Following rigorous judging by a panel of industry experts, including chefs, buyers, food writers and sector specialists as well as months of tasting and mystery visits, 72 products and businesses have been announced as finalists across 24 categories for this year’s awards.

“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.”  Carol Ford, executive chair, Produced in Kent

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