The International Chocolate Awards is pleased to announce the Grand Jury Finalists of the second Central America support Competition which was held on 1 – 5 December, in Guatemal City, Guatemala.
The Grand Jury Finalists are the entries that made it through to the final Grand Jury round, following five days of judging, which included judges from the UK, USA, Europe and Asia and members of our international Grand Jury panel. The panel was made up of chocolate experts, pastry chefs, journalists, restaurant reviewers, bloggers, culinary educators and chefs.
The Finalists are the nominations from which the Grand Jury select the prize winners, through private voting. The Grand Jury follow strict rules, which you can read here (PDF).
While listing as a Grand Jury Finalist is an achievement in itself, it does not necessarily indicate that the entry will receive a prize.
The 2018 Central American competition Finalists are:
(In alphabetical order within each category)
Plain/origin bars
Plain/origin dark chocolate bars
Feliu Chocolate (Mexico) - Criollo Marfil - La RiojaZucoleto (Honduras) - Chocolate Oscuro 70%
Tropical Chocolate Café (Panama) - Tropical Chocolate 70%
Palato Hand Crafted Chocolate (Honduras) - 65% Chocolate Oscuro
Feliu Chocolate (Mexico) - Soconusco
Xocolatisimo (El Salvador) - San José Real de La Carrera 65%
Xocolatisimo (El Salvador) - San José Real de La Carrera 75%
Xocolatisimo (El Salvador) - San José Real de La Carrera 70%
Wolter (Mexico) - Quetzalli 85%
Kotowa Chocolate Victoria (Panama) - Chocolate oscuro 70%
Wolter (Mexico) - Quetzalli wolter
Wolter (Mexico) - Quetzalli uranga
Nahua (Costa Rica) - Dark 70% Upala
Nahua (Costa Rica) - Dark 70% Upala & Guatuso
Fabrica de Chocolate Momotombo (Nicaragua) - Tableta Oscuro 70%
Fabrica de Chocolate Momotombo (Nicaragua) - Tableta 80% Tuma La Dalia
Fabrica de Chocolate Momotombo (Nicaragua) - Tableta Oscuro 70% Rio Waslala
Fabrica de Chocolate Momotombo (Nicaragua) - Tableta Oscuro 70% Rio San Juan
Fabrica de Chocolate Momotombo (Nicaragua) - Tableta Oscuro 70% Waslala
Micro-batch - Plain/origin dark chocolate bars
Zaguate Chocolate (Costa Rica) - Zaguate Chocolate Lot #12Maleku Chocolate (Costa Rica) - Maleku Chocolate Dark 75%
Maleku Chocolate (Costa Rica) - Tenorio Dark 70%
XKIK’ chocolate de origen (Mexico) - 75% cacao, Galeana
XKIK’ chocolate de origen (Mexico) - 65% Cacao, Sarabia
XKIK’ chocolate de origen (Mexico) - 65% Cacao, Plantación El Rocío
XKIK’ chocolate de origen (Mexico) - 65% Cacao, Galeana
Le Caméléon (Mexico) - Blanco Marfil 75% Cacao
Kakaw Museo (Mexico) - Xocolate Chiapas - Soconusco 70
Danta Chocolate (Guatemala) - Finca San Juan 82% Dark
Nahua (Costa Rica) - Dark 70% Upala & Guatuso
High % plain/origin dark chocolate bars (85% and over)
Xocolatisimo (El Salvador) - San José Real de La Carrera 85%Maleku Chocolate (Costa Rica) - Upala Single Origin 85%
Kakaw Museo (Mexico) - Xocolate Chiapas - Rioja 85
Nahua (Costa Rica) - Dark 90% Upala
Sibö Chocolate Costa Rica (Costa Rica) - Guacimo-Talamanca 100%
Cacaoterra/Xiquipil (El Salvador) - Xiquipil 85% Finca La Catarina
Cacaoterra/Xiquipil (El Salvador) - Xiquipil 85% Finca La Cruz
Plain/origin dark chocolate bars made with alternative natural sugar
Palato Hand Crafted Chocolate (Honduras) - 75% Chocolate Oscuro con PanelaNahua (Costa Rica) - Dark 70% Candid
Plain/origin milk chocolate bars
Zucoleto (Honduras) - Chocolate con leche 45%Plain/origin 'dark' milk chocolate bars (50% and over)
Maleku Chocolate (Costa Rica) - Maleku Chocolate 60% MilkMaleku Chocolate (Costa Rica) - Bijagua 56% semi-dark Milk
Sibö Chocolate Costa Rica (Costa Rica) - Talamanca 63%
Fabrica de Chocolate Momotombo (Nicaragua) - Tableta Fino de Leche
Cacaoterra/Xiquipil (El Salvador) - Xiquipil 65% Dark Milk San Jose del Real de La Carrera
Micro-batch - Plain/origin milk chocolate bars
Danta Chocolate (Guatemala) - Maya Rojo MilkPlain/origin white chocolate bars
Danta Chocolate (Guatemala) - White ChocolateFlavoured bars
Dark chocolate bars with an infusion or flavouring
Wolter (Mexico) - Quetzalli Criollo Pasión 70%Wolter (Mexico) - Quetzalli Piña
Nahua (Costa Rica) - Dark 70% Ginger
Nahua (Costa Rica) - Dark 70% Orange
Cacaoterra/Xiquipil (El Salvador) - Xiquipil 50% Mocha Guanaca San Jose/Ayutepeque
