Meet the winners of the 2026 NC Specialty Foods

‘Best in Taste’ Awards Competition

 

GRAND CHAMPION

Big Spoon Roasters Vanilla Latte Almond Butter

 

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BAKED GOODS

1^st Place – Sweater Box Confections – Vanilla Bean Sea Salt Shortbread

 

2^nd Place – Sweater Box Confections – Lavender Lemon Cookies

 

 

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BBQ SAUCES

1^st Place – CW Dressings – Date Barbecue Sauce

 

2^nd Place – Happy Hog Sauce Co. – Blueberry Blast

 

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BEVERAGES/BEVERAGE MIXES

 

1^st Place –Tryon Mountain Farms – Lime Basil Lemongrass Simple Syrup

 

2^nd Place –Still There Shine Sauce – Moo Mary Original

 

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CONDIMENTS

1^st Place – KarenKave – Chili Kickstart

 

 

 

2^nd Place – Rising Smoke Sauceworks – Fire Seed Mustard

 

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CONFECTIONS

1^st Place – KLG Candies, LLC – Griff’s Coffee Toffee
2^nd Place – KLG Candies, LLC – Chapel Hill Toffee

 

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DELI MEATS, CHEESE, DAIRY

1^st Place – Nana’s Porch Pimento Cheese – Smoked Jalapeno Pimento Cheese

 

2^nd Place – San Giuseppe Salami Co. – Salami Al Gorgonzola

 

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FRUIT SPREADS, JAMS, JELLIES

 

1^st Place – Gotta Be Penelopes LLC – Apricot Hot Pepper Jelly

 

2^nd Place – Peggy Rose’s Jellies, LLC – Peggy Rose’s Hot Pepper Jelly

 

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HOT SAUCES

 

1^st Place – Rising Smoke Sauceworks Cur-ibbean

 

2^nd Place – Mama Maisa’s Pepper Sauce – St. Croix Fire Pepper Sauce

 

 

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PANTRY

1^st Place – Big Spoon Roasters – Vanilla Latte Almond Butter

 

2^nd Place – Big Spoon Roasters – Bourbon Pecan Peanut Butter

 

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PLANT BASED

1^st Place – Quandary Lake Mushrooms – Herb & Walnut Mushroom Pate

 

 

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SNACKS

 

1^st Place – Queen City Crunch – Queen City Crunch, The OG

 

 

2^nd Place – Mackey’s Ferry Peanuts & Gifts – Blister Fried Peanuts

 

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SWEETENERS AND SYRUPS

1^st Place – Ford’s Foods Bone Suckin’ Hot Honey

 

 

 

2^nd Place – Shipwrecked Seasonings Captain’s Hot Honey