An unusual oregano-flavoured honey was named Greece’s best food product for 2026 by the Guild of Fine Food during a live judging event in London.
The competition, known as “the Oscars of the food world,” received 15,000 entries from all over the world this year.
Blossom Honey with Thyme and Oregano produced by Honey from Paleros, on the Ionian coast, won the Golden Fork from Greece, as it stood out from another 224 Greek entries who had picked up a 1-, 2- or 3-star Great Taste award in July.
“It’s not at all easy to grab an award in Great Taste. 60 percent of products do not achieve any star-rating, and at just 2 percent of all entries, the 3-stars are rare as hen’s teeth. A Golden Fork is a triumph,” commented John Farrand, managing director of the Guild of Fine Food.
Other nominees for the Golden Fork from Greece were Organic Thyme Honey from Bee Naturalles, in Evia, and Authentiko Honey from Thyme, Aromatic Herbs and Coniferous Trees from Melicreta in Herakleion, Crete.
Oregano a favourite herb in Greece since ancient times
Oregano, a herb indigenous to the Greek mountains, has been popular for medicinal and culinary uses since the ancient times.
Primarily used as a condiment for salads, meats, fish, and marinades in traditional Greek cuisine, oregano has enjoyed a renewed popularity in recent years, often granting its distinct flavour to infused olive oils and premium honeys.
The Blossom Honey with Thyme and Oregano from Paleros, harvested near the ancient Greek city that has existed since the Mycenean era, was picked from 306 3-star award-winning products from across the world and went through three separate rounds of judging to achieve the Golden Fork accolade.
Judges said it had a lovely viscosity and pleased the palate very quickly. “There was a caramelised orange note, rounded herbaceous flavour and sweetness balanced by salinity that gave it a luxurious finish. It was full bodied and complex with a real depth of flavour,” they described.
A total 17 Golden Forks were announced at this year’s award ceremony, including the Great Taste 2026 Supreme Champion, which went to Wagyu Beef Ham from Entrepeñas, Spain, as the world’s best food product.
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