About the 2020 Competition

The Aurora International Taste Challenge was established to recognise and award food product excellence, while helping consumers purchase award-winning, scientifically rated products with confidence. The Aurora International Taste Challenge 2020 will be held in South Africa to celebrate and honour universal food quality.

This year, water of all types will be judged and awarded, as well as beer and cider, and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Our judges will include a cherry-picked lineup of sommeliers and other food industry professionals.

While many consumers are brand loyal, most would pick another product if they were provided with fair ratings on alternative products. Some people may be willing to invest in either cheaper or more costly choices, depending on their personal preference, and the quality awards that are conferrred during this competition would significantly enhance their perception of these products. 

The Aurora Taste Challenge will grant merit and trophy awards to exceptional products available worldwide. We are proud to be setting new industry standards.

Non-alcoholic drinks judged this year will be:

  • Water – both Flavoured and Unflavoured
  • Non-Alcoholic alternatives to popular drinks
  • *Mixers to be mixed with alcoholic spirits (mixed during judging)
  • Soft Drinks
  • Energy drinks
  • Sports drinks
  • Health/Nutritional drinks
  • CBD infused drinks
  • Coffee – in Ready-to-Drink format
  • Tea – in Ready-to-drink format
  • Fruit Juice
  • Smoothies
  • Vegetable Juices
  • Yogurt based drinks
  • Flavoured Milk
  • Vegetable Milk (Flavoured and Unflavoured)
  • Kombucha (Must have less that 0.5% alcohol)

Alcoholic categories that will be judged include:

  • Beer
  • Cider
  • Mead
  • Kombutcha (Must have alcohol level of more than 0.5% alcohol)
  • *Spirits to be mixed with mixers (mixed during judging)
  • Spirit based drinks
  • Wine based drinks
  • Cocktails that are well known
  • Other Cocktails that are fruit/vegetable based
  • Shots/Shooters Liquid
  • Shots Jelly/Jello
    This year the following categories were also added:
    • Table Olives
    • Olive Oil
    • Coffee
    • Meat products

    Watch a slide show of the 2019 event

    We are proud to be partnering with several companies to make the 2020 Aurora International Taste Challenge a big success.

    San Pelegrino 600
    Mahlkonig 600
    Hendriks 600
    DHL 600
    Scotsman 600
    SOMA 600
    Crystal Direct 600
    Poly Oak 600
    Kapruka
    RX Olive Oil 600
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    Awards

    Superior products will be awarded three, four (gold) and five star (double gold) awards, to award products with excellent taste. These products will be able to display their award artwork on packaging, in email signatures, and in digital and in print media for a certain period, depending on the category in which the awards are granted, as long as the quality of the product does not change from that of the original sample, and dependent on the terms of a non-exclusive licence agreement signed by both parties. Trophy awards will also be conferred on products that really stand out in their special area.

    Here are some examples of the award artwork. No physical trophies or awards are awarded.
    Aurora-5Star-Award-2020-02 - Copy
    Aurora-5Star-Award-2020-03 - Copy
    Aurora-5Star-Award-2020-04 - Copy
    Aurora-5Star-Award-round-2020-01 - Copy
    Aurora-5Star-Award-round-2020-02
    Aurora-5Star-Award-round-2020-03
    Aurora-5Star-Award-round-2020-04
    Aurora-25mmAward-3star - Copy
    Aurora-25mmAward-3star
    Aurora-25mmAward-4star
    Aurora-25mmAward-5star
    Aurora-Trophy01
    Aurora-Trophy02
    DoubleGold-Mainaward
    Aurora-Gold-MainAward04
    Aurora-Gold-MainAward03
    Aurora-Gold-MainAward02
    Aurora-Gold-MainAward
    Gold 888 PNG
    Aurora-Gold-award-10mm-sticker02
    Aurora-Gold-award-25mm-sticker04
    Aurora-Gold25mm-sticker-colour04
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    Timeline for 2020 competition

    Competition Opens
    17 March 2020


    Early Bird Special Entry Fee
    of R950 excl VAT
    (approximately USD76 or EUR66) applies

    Normal Entry Fee applies
    9 June 2020


    Normal Entry Fee of
    R1200 excl VAT
    (approximately USD96 or EUR84) applies

    Late entry fee
    applies
    21 July 2020

    Late Fee is R1440 Excl VAT
    (approximately USD115 or EUR101)

    Entries Close
    28 July 2020

    Delivery of samples
    3rd and 4th of August 2020

    Results released
    11th August 2020

    FAQ's

    Can I use this award for all the brands that this product is produced under?

