Hundreds of Great Taste honeys put to good use

As a Great Taste judge, one thing is guaranteed: every year we taste a lot of honey. In fact, last year saw 586 honeys from around the world entered into Great Taste. That is a LOT of opened jars of honey to use up responsibly at the end of the judging process.

Luckily, a chance conversation led to the perfect solution - a collaboration between Guild of Fine Food and Hive Mind Mead & Brew Co. in Monmouthshire. Hive Mind was founded by brothers Kit and Matt Newell in 2018. Their Traditional Mead was awarded 3-stars last year and went on to achieve the Great Taste Golden Fork from Wales. They took the leftover jars at the end of the judging process and crafted a limited-edition mead to sell for charity.

‘Friends in Mead’ is being sold through selected independent retailers and directly from Hive Mind’s online shop (12% ABV, £20 for a 500ml bottle). 100% of profits will support the charity Bees Abroad which educates, guides and mentors communities in beekeeping skills, running sustainable businesses and protecting the environment.

Leftover products from other categories in Great Taste are currently donated to two local initiatives - Blackfriars Settlement and social supermarket The Vale Pantry.