The International Chocolate Awards is pleased to announce the winners of the 2013 Americas Semi-final, which was judged at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York, USA, 23-28 June 2013.
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 2013 Americas Semi-final Grand Jurors here. A list of the judges who attended this competition is published here.
Prizes
The categories, which range from origin and flavoured bars to filled chocolates to spreads, are designed to reflect trends in the current chocolate industry. Prizes are given according to category, with just one Gold awarded in each category and a number of Silver awards available at the discretion of the Grand Jury.
For countries where there were 10 or more entries in a category we’ve also awarded a country Gold for the highest scoring product in that category, for products that made it to the Grand Jury round.
For the bar categories we have given awards special Awards for Chocolate Maker, Directly Traded, Organic and Chocolate Maker to the highest scoring entry for each criteria.
The Grand Jury can also nominate outstanding products that didn’t quite achieve an award to go forward as World Finalists. These products qualify to enter the World Final in October 2013 in London, along with the Gold and Silver medal winners.
You can also find a full list of the products that made it to the Grand Jury round here.
[line]The Winners and World Finalists of the 2013 Americas Semi-finals are:
Bars
Bars – Dark plain/origin bars
Overall winners
GOLD: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Raw 70% cacao
SILVER: Patric Chocolate (United States) – Madagascar 67%
SILVER: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Piura Quemazon 70% cacao
SILVER: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Guayacán 70%
SILVER: Patric Chocolate (United States) – Piura 67%
SILVER: The Grenada Chocolate Company (Grenada) – The Grenada Chocolate Company Organic 60% Dark Bar
Special category awards
Given for entries that qualify for the special category criteria
GOLD – Chocolate Maker: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Raw 70% cacao
GOLD – Growing Country: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Raw 70% cacao
GOLD – Organic: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Raw 70% cacao
GOLD – Directly Traded: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Raw 70% cacao
National awards
Given to Grand Jury finalists when 10 or more entries from one country in category
GOLD – ECUADOR: Pacari Chocolate – Raw 70% cacao
GOLD – USA: Patric Chocolate – Madagascar 67%
GOLD – VENEZUELA: Franceschi Chocolate – Franceschi Chocolate, Canoabo crop 2013
SILVER – USA: Patric Chocolate – Piura 67%
SILVER – USA: Amano Chocolate Company – Chuao 70% Dark Chocolate Bar
SILVER – USA: Askinosie Chocolate – 70% Cortés, Honduras Dark Chocolate Bar
SILVER – USA: Tejas Chocolate – Capistrano
SILVER: USA – Dandelion Chocolate (United States) – Papua New Guinea 70%
Additional World Finalists
Additional entries of a high standard nominated to go forward to the World Final
Amazona Chocolate (Peru) – Gran Pajatén, Peru 73% Dark Chocolate Trinitario
Bars – Milk plain/origin bars
Overall winners
SILVER: Forte Chocolates (United States) – Chocolate Love (dark milk chocolate bar)
SILVER: TCHO Chocolate (United States) – Classic
SILVER: Chocolates El Rey (Venezuela) – Irapa
Special category awards
Given for entries that qualify for the special category criteria
GOLD – Growing Country: Chocolates El Rey (Venezuela) – Irapa
GOLD – Directly Traded: Chocolates El Rey (Venezuela) – Irapa
Bars – White plain/origin bars
Overall winners
GOLD: Chocolates El Rey (Venezuela) – Icoa
SILVER: Fruition Chocolate (United States) – Toasted White Chocolate
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 – Flavoured dark chocolate
Overall winners
GOLD – FILLED: Es Koyama (Japan) – Manganji-Temple Green Pepper & Almond Praline
GOLD – FUSED: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – 60% organic chocolatess with lemongrass
SILVER: Patric Chocolate (United States) – Mocha OMG
National awards
Given to Grand Jury finalists when 10 or more entries from one country in category
GOLD – USA: Patric Chocolate (United States) – Mocha OMG
SILVER – USA: Chuao Chocolatier (United States) – Salted Chocolate Crunch
SILVER – USA: Chuao Chocolatier (United States) – Spicy Maya
SILVER – USA: TCHO Chocolate (United States) – Galactic Gelato
Bars – Flavoured milk chocolate
Overall winners
GOLD: Jade Chocolates (United States) – Genmai
SILVER: jcoco (United States) – jcoco edamame sea salt
SILVER: Chuao Chocolatier (United States) – Pop Corn Pop
SILVER: es koyama (Japan) – Daitokuji-Temple Natto
SILVER: TCHO Chocolate (United States) – Mokaccino
SILVER: Hudson Chocolates (United States) – Milk Chocolate and Sichimi Togarashi Bar
National awards
Given to Grand Jury finalists when 10 or more entries from one country in category