    The award may only be used for the particular brand that was entered. If the company markets the exact same product under different brand names, additional non-exclusive licences will be granted to be used for the additional brands at an amount per brand that is equal to the entry fee.

    Entry Fees and dates
    • 17 March 2020 – Entries open and the Early Bird special is R950 excluding VAT (approximately USD76 or EUR66) per entry.
    • 9 June 2020 – Normal entry fee is R1200 excluding VAT (approximately USD96 or EUR84) after this date.
    • 21 July 2020 – Late entries can be submitted for R1440 excluding VAT (approximately USD115 or EUR101) after this date.
    • 28 July 2020 – Entries close.
    Why should I enter my product?

    Winning an award will provide content for media coverage, grant bragging rights and make the market appreciate the great lengths you go to in producing your product. In a world where food and drinks are often considered generic products, an award will set you apart from the competition.

    Who will be judging the competition?

    Products will be judged by sommeliers and other food industry professionals who have an intimate knowledge of taste and who will be able to discern superior products.

    Will the tasting be audited?

    The tasting will be audited by an accredited auditing firm to ensure that the judges are not influenced and that the tasting is done blind, and conforms to international standards.

    How are products evaluated?

    Products will be assessed double blind, and judged according to the generally accepted criteria used within in their particular category. These include taste, smell, mouthfeel, persistence of flavour and other distinctive attributes as applicable.

    Category overview

    Categories accepted this year will be beer and cider, bottled water, and other drinks both alcoholic and non alcoholic.

    Beer and cider

    In addition to the many food products awarded in the Aurora International Taste Challenge, this year’s contest will also be awarding superior beers and ciders. The winners will be determined on the basis of score, and the number of winners will not be limited to three per category.

    Find out more...
    Non-alcoholic as well as alcoholic drinks

    Besides the normal technical criteria used during judging, a wow factor and a score on the judges’ hedonic scale of enjoyment will be taken into account. Judges will place themselves into the shoes of the consumer, whatever their age may be.

    Find out more...
    Bottled water

    This year, bottled water in every form, from still to sparkling to flavoured, will be judged in South Africa by sommeliers, chefs, and food industry professionals. The goal is to identify and award the best-tasting water available to consumers.

    Find out more...
    Olives and Olive Oil

    Olives and Olive oil will be judged in South Africa by sommeliers, chefs, and food industry professionals. The goal is to identify and award the best-tasting water available to consumers.

    Find out more...
    Charcuterie, Sausage, Dried and Cured Meat

    This year is the first year that Charcuterie, sausage, dried and cured meat will be assessed in South Africa by chefs, and food industry professionals. The goal is to identify and award the best-tasting products available to consumers.

    Find out more...
    Coffee

    Coffee from around the world will be judged in South Africa by sommeliers, chefs, and food industry professionals. The goal is to identify and award the best-tasting products available to consumers.

    Find out more...

    Use of award artwork illustrated with mock-up examples

    Winning participants will be invited to display their award by making use of the media kits provided to them, subject to the provisions of a non-exclusive licence agreement signed by both parties.

    Contact and delivery of samples

    Participants may use any courier, but please ensure that samples are delivered to: The Conference Centre, Joostenberg Deli, Koelenhof Road, Stellenbosch, South Africa, between 9:00 and 16:00 on August 3rd and 4th, 2020.

    Person receiving samples: Celia Gilloway

    Email: celia@eventsbycelia.com

    Tel: 082 782 1977

     We have partnered with DHL to allow for timely delivery. When making use of DHL, please ensure you send your samples by 16 July 2020, to: DHL Paarl, 35 Zandwyk Park, Old Paarl Road, Paarl, South Africa, for the attention of: “The Aurora International Taste Challenge C/o Marijke Douglas”. You can contact Marijke on Marijke.Douglas@dhl.com  or phone her on 021 872 4717. DHL will consolidate the samples to make sure they are delivered on time.

    Products from outside South Africa need the necessary time to clear customs. Also add the wording: “Samples of no commercial value – for attention The Aurora International Taste Challenge C/o Marijke Douglas”. Contact Marijke on Marijke.Douglas@dhl.com or phone her on +27 (0)21 872 4717 for more details.

    Products that are sent that have to maintain the cold chain, need to be packed accordingly, and the DHL overnight service can be used.

    Late entries might not be accepted.

    For additional information contact Sanet van Heerden at hello@aurorachallenge.com. This competition is run by the Awards Show (Pty) Ltd.

    Rules

    Rules vary from category to category, and would be shown on the individual category’s webpage.

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