The International Chocolate Awards is pleased to announce the winners of the 2014 Americas Semi-final, which was judged at the International Culinary Center in New York, USA, 20 – 24 September 2014.
The International Chocolate Awards aim to recognize the best fine quality chocolate from around the world. The awards are designed to reflect international tastes and offer a level playing field for international entries.
Judging Panel
The judging panel is made up of experts, food journalists, sommeliers and pastry chefs from the host country and is overseen by members of our international Grand Jury, who travel to each competition.
You can read profiles on each of the 2014 Americas Semi-final Grand Jurors here. A list of the judges who attended this competition is published here.
Prizes
The judging categories range from plain/origin and flavoured bars to filled chocolates and spreads and are chosen based on yearly feedback from our entrants and consultation with the fine chocolate industry. All judging is anonymised, included at the Grand Jury final session, where Golds, Silver and Bronze prizes are awarded by private voting.
The Grand Jury can also give national awards where there were a significant number of national entries in one category at the Grand Jury round and can give special Awards, such as Directly Traded, Organic and Chocolate Maker to the highest scoring entry for each criteria.
A full list of the products that made it to the Grand Jury round is available here.
[line]The Winners and World Finalists of the 2014 Americas Semi-finals are:
Bars
Bars – Dark plain/origin bars
Overall winners
Additional Silvers were given in this category due to the exceptionally high number of entries and overall standard.
GOLD: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Tangara 70%
SILVER: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Piura 70%
SILVER: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Raw 70%
SILVER: Soma Chocolate (Canada ) – Peru Nacional
SILVER: Franceschi Chocolate (Venezuela) – Rio Caribe 60% crop 2014
SILVER: Cacaosuyo (Peru) – Lakuna
SILVER: It’s Chocolate (United States) – Venezuelan Chuao 70% dark
SILVER: Franceschi Chocolate (Venezuela) – Ocumare 70% crop 2014
SILVER: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Lacumbia 70%
SILVER: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Montubia 70%
SILVER: Madre Chocolate (United States) – Healani Orchards Hawaii, Criollo
SILVER: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Nube 70%
BRONZE: Franceschi Chocolate (Venezuela) – Sur Del Lago 60% crop 2014
BRONZE: Amano Chocolate Company (United States) – Chuao
BRONZE: Hummingbird Chocolate Maker (Canada) – Hispaniola
BRONZE: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Garua 70%
BRONZE: Chocolat Madagascar (Madagascar) – Fine Dark Chocolate 65% Cocoa
BRONZE: Amano Chocolate Company (United States) – Montanya Dark Chocolate
BRONZE: Potomac Chocolate (United States) – Upala, Costa Rica 70%
Special category awards
Given for entries that qualify for the special category criteria
GOLD – Chocolate Maker: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Tangara 70%
GOLD – Growing Country: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Tangara 70%
GOLD – Organic: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Tangara 70%
GOLD – Directly Traded: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Tangara 70%
National awards
Given to Grand Jury finalists where there were a significant number of entries from one country within the category
GOLD – USA: It’s Chocolate – Venezuelan Chuao 70% dark
