BEARS ICE CREAM RECEIVES TWO GREAT TASTE 1-STAR AWARDS IN 2026
Two of our three entries in the 2026 Great Taste Awards have received a Great Taste 1-Star.
Great Taste products are judged blind, without branding or packaging influencing the result. Every award is earned on what is in the tub, which makes this recognition especially important to us.
Great Taste 1-Star: Miso, Banana & Butterscotch Pudding
"A delicious and sophisticated ice cream with lovely natural sweetness from the banana alongside a touch of brown sugar. The miso provides excellent balance and a note of salted caramel. The judges also loved the flavour and texture of the brown sugar sponge. Delicious."
This flavour is Bears' take on a full pudding rather than a single-note banana ice cream. Banana brings the natural sweetness, miso keeps it balanced, and butterscotch and brown sugar sponge build the flavour and texture of the finished dessert.
It previously took third place at the World Gelato Masters London Heat in 2024 and can now add a Great Taste 1-Star to its awards.
Great Taste 1-Star: Brown Butter & Rosemary Ice Cream with Sour Plum Swirl
"The judges were very impressed by the execution of the rosemary flavour, which is fresh and aromatic. The sweet-sour plums add a lovely balance to the ice cream. Unusual, brave and well done."
Rosemary has to be handled carefully in ice cream. Here, brown butter provides a rounded, toasted base, the rosemary brings a fresh aromatic note, and the sour plum swirl adds fruit and acidity. Each part does a specific job in the finished scoop.
What a Great Taste 1-Star means
Great Taste is run by the Guild of Fine Food and is recognised for its independent judging. A 1-Star is awarded to products that deliver excellent flavour and stand out as clearly enjoyable and well crafted.
Receiving two 1-Star awards from three entries is a strong result for our small team in Whitstable, and it recognises the work that goes into developing every recipe before it reaches the counter.
Flavour first
These two flavours show how Bears Ice Cream develops creative ice cream. One uses miso to sharpen and balance familiar pudding flavours. The other brings together rosemary, brown butter and sour plum. Neither works simply because the ingredients sound unusual. They work because the finished flavours are carefully put together and balanced.
You can try both 2026 Great Taste winners at Bears Ice Cream Imaginarium in Whitstable and Bears Ice Cream Scooptopia at Macknade Food Village in Faversham. Availability can change as batches sell, so check in store or follow us for the latest menu.