This year The Aurora International Taste Challenge will be held in South Africa, and will have some of the top food professionals judging products from around the world. The goal is to identify and award the best-tasting products available to consumers.
The aim of the panellists is to assess the quality of products from the consumer’s point of view, in similar circumstances to those in which a consumer would enjoy the product. This event will champion meat products from around the world that are made for the discerning consumer.
Meat products will be judged in sub categories according to the following main criteria:
Stickers for gold and double gold awards will also be available for purchase for the winners. A one-time print run will be done, and extra stickers will be available on a first come, first served basis. You do not have to order stickers.
Set your quality product apart from the sea of others, to show that quality,
not just your marketing budget, still counts for a lot.
Winners of The Aurora International Taste Challenge will enjoy bragging rights and can display their award artwork in email signatures, on the product itself as well as in digital and print media, all royalty-free.
Superior products will be granted Gold and Double Gold status, to reward excellent quality. Exceptional products that exceed expectations will be eligible for Trophy awards. Besides the normal technical criteria used during judging, a wow factor and a reading on the judge’s hedonic scale of enjoyment will be taken into account.
Winning producers will be able to display award artwork on the product itself, in digital media, and in print media for a period of one year from when the awards are granted. Winners will receive a digital award artwork kit with all permutations of the artwork related to the award received, and will be able to use the artwork subject to a non-exclusive licence agreement. No royalties are charged.
Stickers for gold and double gold awards will also be available for purchase for the winners. A one-time print run will be done, and extra stickers will be available on a first come, first served basis. You do not have to order stickers.
Winning producers will be able to display award artwork on the product itself, in digital media, and in print media for a period of one year from when the awards are granted. Winners will receive a digital award artwork kit with all permutations of the artwork related to the award received, and will be able to use the artwork subject to a non-exclusive licence agreement. No royalties are charged.
Early bird entry fee R990 excluding VAT (approximately USD76 or EUR66) from 16 March until 7 June 2021
Early bird entry price ends, and the regular entry fee of R1300 excluding VAT (approximately USD96 or EUR84) applies from 8 June to 2 August 2021
Late entry fee of R1440 excluding VAT (approximately USD115 or EUR101) applies from 4 August to final close on 10 August 2021
Final entries close
Final delivery of samples to Stellenbosch, South Africa
Stickers will be available to the winners at R330 excluding VAT per 1000. There will be only one print run, and extra stickers will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
For ready to eat meat, the following criteria will be assessed:
For uncooked products, the following criteria will be assessed:
Raw
Bacon will be cooked on an oven tray in a pre-heated oven at 200°C (392°F) for 5 minutes.
Sausages entrants can choose between 4 different methods:
Method no.1
Sausages will be grilled on medium heat on a gas grill, with frequent turning until the sausages are cooked through.
Method no.2
Sausages will be prepared in a pan with oil, at a medium heat, until cooked through.
Method no.3
Sausages will be poached in warm water in an oven set to 200°C, for five to eight minutes, until they are cooked through.
For dried and cured meats the following samples are needed:
A minimum of 3 separate containers/packets with a combined weight of 240 grams.
For all other meat samples:
A minimum of three containers comprising a minimum combined weight of 900 grams is needed.
The only uncooked products that may be entered are under the fresh sausage, patties or burgers, bacon and kebabs / sosaties / skewers categories. All the products that are entered into other categories have to be ready to eat.
The three pieces of equipment used for preparation will be:
Products will be judged by food professionals with an intimate knowledge of meat.
No royalties are payable.
An electronic certificate will be emailed to winning participants. This will be accompanied by a non-exclusive licence agreement that, after being signed by both parties and dependent on adherence to the stipulations of the agreement, will give the winners a non-exclusive licence to make use of the digital award artwork kit, with various logos and award artwork to use on their product, in email signatures, in digital and in print media for a period of one year from the time the awards are announced. No physical trophies or awards are presented.
The award artwork may only be used for the particular brand and product 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 the product is sold under, at the price of the original entry fee.
Stickers will also be available for purchase. A one-time print run will be done, and extra stickers will be available on a first come, first served basis.
With regards to the samples, our product is biltong which is dried meat – would we be allowed to deliver it in vacuum sealed packages, negating the need to arrive chilled?
Biltong does not have to be maintained in the cold chain, as long as the participant takes note that moist biltong can be susceptible to spoilage and the necessary precautions should be taken to ensure the product is delivered in the best possible condition.
When sending frozen samples, how will the product be stored on your side to maintain cold-chain integrity?
You can send frozen samples as long as you take taking the necessary precautions to keep them frozen, and once received, the cold chain will be maintained until the judging takes place. Frozen products will be thawed to be at room temperature, or product specific appropriate temperatures as necessary.
Participants may use any courier, but please ensure that samples are delivered to:
The Aurora International Taste Challenge
C/o Celia Gilloway
The Conference Centre
Koelenhof Road
Stellenbosch
South Africa
GPS coordinates: – 33 82’ 66 21 S / 18 79” 55 15 W
Samples must be delivered between 9:00 and 16:00 on August 16th and 17th, 2021.
Email: [email protected]
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 2021, 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected]. This competition is run by the Awards Show (Pty) Ltd.
With regards to DHL and overnight delivery, how certain can I be that the sample receives the necessary urgency to deliver on time?
When making use of DHL, please ensure you send your samples 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”. Make sure you arrange with Marijke on [email protected] or phone her on +27 (0)21 872 4717 to make sure everything will be in order.
Does taxes and custom fees only relate to imports?
Only samples send from outside of South Africa will accrue taxes, clearance and customs fees.
As you have partnered with DHL, do entrants get a reduced-price option?
Because DHL consolidates deliveries, the prices will be reduced. Make sure you arrange with Marijke on [email protected] or phone her on +27 (0)21 872 4717 to get the necessary detail.
Overnight deliveries and deliveries from outside of South Africa will be at normal DHL rates.
Will you have a show for people / companies to attend if they are not entering the competition?
The Aurora International Taste Challenge is not a trade show or public event. Only the organisers and judges are present.
There is also no prize giving ceremony or trade / public tasting afterwards.
Salami
Chorizo
Ham
Dried / cured meats
Jerky / biltong
Bacon
Cooked meats
Cooked sausages
Uncooked sausages
Terrines
Patés
Rillettes
Liverwürst
Species sausage
Boerewors raw definition:
Any sausage sold under a name in which the word “boerewors” appears either by itself or in combination with any other word or expression.
Compositional Requirements:
In or in connection with the manufacture of raw boerewors, no ingredients shall be added except –
Dahnia sausage
Flexatarian sausage:
Burgers/Patties