GOLD – CANADA: Soma Chocolate – Peru Nacional
GOLD – VENEZUELA: Franceschi Chocolate – Rio Caribe 60% crop 2014
SILVER – USA: Madre Chocolate – Healani Orchards Hawi, Criollo
SILVER – USA: Amano Chocolate Company – Chuao
SILVER – USA: Amano Chocolate Company – Montanya Dark Chocolate
SILVER – USA: Potomac Chocolate – Upala, Costa Rica 70%
SILVER – USA: Dandelion Chocolate – Ambanja, Madagascar 70%
SILVER – CANADA : Hummingbird Chocolate Maker (Canada) – Hispaniola
[line]Bars – High Percentage Dark plain/origin bars
GOLD: Marou – Faiseurs de Chocolat (Vietnam) – Tan Phu Dong 85% La Grande Epicerie de Paris
SILVER: Pacari (Ecuador) – Raw 85%
SILVER: Chocolat Madagascar (Madagascar) – Fine Dark Chocolate 85% Cocoa
BRONZE: Pacari (Ecuador) – Raw 100%
BRONZE: Cicada Chocolate (Australia) – 99% Madagascan Single Origin Bar
Special category awards
Given for entries that qualify for the special category criteria
GOLD – Chocolate Maker: Marou – Faiseurs de Chocolat (Vietnam) – Tan Phu Dong 85% La Grande Epicerie de Paris
GOLD – Growing Country: Marou – Faiseurs de Chocolat (Vietnam) – Tan Phu Dong 85% La Grande Epicerie de Paris
GOLD – Directly Traded: Marou – Faiseurs de Chocolat (Vietnam) – Tan Phu Dong 85% La Grande Epicerie de Paris
Bars – Rough Ground Dark plain/origin bars
GOLD: Taza (United States) – Cacao Puro
SILVER: Soma Chocolate (Canada) – Old School
National awards
Given to Grand Jury finalists where there were a significant number of entries from one country within the category
GOLD – USA: Taza Chocolate – Cacao Puro
Bars – Milk plain/origin bars
Overall winners
GOLD: Chocolat Madagascar (Madagascar) – Fine Milk Chocolate 50% Cocoa
BRONZE: Castronovo Chocolate (United States) – Rare Cacao Collection- Colombia, Sierra Nevada, Dark Milk
Special category awards
Given for entries that qualify for the special category criteria
GOLD – Growing Country: Chocolat Madagascar (Madagascar) – Fine Milk Chocolate 50% Cocoa
GOLD – Directly Traded: Chocolat Madagascar (Madagascar) – Fine Milk Chocolate 50% Cocoa
GOLD – Chocolate Maker: Chocolat Madagascar (Madagascar) – Fine Milk Chocolate 50% Cocoa
Bars – White plain/origin bars
Overall winners
GOLD: Chocolates El Rey (Venezuela) – Icoa
SILVER: Chocolat Madagascar (Madagascar) – Fine White 34% Cocoa & bourbon vanilla caviar
Special category awards
Given for entries that qualify for the special category criteria
GOLD – Growing Country: Chocolates El Rey (Venezuela) – Icoa
GOLD – Directly Traded: Chocolates El Rey (Venezuela) – Icoa
Bars – Dark flavoured with an infusion or flavouring
GOLD : Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Andean Lemon Verbena
SILVER : Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Andean Mint
BRONZE : Forte Chocolates (United States) – Fireweed and Blackberry Honey
Bars – Dark flavoured with inclusions or pieces
GOLD: Madre Chocolate (United States) – Triple Cacao
SILVER: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – 70% Passion Fruit
SILVER: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Coffee
SILVER: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Pink Cuzco Salt & Cacao Nibs
BRONZE: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – 60% Passion Fruit
Bars – Flavoured dark with a filling
GOLD – FILLED: Cacaosuyo (Peru) – Camu Camu/Yacon
SILVER – FILLED: es koyama (Japan) – Spicy Mineral
Bars – Milk flavoured with an infusion or flavouring
GOLD : es koyama (Japan) – Fukinoto
Bars – Milk flavoured with inclusions or pieces
GOLD: Askinosie Chocolate (United States) – Dark Milk Chocolate + Black Licorice CollaBARation™ Bar
