Mount Pleasant Farm named among the top food and drink producers globally this year

Durrant Pate/Contributor

Tasted by the experts, Jamaica’s Mount Pleasant Farm’s 70 per cent dark chocolate has been awarded the Golden Great Taste Stars in 2022.

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

RevUP Caribbean’s Cohort 1 Alumnus, Coldbush Organics, makers of the Mount Pleasant brand of chocolates is a pioneer in artisanal Jamaican farm producing mainly dark chocolates.

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 global recognition

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.

Mount Pleasant Farm chocolates received the following comments from the judges at the world’s most coveted food and drink awards.

The judges commented that Mount Pleasant Farm’s 70 per cent dark chocolates “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”.

Mount Pleasant chocolate bars were described as “balance of fruit and acidity and a delightful creaminess in the mouth…. Delicious”.

The preservation of authentic and natural Jamaican cocoa flavour in the process was a big hit with the Great Taste judges.

Made with 100 per cent Jamaican cocoa grown in the slopes of the Jamaican Blue Mountains, naturally fermented using traditional tasted means, 70 per cent dark chocolate was one of 5,556 products out of 14,000 to receive a Great Taste award in 2022 which is only 39.1 per cent of the total products entered.

What is Great Taste?

Recognised as a stamp of excellence and actively sought out by food lovers and retailers alike, Great Taste, organised by the Guild of Fine Food, 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 are delighted to have won a Great Taste award for its dark chocolates and coffee bars.

The duo is also celebrating their Observer best new product award for a chocolate spread in 2013-2014.

According to founders, “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”.

Continuing, the two remarked: “The Mount Pleasant chocolate brand is a work in progress; our pledge is to deliver authentic Jamaican cocoa products to discerning, health conscious consumers… 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.”

They added: “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 70 per cent dark chocolate bars can be found in Loshusan and General Food supermarkets, the Coconut Industry Board, Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, S Foods Store, Fontana, and are also available at the airport duty free shops, Things Jamaican, and via its website www.pleasantchocolate.com. 

The 70 per cent dark Jamaican chocolate bars are in sizes of 3.5 oz (99g) and 2 oz bars and packaged with recyclable handmade and hand printed packaging that is made from organic cotton.