GOLD – USA: Jade Chocolates (United States) – Genmai
SILVER- USA: jcoco (United States) – jcoco edamame sea salt
SILVER- USA: Chuao Chocolatier (United States) – Pop Corn Pop
SILVER- USA: TCHO Chocolate (United States) – Mokaccino
SILVER- USA: Hudson Chocolates (United States) – Milk Chocolate and Sichimi Togarashi Bar
SILVER- USA: Askinosie Chocolate (United States) – Dark Milk Chocolate + Ancho Chile & Pistachio CollaBARation™ Bar
Bars – Flavoured white chocolate
Overall winners
SILVER: Forte Chocolates (United States) – Rosemary Sea Salt Bar
SILVER: es koyama (Japan) – Raspberry & Lychee
Additional World Finalists
Additional entries of a high standard nominated to go forward to the World Final
jcoco (United States) – jcoco Veracruz Orange Cayenne
Filled chocolates – dark (flavoured or unflavoured)
Unflavoured dark – Ganaches and truffles
No medal prizes given
World Finalists
Entries of a high standard nominated to go forward to the World Final
Payard (United States) – Chocolat Chocolat
Chocolopolis (United States) – Colombia Truffle
Flavoured dark – Ganaches and truffles
Overall winners
GOLD: Theo Chocolate (United States) – Mint Ganache
SILVER: The Secret Chocolatier (United States) – Cardamom Chocolate Truffle
SILVER: L.A.Burdick (United States) – Fig bonbon
SILVER: Arcay Chocolates (Venezuela) – Coco Rum
National awards
Given to Grand Jury finalists when 10 or more entries from one country in category
GOLD-USA: Theo Chocolate (United States) – Mint Ganache
Additional World Finalists
Additional entries of a high standard nominated to go forward to the World Final
Socola Chocolatier (United States) – Dark Chocolate Cognac truffles
Chocolate Springs (United States) – Salted Caramel Truffle
Chocolopolis (United States) – Anise Ganache Fig
Dark – Nut based pralines and gianduja, enrobed whole nuts
No medal prize given
World Finalists
Entries of a high standard nominated to go forward to the World Final
Gearharts Fine Chocolates (United States) – Pistachio Toffee
Dark – Caramels
Overall winners
GOLD: Forte Chocolates (United States) – Rosemary Caramel
SILVER: Theo Chocolate (United States) – Ghost Chile Caramel
SILVER: Lillie Belle Farms (United States) – Lavender Sea Salt Caramel
SILVER: Theo Chocolate (United States) – Licorice Caramel
National awards
Given to Grand Jury finalists when 10 or more entries from one country in category
GOLD – USA: Forte Chocolates (United States) – Rosemary Caramel
Additional World Finalists
Additional entries of a high standard nominated to go forward to the World Final
Forte Chocolates (United States) – Sea Salt Caramel
Filled chocolates – Milk (flavoured or unflavoured)
Milk – Ganaches and truffles
Overall winners
GOLD: es koyama (Japan) – Nanko Ume Plum & Almond Praline
SILVER: Xocolatti (United States) – Passion Fruit Truffle
SILVER: Theo Chocolate (United States) – Burnt Sugar Ganache
National awards
Given to Grand Jury finalists when 10 or more entries from one country in category
GOLD – USA: Xocolatti (United States) – Passion Fruit Truffle
Additional World Finalists
Additional entries of a high standard nominated to go forward to the World Final
tumbador chocolate (United States) – Salted Peanut Bar
Milk – Nut based pralines and gianduja, enrobed whole nuts
No medal prize given
World Finalists
Entries of a high standard nominated to go forward to the World Final
FIKA choklad (United States) – Quinoa Hazelnut
Milk – Gianduiotto
No awards given
Milk – Caramels
GOLD: Theo Chocolate (United States) – Honey Saffron Caramel
SILVER: Chuao Chocolatier (United States) – Rosemary Salt Caramel
SILVER: Tumbador chocolate (United States) – Kalamansi “Pie” Caramel
Filled chocolates – Mixed (flavoured or unflavoured)
Ganaches and truffles with mixed dark/milk/white for coating and fillings
Overall winners
GOLD: Es Koyama (Japan) – Laphroaig 10 Year Old(Whisky) & Raspberry
SILVER: Forte Chocolates (United States) – Lemon Pepper Butter Truffle
SILVER: Arcay Chocolates (Venezuela) – Limon
SILVER: L.A.Burdick (United States) – White chocolate mouse
SILVER: Payard (United States) – Key Lime Chocolate
National awards
Given to Grand Jury finalists when 10 or more entries from one country in category
GOLD – USA: Forte Chocolates (United States) – Lemon Pepper Butter Truffle
SILVER- USA: L.A.Burdick (United States) – White chocolate mouse
SILVER- USA: Payard (United States) – Key Lime Chocolate
SILVER- USA: Fruition Chocolate (United States) – Strawberry and Toasted Cashew Gianduja
World Finalists
Additional entries of a high standard nominated to go forward to the World Final
FIKA choklad (United States) – Goat Cheese Truffle
Luxx Chocolat (United States) – Fig & Port Hat Trick
Payard (United States) – Salted Caramel Chocolate
Filled chocolates – White (flavoured or unflavoured)
White – Flavoured filled chocolates
GOLD: Chocolopolis (United States) – Lemon Lavender Truffle
Spreads
Dark – Spreads
No awards given
Note: only judged categories are listed.
