FOUR county businesses have satisfied the appetite of judges and scooped much-coveted stars in a UK-wide food and drink awards.

The Great Taste Awards, organised by the Guild of Fine Food, saw a team of 144 judges sample food and drinks and rate them for taste, texture and appearance.

And four East Lothian businesses were among the 12,777 entrants to gain stars, which can now be printed on their packaging as a stamp of gastronomic excellence.

The judges awarded three stars to “extraordinarily tasty foods”; two stars to food and drink that was “above and beyond delicious”; and one star to food that “delivered fantastic flavour”.

The four East Lothian businesses to tickle the judges’ tastebuds were Yester Farm Dairies; The Spice Witch; By Julia; and Brodies.

Yester Farm Dairies, based near Gifford, won two stars for its signature cottage cheese, which the judges said had “lifted cottage cheese to a new dimension”.

Jackie McCreery, co-owner of Yester Farm Dairies, said: “We have some of the best farming conditions in the UK here in East Lothian and we can make the best quality produce.

“I believe that this, combined with the extraordinary support we have received from the local community, has helped us to be able to produce products worthy of such prestigious awards as Great Taste.”

The Spice Witch in Prestonpans also won two stars for its flagship product, Mango and Chilli Chutney, which is made entirely by hand in small batches. Judges declared it to have an “amazing aroma”.

Janice Strachan, the company’s owner, said: “There’s a wonderful history and love of good produce in East Lothian and we are incredibly grateful to work alongside such a wealth of local talent and producers.”

Gullane-based By Julia won one star for her drinks mixer Gullane Glögg, a combination of orange and spices which can be added to red or sparkling wine.

Owner Julia Sutherland said: “Great Taste awards are so important to the business, as they are an endorsement of the quality of the product that carries the logo.”

Tea and coffee company Brodies, based in Musselburgh, won two sets of one-star awards for its Kilimanjaro coffee and its Skeachan cake.

Ann Hameda, Brodies national retail sales manager, said: “Artisan producers are more connected to their products, and that shows in the quality and taste of the food they make.”

Rebecca Muir, business manager for East Lothian, Scotland’s Food and Drink County – an organisation uniting and supporting the local food industry – said: “These four businesses demonstrate the breadth of talent and wonderful taste coming from East Lothian’s food and drink sector.

“The community has been so supportive of our local producers, particularly over recent months, and I’m sure that has contributed to what they’ve been able to achieve.

“I know that our winners are all grateful for all the support they receive from East Lothian residents.”