Dark chocolate bars with inclusions or pieces
Tropical Chocolate Café (Panama) - Tropical Chocolate 65%Xocolatisimo (El Salvador) - Tableta de Chocolate 75% Cacao Con Gengibre y Galleta
Xocolatisimo (El Salvador) - Tableta de Chocolate Oscuro con Banano
Sibö Chocolate Costa Rica (Costa Rica) - Roasted Almond 70%
Dark chocolate bars with a filling
Nahua (Costa Rica) - Dark 70% Passion FruitRough ground flavoured dark chocolate bars
Cacao Junajpu (Guatemala) - Rustico Mayan Spice Cacao BarMilk chocolate bars with an infusion or flavouring
Maleku Chocolate (Costa Rica) - Lava - 56% Milk Chocolate with nutmeg & ChiliMaleku Chocolate (Costa Rica) - Maleku Chocolate 60% Milk Chili
Milk chocolate bars with inclusions or pieces
Estukurú (Costa Rica) - Tableta chocolate con leche y maní garapiñadoDanta Chocolate (Guatemala) - Milk Chocolate with Smoked Chile and Whole Cacao Beans
White chocolate bars with an infusion or flavouring
Palato Hand Crafted Chocolate (Honduras) - Chocolate Blanco con Limon y Sal RosadaWhite chocolate bars with inclusions or pieces
Maleku Chocolate (Costa Rica) - Cañas, white 40% with cacao nibsDanta Chocolate (Guatemala) - White with Nibs
Danta Chocolate (Guatemala) - Coco/Nibs with White and Milk
Xocolatisimo (El Salvador) - Tableta de Chocolate Blanco Con Frambuesa
Ganaches, palets, ganache pralines and truffles
Flavoured dark chocolate ganaches or truffles
Danta Chocolate (Guatemala) - Zacapa CentenarioXocolatisimo (El Salvador) - Trufa De Chocolate Oscuro 75% Cacao con Nibs
Xocolatisimo (El Salvador) - Bombón Flor de Azahar ( Orange Blossom )
Cacaoterra/Xiquipil (El Salvador) - Shaw's Mayaland Flor de Jamaica Truffle
Flavoured milk chocolate ganaches or truffles
Danta Chocolate (Guatemala) - Maracuyá y Chocolate de LecheFlavoured white chocolate ganaches or truffles
Danta Chocolate (Guatemala) - Trufa de Chocolate Blanco CaramelizadoXocolatisimo (El Salvador) - Bombón de Mantequilla
Flavoured ganaches or truffles with combination coating or filling
Wolter (Mexico) - bombón de mezcal y balsámicoKakaw Museo (Mexico) - Napana: Maracuya & Almendra By Chriss Macbeth
Danta Chocolate (Guatemala) - Horchata Praliné
Xocolatisimo (El Salvador) - Bombón de Fresa y Albahaca
Xocolatisimo (El Salvador) - Bombón de Cardamomo y Café
Sibö Chocolate Costa Rica (Costa Rica) - Rompope truffle
Nuts
Nut based pralines with dark chocolate
Xocolatisimo (El Salvador) - Bombón deMantquilla de Maní y Caramelo de LaurelXocolatisimo (El Salvador) - Bombón de Almendra y Galleta de Gengibre
Nut based pralines with milk chocolate
Cacaoterra/Xiquipil (El Salvador) - Shaw's Caramelized MacadamiaCaramels
Dark chocolate enrobed caramels
Nahua (Costa Rica) - Praline VainillaCacaoterra/Xiquipil (El Salvador) - Shaw's Creme Caramel with Sea Salt
Milk chocolate enrobed caramels
Sibö Chocolate Costa Rica (Costa Rica) - Café Irlandés caramelOthers - fruit/sugar/butter/cream/misc
Dark chocolate enrobed fruit pastes, jellies/gelée
Cacaoterra/Xiquipil (El Salvador) - Shaw's Mayaland Tamarind TruffleDark chocolate enrobed whole fruit
Cacaoterra/Xiquipil (El Salvador) - Shaw's Cascara de NaranjaCacaoterra/Xiquipil (El Salvador) - Cacaoterra/Shaw's Cranberry Dragée
Spreads
Spreads with milk chocolate
El Bastión (Mexico) - EL BASTIÓN CREMA DE CHOCOLATEDrinks with dark chocolate
Dark drinking chocolate (made with water)
Cacao Junajpu (Guatemala) - Mayan Spice Sipping CacaoGiocolato (Guatemala) - Giocolato/cocolato
Xbalan'ke (Guatemala) - Xbalan'Ke Artisanal chocolate powder
Chocolate Doña Mari (Guatemala) - Chocolate en tableta de sabor Almendra
Chocolate Doña Mari (Guatemala) - Chocolate en tableta de sabor vainilla
Chocolate Doña Mari (Guatemala) - Chocolate en tableta sin sabor
Chocolate Doña Mari (Guatemala) - Chocolate en tableta amargo al 70% de cacao
Chocolate Doña Mari (Guatemala) - Chocolate en tableta, 100% de caca0
Dark drinking chocolate (made with milk)
Wolter (Mexico) - Metate chile y pimientaWolter (Mexico) - Metate café cacao
Nahua (Costa Rica) - Tibio de Cartago
Alcoholic drinks
Alcoholic drinks/liquors made with chocolate or cacao
Licores Don Juan (Nicaragua) - Licor de Cacao ClasicoLicores Don Juan (Nicaragua) - Licor de Cacao Especial
Licores Don Juan (Nicaragua) - LIKAO
Licores Don Juan (Nicaragua) - Likao con stevia