvee Sparkling White - Limited Edition, Terlingham Vineyard, Hawkinge
Wandering Wayfarer Oaked Bacchus 2023, Wayfarer Wine, Woodchurch
Rosé Brut 2022, Woodchurch Wine Estate | Vineyard | Tasting and Dining Rooms, Woodchurch
Kent Cider of the Year
Greenhorn, Duddas Tun Cider, Doddington
Grafter, Kentish Pip Cider, Bekesbourne
Skylark, Kentish Pip Cider, Bekesbourne
Kent Product Innovation of the Year
Doubleday Cherry Wine, Doubledays (Bax Farm Juice Ltd), Sittingbourne
Earthnutz Peanut Protein Crisps, Earthnutz, Hildenborough
Croissant Crisps, Pit Stop General Store, Folkestone
Kent Independent Retailer of the Year
Algar Lodge Farm Shop & Cafe, Deal
Groombridge Farm Shop, Tunbridge Wells
Little Wave Deli, Broadstairs
Kent Food & Drink Market of the Year
Cliftonville Farmers Market, Cliftonville, Margate
Lenham Country Market, Lenham
Whitstable Foodies Market, Whitstable
Kent Dining Experience of the Year
The Dove at Dargate, Dargate
Drift., Whitstable
The Pig at Bridge Place, Bridge
Kent Casual Food & Drink Experience of the Year
Macknade, Faversham
Spadework, Offham
Woodchurch Wine Estate - Vineyard, Tasting & Dining Rooms, Woodchurch
Kent Sustainable Business of the Year
HatHats Coffee Co, Whitstable
Silverhand Estate, Luddesdown
Whitstable Oyster Co, Whitstable
Kent Food & Drink Innovation Award
Kingcott Dairy, Staplehurst
Lost Sheep Coffee, Whitstable
Speciality Breads, Margate
Kent Food & Drink Superstar Award
The winner to be announced at the awards event
About the Taste of Kent Awards
The Taste of Kent Awards is facilitated and hosted by Produced in Kent, dedicated to promoting and supporting local businesses, fostering a thriving food and drink industry, and enhancing the overall community experience. Established in 2006, the Awards are open to any food and drink business based in Kent, and celebrate the county's finest producers, retailers and hospitality businesses. Through various initiatives and events, Produced in Kent aims to connect consumers with the best local products.
