Northern Irish Tempted Cider wins major international award
Northern Ireland’s Tempted Irish Craft Cider, a FoodNI member company, was a Trophy winner at the prestigious International Cider Challenge 2018.
Tempted’s Dry Cider was chosen by a panel of expert judges for its outstanding taste and quality in the challenge which recognises the “diversity and range of packaged products within this dynamic and growing category”.
Tempted is a small batch producer, based near Lisburn in county Antrim, crafting cider from apples mostly grown at Loughgall in county Armagh, Northern Ireland’s ‘orchard county’. The company was formed in 2009 by husband and wife team David and Janet Uprichard. The dry cider was the first produced in 2009.
Mr Uprichard, commenting on the latest award won by the family business, says: “Another weekend, another award for Tempted Cider! We’re delighted to be awarded an International Cider Challenge Trophy for Tempted Dry and many congratulations to all the winners.”
Davy continued: “Tempted Dry is where our Tempted journey started. Not being able to find a dry cider that I liked, we blended this fruity, fresh and floral cider to suit my own. Tempted Dry delivers a crisp, refreshing taste and with provenance being vitally important to us, every care is taken to select only the finest hand-picked apples from the Orchard County of Armagh, in Northern Ireland.”
Two other cider processors in Northern Ireland, both Food NI members, also featured in the awards. Kilmegan Cider, based at Dundrum in county Down and developed by Andy Boyd, gained two bronze medals for its Real Cider and Irish Farmhouse Cider.
And Long Meadow Cider in Loughgall, county Armagh, another family farm business started by husband and wife Pat and Catherine McKeever and other members gained a bronze medal for its recently launched Rhubarb and Honey cider.
Both processors were formed in 2013 and have won a string of awards including UK Great Taste Awards. Long Meadow is located on the McKeever apple farm.
Ciders entered into the tasting categories were blind tasted by an expert panel of independent judges and assessed according to their taste, appearance and aroma. Medals and trophies were awarded to the best ciders.
Another element to this prestigious competition were the design and packaging awards which recognised the best design within the cider sector. The panel of judges assessed each product against a set design brief and is scored on initial impact, originality, creativity, innovation and relevance to target market.
