A Welwyn Garden City-based food business has won a Great Taste Award.

Grace Food, located in Bessemer Road, received a two-star award for their Jamaican honey jerk seasoning, which has recently gone on sale in Sainsbury's and Tesco.

One of the UK's top supplier of authentic Caribbean food and drink, the business was founded in New York in 1922 and has grown exponentially in the last 100 years.

Kimberley Lue Lim, head of marketing for Grace Foods UK, said: "The team at Grace Foods UK is really proud of the Grace Jamaican honey jerk seasoning.

"People around the world love our Jamaican jerk sauces and seasonings because their traditional recipes are developed and made in Jamaica. Foodies like the heat they add to food, but we thought it was time to launch a milder alternative, which is how we came up with the idea of Grace Jamaican honey jerk seasoning.

"The mild sweetness combined with a very slight hint of spice allows us to broaden the appeal of our classic jerk sauces and seasonings and hopefully reach a wider audience while introducing them to Jamaican cuisine at the same time.

"For families who are keen to introduce new tastes and flavours from around the world, our honey jerk seasoning is the answer, offering a deliciously, versatile ingredient that all the family, regardless of age, will love. And it is the perfect addition to any barbecue and really does offer a great alternative to hotter sauces and seasonings.

"And we couldn't be happier to hear the news that we have won a two-star ‘outstanding' rating from the Great Taste Awards judges. These awards are the most prestigious in the food and drink industry and only 10 per cent of entries secure the two-star rating.

"The judges have praised the seasoning's 'fragrant, authentic flavour' which has ‘a good level of spice, fire and sweetness. It is a milder jerk flavour as promised and would be a versatile product.

"They also went on to say that 'this is a really fun idea… a clever concoction… with some great flavour from the jerk seasoning with the punchy heat from the chilli backed up by more complex notes from the other spices'. What a great start for our newest jerk product."

Explaining more about the Great Taste Award, The Guild of Fine Food website reads: "We’ve been championing independent food and drink retailers, and the producers, wholesalers and distributors that supply them, since 1995.

"Committed to supporting and encouraging business across the sector, we speak up for the needs of the independents, celebrate excellence and create a network of relationships between retailer, producer and food lover.

"There is something for everyone across our range of activities – join us in raising the bar for great food and drink."