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Published on 03/18/25

37 finalists advance to the 2025 Flavor of Georgia finale

By Lillian Sosbee
Attendees, including Dean Nick Place, trying samples from the various finalists at the Flavor of Georgia contest.
On April 17, the final round of this year’s Flavor of Georgia Competition will premiere the Savor the State: A Flavor of Georgia Tasting Experience. Foodies are invited to sample the products vying for the top prize and make their choices known for the People’s Choice Award. (Photo by Dennis McDaniel)

A record-breaking 173 products were entered into the 2025 Flavor of Georgia Food Product Contest, setting the stage for an exciting competition on April 17 at The Classic Center in downtown Athens.  

First-round judges tasted their way through a delicious gauntlet to whittle down the 173 contestants to 37 finalists that will compete for top product of the year. The highest number of products entered was previously 148 in the 2008 and 2022 contests.

The Flavor of Georgia contest is offered annually by the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The CAES Signature Event showcases the tastiest offerings from market-ready small businesses in Georgia.

New and improved for 2025

Joseph Harrison, UGA Cooperative Extension program coordinator in the Department of Food Science and Technology, has led a team to bring some exciting changes to this year’s competition. 

“Flavor of Georgia has always been a great event, dating all the way back to 2007. As stewards of Flavor of Georgia, it’s important to ensure that we continue to grow the positive impact that Flavor of Georgia has on the food and beverage industry in our state,” Harrison said. “I believe that our collective success is not determined by the number of products or businesses competing in any given year, but rather by continuing to increase the tangible benefits for those involved.”

Small businesses were given the opportunity to enter their products at an early-bird rate of $85 per product during the first month of the registration period. Potential contestants also had the option to “enter three or more products and get the last one free” throughout registration.

The first round of the competition was hosted at the Food Product Innovation and Commercialization Center on the UGA Griffin campus for the first time in the competition’s history. Judges sampled each product on individual flavor profile, creativity, packaging appeal and representation of the state of Georgia.

“We must innovate to keep moving Flavor of Georgia forward,” Harrison said. “I’m deeply thankful that so many business owners continue to enter their products in Flavor of Georgia. A food product contest without so many wonderful entries is, itself, a subpar product.” 

Savor the state

The final round of this year’s Flavor of Georgia Competition will premiere the Savor the State: A Flavor of Georgia Tasting Experience. Foodies are invited to sample the products vying for the top prize and make their choices known for the People’s Choice Award.

Attendees trying samples from the various finalists at the Flavor of Georgia Savor the State event.
Attendees of the April 17 event will be able to meet finalist contestants, sample their products and, for the first time, purchase these new and innovative products. (Photo by Dennis McDaniel)

Attendees will also be able to meet finalist contestants and, for the first time, purchase these new and innovative products. Attendees will also vote for their favorite product and attend the 2025 Flavor of Georgia awards ceremony.

2025 Flavor of Georgia finalists

This year’s finalists are listed by product name, company and hometown within the 12 competition categories. Each product comes from a company based in Georgia.

Baked Goods

  • Sunday Dinner Gritscuits by Lady Belle in Stone Mountain
  • Sweet Potato Pecan Cookies by Yams Foods in Mabelton
  • Black Bean Empanada by Casa Cardoza in Lawrenceville

Barbecue Sauces and Seasonings

  • Southern Collards Seasoning by Tiger Life Gourmet in Decatur
  • Georgia Sweet Peach by Oconee Gold BBQ Sauce in Statham
  • Korean BBQ Original Sauce or Marinade by The Southern Art Company in Atlanta

Beverages

  • Tilted Tea – Farmer’s Daughter by Jubilee Energy Company in Jackson
  • Hot Mulled Elderberry Cider Mix by My Elderberry Fairy in Scottdale
  • Masala Chai Concentrate by The Chai Box in Marietta

Cakes

  • Pound Cake by Natalie’s Baked Goods in Tyrone
  • Chocolate Dipped Fruitcake Morsels by Thomson Fruitcake Company in Thomson
  • Georgia Turtle Delight by Jessicakes Bakery in Covington

Condiments and Sauces

  • Peach Jalapeño Sauce by EM Sauces and More in Peachtree City
  • Carmen’s Spicy Cilantro Sauce by Carmen’s Green Sauce in Covington 
  • Bootlikker Thunderbird Wing Sauce by Bootlikker Hot Sauce in Jefferson

Confections

  • Milk Chocolate Pecan Turtle by Atlanta Candy Kitchen in Chamblee
  • Georgia Gems Pate de Fruits by Maybird Confections in Alpharetta
  • Honeycream Gelato by Honeycream in Rome
Spoons and colorful napkins are set for guests at the 2024 Flavor of Georgia contest.
“The 2025 Flavor of Georgia contest is a true testament to the meaning behind the competition: to act as a platform for Georgia food entrepreneurs and their visionary products,” said Manpreet Singh, UGA food science and technology department head. (Photo by Dennis McDaniel)

Dairy Products

  • Georgia Gouda by Sweet Grass Dairy in Thomasville
  • Honey Garlic Jalapeño Cream Cheese by Now Schmear This! in Austell
  • Bacon Pimento Cheese by Jensen Reserve in Loganville 

Honey, Syrup, Jams & Jellies

  • Sweet Potato Pecan Syrup by Yams Foods in Mabelton
  • Cloves & Honey Basil Raw Honey Infusion by Biron Organic Teas, LLC in St. Simons
  • H.L. Franklin’s Hot Creamed Honey by H. L. Franklin’s Honey in Metter

Meats and Seafood

  • Pastured Cane Syrup Pork Sausage by White Oak Pastures in Bluffton
  • Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Chicken Breast by Jensen Reserve in Loganville 
  • Honey Cured Ribeye by Nine Twenty Company in Millen

Miscellaneous

  • Pecan Flour by Peacock Orchards in Woodstock 
  • The BOK Kimchi by Bite of Korea in Tucker
  • Chorisoy by Viva la V in Tucker

Pickled Vegetables, Relish and Salsas

  • The Banana Pickle by Evergreen and Market in Tucker
  • Buckshot by Point Blank Pepper Company in Marietta
  • Georgia Chow Chow by Jake’s Fresh Market & Cannery in White

Snack Foods

  • Sugar Fried Pecans by Ocmulgee Orchards in Hawkinsville
  • Knotty Pretzels Ranch by Knotty Pretzels in Atlanta
  • Chocolate Cherry Matcha Granola by We Three Girls in Sandy Springs
  • Purposeful Pecans: Sweet With Heat by Purposeful Gourmet Foods: Meals on Wheels Atlanta Social Enterprise in Atlanta

“The 2025 Flavor of Georgia contest is a true testament to the meaning behind the competition: to act as a platform for Georgia food entrepreneurs and their visionary products,” said Manpreet Singh, food science and technology department head. “Our experts in the Department of Food Science and Technology and the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, along with the volunteers, have worked hard to not only successfully host this event each year but enhance it to provide an enriching experience and better serve the contestants and attendees who make this CAES Signature event so exceptional.”

To learn more about Savor the State: A Flavor of Georgia Tasting Experience and to buy tickets to attend the April 17 event, visit the Flavor of Georgia website at flavorofgeorgia.caes.uga.edu.

Lillian Sosbee is the communications, public relations and program coordinator for the UGA Department of Food Science and Technology.

Authors:
Lillian Sosbee
Experts/Sources:
Manpreet Singh
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