La Maritxu, a bakery in South London renowned for its Basque cheesecakes, is celebrating after receiving the highest honor in the food industry at the Great Taste 2026 awards. The bakery’s founder, Lucía Larragoiti, expressed her joy, stating, „Winning a Great Taste Award feels like an incredible milestone for us. We started La Maritxu out of a pure love for Basque baking, and the support from our London community has been overwhelming. This award is a testament to all the early mornings, hard work, and passion that go into every single cheesecake we bake.“
Recognition at Great Taste Awards
The Great Taste awards, recognized as the world’s largest food and drink accreditation scheme, awarded La Maritxu an extraordinary three-star rating for its classic Basque cheesecake, the highest accolade possible. Additionally, three other cheesecakes from the bakery received recognition: two-star „outstanding“ awards for the manchego and tiramisu cheesecakes, and a one-star „delicious“ award for the pistachio cheesecake.
Background of La Maritxu
Founded in 2021, La Maritxu has quickly gained popularity in London, with its cheesecakes becoming a social media sensation. Larragoiti, who previously worked as an architect, decided to pursue her passion for baking and share the Basque cheesecakes of her childhood with the British public. She collaborates with her sisters, Maria and Almudena, to run the bakery.
Family Heritage and Cultural Significance
According to Larragoiti, the name ‚La Maritxu‘ combines her sister Maria’s name with the affectionate Basque suffix -txu, symbolizing familiarity and love. She noted, „The recipe for our Basque burnt cheesecake, also known as San Sebastian cheesecake, has been in our family for generations and is made with a very special ingredient – love.“ This connection to family and culture is a driving force behind the bakery’s success.
Market Impact and Community Support
La Maritxu has established itself with four locations across London, including Kingly Court, Connaught Village, Greenwich, and Coal Drops Yard. The bakery’s rapid rise in popularity is attributed to its unique offerings and the strong support from the local community. Reviews have praised the quality of the cheesecakes, with one reviewer stating they are „the best I ever tasted.“
Great Taste Awards Overview
This year, the Great Taste awards received a record-breaking 15,000 product submissions from around the globe. Of these, only 4,286 products (28.50%) were awarded a one-star rating, indicating they were „simply delicious.“ A total of 1,596 products (10.61%) received a two-star award for being „outstanding,“ while only 306 products (2.03%) achieved the prestigious three-star rating, signifying they were „exquisite and extraordinary.“
La Maritxu’s achievements at the Great Taste awards highlight not only the quality of its products but also the bakery’s commitment to sharing Basque culinary traditions with a wider audience. As the bakery continues to grow, it remains dedicated to its roots and the community that has embraced it.
Quellen: mylondon.news
Bildquelle: Foto von Donna White auf Unsplash
