A record-breaking 173 merchandise had been entered into the 2025 Taste of Georgia Meals Product Contest, setting the stage for an thrilling competitors on April 17 at The Traditional Heart in downtown Athens.
First-round judges tasted their manner by means of a scrumptious gauntlet to whittle down the 173 contestants to 37 finalists that may compete for high product of the yr. The very best variety of merchandise entered was beforehand 148 within the 2008 and 2022 contests.
The Taste of Georgia contest is obtainable yearly by the College of Georgia’s School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The CAES Signature Occasion showcases the tastiest choices from market-ready small companies in Georgia.
New and improved for 2025
Joseph Harrison, UGA Cooperative Extension program coordinator within the Division of Meals Science and Know-how, has led a workforce to carry some thrilling adjustments to this yr’s competitors.
“Taste of Georgia has all the time been an ideal occasion, courting all the best way again to 2007. As stewards of Taste of Georgia, it’s essential to make sure that we proceed to develop the constructive influence that Taste of Georgia has on the meals and beverage trade in our state,” Harrison mentioned. “I consider that our collective success just isn’t decided by the variety of merchandise or companies competing in any given yr, however relatively by persevering with to extend the tangible advantages for these concerned.”
Small companies got the chance to enter their merchandise at an early-bird charge of $85 per product through the first month of the registration interval. Potential contestants additionally had the choice to “enter three or extra merchandise and get the final one free” all through registration.
The primary spherical of the competitors was hosted on the Meals Product Innovation and Commercialization Heart on the UGA Griffin campus for the primary time within the competitors’s historical past. Judges sampled every product on particular person taste profile, creativity, packaging attraction and illustration of the state of Georgia.
“We should innovate to maintain transferring Taste of Georgia ahead,” Harrison mentioned. “I’m deeply grateful that so many enterprise house owners proceed to enter their merchandise in Taste of Georgia. A meals product contest with out so many great entries is, itself, a subpar product.”
Savor the state
The ultimate spherical of this yr’s Taste of Georgia Competitors will premiere the Savor the State: A Taste of Georgia Tasting Expertise. Foodies are invited to pattern the merchandise vying for the highest prize and make their selections recognized for the Individuals’s Alternative Award.
Attendees will even be capable to meet finalist contestants and, for the primary time, buy these new and modern merchandise. Attendees will even vote for his or her favourite product and attend the 2025 Taste of Georgia awards ceremony.
2025 Taste of Georgia finalists
This yr’s finalists are listed by product title, firm and hometown inside the 12 competitors classes. Every product comes from an organization primarily based in Georgia.
Baked Items
- Sunday Dinner Gritscuits by Girl Belle in Stone Mountain
- Candy Potato Pecan Cookies by Yams Meals in Mabelton
- Black Bean Empanada by Casa Cardoza in Lawrenceville
Barbecue Sauces and Seasonings
- Southern Collards Seasoning by Tiger Life Connoisseur in Decatur
- Georgia Candy Peach by Oconee Gold BBQ Sauce in Statham
- Korean BBQ Unique Sauce or Marinade by The Southern Artwork Firm in Atlanta
Drinks
- Tilted Tea – Farmer’s Daughter by Jubilee Power Firm in Jackson
- Sizzling Mulled Elderberry Cider Combine by My Elderberry Fairy in Scottdale
- Masala Chai Focus by The Chai Field in Marietta
Truffles
- Pound Cake by Natalie’s Baked Items in Tyrone
- Chocolate Dipped Fruitcake Morsels by Thomson Fruitcake Firm in Thomson
- Georgia Turtle Delight by Jessicakes Bakery in Covington
Condiments and Sauces
- Peach Jalapeño Sauce by EM Sauces and Extra in Peachtree Metropolis
- Carmen’s Spicy Cilantro Sauce by Carmen’s Inexperienced Sauce in Covington
- Bootlikker Thunderbird Wing Sauce by Bootlikker Sizzling Sauce in Jefferson
Confections
- Milk Chocolate Pecan Turtle by Atlanta Sweet Kitchen in Chamblee
- Georgia Gems Pate de Fruits by Maybird Confections in Alpharetta
- Honeycream Gelato by Honeycream in Rome
Dairy Merchandise
- Georgia Gouda by Candy Grass Dairy in Thomasville
- Honey Garlic Jalapeño Cream Cheese by Now Schmear This! in Austell
- Bacon Pimento Cheese by Jensen Reserve in Loganville
Honey, Syrup, Jams & Jellies
- Candy Potato Pecan Syrup by Yams Meals in Mabelton
- Cloves & Honey Basil Uncooked Honey Infusion by Biron Natural Teas, LLC in St. Simons
- H.L. Franklin’s Sizzling Creamed Honey by H. L. Franklin’s Honey in Metter
Meats and Seafood
- Pastured Cane Syrup Pork Sausage by White Oak Pastures in Bluffton
- Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Rooster Breast by Jensen Reserve in Loganville
- Honey Cured Ribeye by 9 Twenty Firm in Millen
Miscellaneous
- Pecan Flour by Peacock Orchards in Woodstock
- The BOK Kimchi by Chunk of Korea in Tucker
- Chorisoy by Viva la V in Tucker
Pickled Greens, Relish and Salsas
- The Banana Pickle by Evergreen and Market in Tucker
- Buckshot by Level Clean Pepper Firm in Marietta
- Georgia Chow Chow by Jake’s Recent Market & Cannery in White
Snack Meals
- Sugar Fried Pecans by Ocmulgee Orchards in Hawkinsville
- Knotty Pretzels Ranch by Knotty Pretzels in Atlanta
- Chocolate Cherry Matcha Granola by We Three Women in Sandy Springs
- Purposeful Pecans: Candy With Warmth by Purposeful Connoisseur Meals: Meals on Wheels Atlanta Social Enterprise in Atlanta
“The 2025 Taste of Georgia contest is a real testomony to the that means behind the competitors: to behave as a platform for Georgia meals entrepreneurs and their visionary merchandise,” mentioned Manpreet Singh, meals science and know-how division head. “Our consultants within the Division of Meals Science and Know-how and the School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, together with the volunteers, have labored onerous to not solely efficiently host this occasion annually however improve it to offer an enriching expertise and higher serve the contestants and attendees who make this CAES Signature occasion so distinctive.”
To study extra about Savor the State: A Taste of Georgia Tasting Expertise and to purchase tickets to attend the April 17 occasion, go to the Taste of Georgia web site at flavorofgeorgia.caes.uga.edu.
