New Belgian packagings for the three Maaslander awarded cheeses from the Westland Kaasspecialiteiten BV Company of The Netherlands .  Good show !

Just before Christmas, most of the Belgian newspapers announced chaos and problems to come because of a general strike.  But if you look well at the right of the front pages, you could see a very good suggestion to forget your worries and to see the good side of life, with a Tongerlo Prior. It gives you an even better feeling when you know that it won 3 golden Stars Superior Taste Awards in 2010 and 2011.

Every cloud has a silver lining, and in Belgium it is called beer!

Highest distinction received with the Crystal Award 2011

It’s sensational! The Crystal Award is being given to those who have received the Superior Taste Award three times in consecutive years. The Zoller-Hof team under the leadership of brewer Peter Hamberger achieved three years in a row the highest distinction with the Zoller-Hof Hefe-Weizen (Wheat beer) and hence received this outstanding and coveted award. Worldwide the Crystal Award was only given to three breweries so far and Zoller-Hof is the only brewery who received this award for their Hefe Weizen.

The leadership team is very proud of this achievement and will continue to produce with 100% regionally sourced raw materials, gentle brewing methods, high quality standards and ecologically energy.

The Crystal Award is being given by the Brussels based International Taste and Quality Institute (iTQi) and the jury consists of independent European chefs and sommeliers who test and honor the tastiest food and drinks articles submitted by manufacturers.

Three beers of the Belgian Haacht brewery received a 3 golden stars Superior Taste Award this year: Prior Tongerloo,  Charles Quint Blonde /Keizer Karel Goud Blond &  Charles Quint Rouge Rubis /Keizer Karel Robijn Rood

It is the second year in a row for the Prior Tongerloo,which means that this beer is eligible for a Crystal Taste Award if it gets again 3 stars in 2012.

Next to these products, Haacht brewery received also 2 Golden Stars awards for the PRIMUS Pils and the VAL Still mineral water, very nice results indeed as this means that these 2 products have scored between 80 and 90% at the testing session.  Congratulations!

2 stars for the Mayonnaise and for the Andalouse saus of Belgian company LA WILLIAM, now available in Belgian stores.   The Superior Taste Awards are clearly visible on the packagings and an explanation is given on  the website of the company.

In 2010 the Guylian chocolates received a three stars award for their Sea Shells Extra.  This year, in 2011, they received again a three stars award for their chocolate spread and a two stars award for the Temptations mixed giftbox.  These awards has been put on their packaging and they explain it on their website

Three stars (outstanding taste) for Guylians's chocolate-pasta spread at the 2011 superior Taste award

Good show

In this video, Juan Garro, President of the Spanish Milk company Lacturale, explains how winning  in 2009 and 2010 3 stars for its products,  helped him to become the leading brand in his region  and increased its national market share.

In the mean time , in 2011 his product received 3  Golden stars again which means that for achieving  the highest award 3 years in a row, he received officially a Crystal Award.

Mr Fermin Cilveti Vidaurreta, General Manager of Lacturale,  was very happy to  receive his Crystal Award from Mr Louis Frere, Managing Partner of iTQi.

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