BRONZE: Theo Chocolate (United States) – Theo Chocolate Organic & Fair Trade Coffee & Cream 45% Milk Chocolate Bar
BRONZE: jcoco (United States) – jcoco agave quoina sesame
BRONZE: Chuao Chocolatier (United States) – Pop Corn Pop
Bars – Flavoured milk with a filling
GOLD – FILLED: FIKA choklad (United States) – Quinoa/Hazelnut Bar
Bars – Flavoured white chocolate
GOLD: es koyama (Japan) – Genmaicha (Hojicha & Genmai)
SILVER: es koyama (Japan) – Kyoto (Matcha & Mibuna)
SILVER: es koyama (Japan) – Milk-Kintoki (Milk & Azuki)
SILVER: es koyama (Japan) – Strawberry Jam
SILVER: es koyama (Japan) – Japanese Sake
BRONZE: Forte Chocolates (United States) – Lemon Pepper
BRONZE: Forte Chocolates (United States) – Espresso White Swan
BRONZE: es koyama (Japan) – Raspberry Jam
[line]
Filled chocolates – dark (flavoured or unflavoured)
Unflavoured dark – Ganaches and truffles
GOLD: Chocolopolis (United States) – House Blend Dominican Republic Dark Chocolate Truffle
SILVER: Chocolopolis (United States) – Madagascar Craft Truffle
BRONZE: Chocolopolis (United States) – Belize Craft Truffle
Unflavoured dark – Nut pralines
GOLD: es koyama (Japan) – Golden Sesame Praline
Flavoured dark – Ganaches and truffles
Overall winners
GOLD: es koyama (Japan) – Indonesian Café & Lychee Raspberry
SILVER: Arcay Chocolates (Venezuela) – Coco Rum
BRONZE: French Broad Chocolates (United States) – Thai truffle
BRONZE: Roots Chocolates (United States) – Chocolate Mint Basil
National awards
Given to Grand Jury finalists where there were a significant number of entries from one country within the category
SILVER – USA: French Broad Chocolates – Thai truffle
Dark – Caramels
GOLD: Theo Chocolate (United States) – Theo Chocolate Licorice Caramel
SILVER: Chuao Chocolatier (United States) – Strawberry Seduction
BRONZE: Theo Chocolate (United States) – Theo Chocolate Ghost Chili Caramel
BRONZE: FIKA choklad (United States) – Liquorice/Yuzu
[line]Filled chocolates – milk/white (flavoured or unflavoured)
Milk – Ganaches and truffles
GOLD: es koyama (Japan) – Kaffir Lime Leaves
SILVER: es koyama (Japan) – Genesis (Fig Leaves & Smoked Branch)
BRONZE: Xocolatti (United States) – Passion Fruit Truffle
White – Flavoured filled
GOLD: FIKA choklad (United States) – Key Lime Pie
SILVER: Chocolopolis (United States) – Lemon Lavender Truffle
[line]Filled chocolates – mixed (flavoured or unflavoured)
Ganaches and truffles with mixed dark/milk/white chocolate for coating and fillings
GOLD: es koyama (Japan) – Yuzu-Miso
SILVER: es koyama (Japan) – Matcha & Kyobancha(Roasted Green Tea of Kyoto)
SILVER: Forte Chocolates (United States) – Lemon Pepper Truffle
SILVER: Dreams of Eva (Peru) – Lúcuma / Pisco Bonbon
SILVER: Arcay Chocolates (Venezuela) – Tamarindo
SILVER:Arcay Chocolates (Venezuela) – Parchita
BRONZE: Arcay Chocolates (Venezuela) – Trufa Salé
BRONZE: Arcay Chocolates (Venezuela) – Romero Salé
BRONZE:es koyama (Japan) – Burnt Soy Sauce
National awards
Given to Grand Jury finalists where there were a significant number of entries from one country within the category
GOLD – USA: Forte Chocolates – Lemon Pepper Truffle
GOLD – VENEZUELA: Arcay Chocolates – Tamarindo
Milk – Nut based pralines
GOLD: es koyama (Japan) – Matcha and Yuzu
SILVER: es koyama (Japan) – Sakekasu Praline
SILVER: FIKA choklad (United States) – Hazelnut Skulls
Milk – Caramels
BRONZE: FIKA choklad (United States) – Salted Caramel
[line]Spreads
Milk – Spreads
GOLD: es koyama (Japan) – Sakura Leaves & Raspberry
BRONZE: es koyama (Japan) – Yaki-Mikan
[line]Note: only judged categories with winners are listed.
