Leatherwood honey from a Mawbanna honey producer has been named one of the top five food products in the world.

Blue Hills Honey Tasmanian leatherwood secured a grand gold medal as well as being named on the prize of the jury list at the Monde fine food awards, held this year at Budapest, Hungary.

Blue Hills Honey co-owner Nicola Charles said they were thrilled to win the award and be recognised for the calibre of their products, particularly the leatherwood.

“It was really great, especially after the fires,” she said.

Blue Hills Honey was threatened by bushfires in the Mawbanna area that swept through the region in January.

As a result, they lost manuka shrubs that will grow back in 5 -7 years. Thankfully, no bees or leatherwood trees were lost as a result of the fire, that came within 200-metres of their premises at Mawbanna.

Mrs Charles said Blue Hills Honey nearly didn’t enter the Monde awards because of the fires but were entered by the company’s export manager Elizabeth Williams.

“We were up against the best in the world, the best products made by Michelin Star chefs and the like,” she said.

Products selected as finalists in the Monde Awards are judged on their packaging as well as the product itself.

“The product is sent away to a lab and judged scientifically, as well as its taste profile and looks,” Mrs Charles said.

The jury of the Monde awards judges on taste, health, convenience, labelling, packaging, environmental friendliness and innovation.

The Monde awards have been held for 55 years and judge the best of the best of all different types of food products. The prize of the jury can choose the top five products from all the finalists entered.

The Monde awards were founded in 1961 and judges more than 3000 products from more than 80 different countries each year. Mrs Williams attended the awards ceremony, held in May.

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