The International Chocolate Awards is pleased to announce the Winners of the 2019 European, Middle Eastern and African Bean-to-bar Competition, which was judged in Copenhagen, Denmark, May 10 – June 16, 2019 at the prestigious Hotel- og Restaurantskolen / Copenhagen Hospitality College.
The Bean-to-bar competition focuses on fine, craft and micro-batch chocolate makers who work directly from cacao beans to produce plain/origin and flavoured chocolate bars from Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Winners will go through to the World Final in Florence in October 2019. The competition is supported by the Hotel- og Restaurantskolen / Copenhagen Hospitality College.
2019 Highlights
The European, Middle Eastern and African Bean-to-bar Competition was the Award’s first competition focusing only on bars of all types made by bean-to-bar chocolate makers, for the first time including flavoured inclusion, infusion and filled bars made directly from cacao beans. This year we saw an improved standard from European micro-batch producers, with both the dark and milk overall ‘Best-in-show’ prizes going to small craft chocolate makers, from Belgium and the UK.
European craft chocolate is fast catching up with the US craft chocolate movement, with close to 500 bars entered in the European competition, including from emerging small chocolate makers from Eastern Europe, as well as established French and Belgian chocolatiers going back to making their own chocolate.
The Grand Jury is very pleased to announce the winners and looks forward to a tough competition at the World Final as European, Americas and Asia-Pacific winners compete for the world’s most prestigious chocolate prizes.
Judges
The judging panel included regular European judges, along with pastry chefs, restaurateurs, journalists and other specialists from the local area and members of our international Grand Jury panel.
- Winners
- Finalists
- Judges
- Grand Jury
- Sponsors
Prizes
This was the fifth international competition devoted to bean-to-bar chocolate bars produced in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and for the second year, included flavoured bars made by chocolate makers. All judging is anonymised, including at the Grand Jury final session, where Golds, Silver and Bronze prizes are awarded by private voting according to the Grand Jury rules.
Prizes are awarded only to entries that meet the required standard for each prize.
View details of our sponsors and partners here.
(Prizes are shown in alphabetical order for each medal)
'Best in competition' overall winners
Plain/origin dark bar categories
Gold: Bonnat Chocolatier (France) - El CastilleroPlain/origin milk bar categories
Gold: Rosehill Estate Chocolates (Sweden) - Rosehill Estate 45%Plain/origin bars
Plain/origin dark chocolate bars
Gold: Bonnat Chocolatier (France) - El Castillero
+ Gold: Chocolate Maker
+ Gold: Direct Traded
Gold: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - O'Payo 68%
+ Gold: Direct Traded
Silver: Amazing Cacao (Russia) - Copuazu
+ Gold: Alternate theobromas
Silver: Bonnat Chocolatier (France) - 1903
Silver: Bonnat Chocolatier (France) - Cacao Real del Xoconuzco
Silver: Chocolaterie Morin (France) - Perou Chanchamayo 100%
+ Gold: 100%
Silver: Chocolaterie Morin (France) - Perou Chanchamayo 63%
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - Barba 70%
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - Chuno 70% Double Turned
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - Chuno 70% Tripple Turned
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - Johe 70%
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - La Dalia 70%
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - La Dalia 85%
+ Silver: High %
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - Medagla 70%
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - Nicaliso 70%
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - Rugoso 70% Bad Fermentation
Silver: Le chocolat des Français (France) - Noir Origine – Pérou
Silver: PERÚ PURO Chuncho Gold (Germany) - Chuncho Gold Grand Cru 70% ( * Max Felchlin AG)
Bronze: Bonnat Chocolatier (France) - Côté d’Ivoire
Bronze: Bonnat Chocolatier (France) - Madre de Dios
Bronze: Chocolaterie Morin (France) - Equateur Esmeralda 100%
+ Silver: 100%
Bronze: Chocolaterie Morin (France) - Equateur Esmeralda Noir 70%
Bronze: Chocolaterie Morin (France) - Nicaragua Nicalizo Noir 70%
Bronze: Chocolaterie Morin (France) - Nicaragua Rugoso Noir 70%
Bronze: Chocolaterie Morin (France) - Perou Pablino Noir 70%
Bronze: Chocolaterie Morin (France) - Venezuela Chuao Noir 70%
Bronze: Fresh Cacao (Russia) - Origin, 70% Venezuela Guasare
Bronze: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - Indio Rojo 70%
Bronze: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - La Dalia 100%
Bronze: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - La Dalia 60%
Bronze: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - Løgismose 76% Mørk
Bronze: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - Rugoso 70%
Bronze: Holy Cacao Chocolate (Israel) - 70% Cacao, Marañon
Bronze: Le chocolat des Français (France) - Noir Origine – République Dominicaine
Bronze: Lyra (Slovakia) - Lyra Galery dark
Bronze: Marussia (Russia) - Premium Chocolate Marussia, Cuba Baracoa
Bronze: Marussia (Russia) - Premium Chocolate Marussia, Tanzania
Bronze: Tobago Estate Chocolates (Sweden) - Tobago Estate Chocolate 70% ( * PRALUS)
Micro-batch - Plain/origin dark chocolate bars
Gold: Aruntam - Sensory Chocolate (Italy) - 72% Madagascar-Bejofo Estate Åkesson's
+ Gold: Chocolate Maker
+ Gold: Direct Traded
+ Gold: Organic
+ Special: Vegan
Silver: Ara Chocolat (France) - Indio Blanco 72%
+ Special: Vegan
Silver: Aruntam - Sensory Chocolate (Italy) - 72% India - Idukki Kerala
+ Special: Vegan
Silver: Aruntam - Sensory Chocolate (Italy) - 72% Piura Albino Perù
+ Special: Vegan
Silver: Aruntam - Sensory Chocolate (Italy) - 78% Tanzania - Kokoa Kamili
+ Special: Vegan
Silver: Bean Geeks Chocolate (Denmark) - Guatemala 70%
Silver: Chocokoo (Estonia) - El Salvador 75%
Silver: Chocolatoa (Belgium) - Tanzania 80% Kokoa Kamili
Silver: Ciao Cacao, s.r.o. (Czech Republic) - Chuao 75% Cocoa, Dark Chocolate
Silver: Cococaravan (United Kingdom) - 100 % Arhuaco - Colombia
+ Gold: 100%
+ Special: Vegan
Silver: Depetris Riccardo / Depetris...i Ciculaté (Italy) - Depetris I Ciculate' - Piura 75%
Silver: Donna Elvira (Italy) - Colombia La Lengüeta Sierra Nevada 70%
+ Gold: Rough ground
Silver: Dormouse Chocolates (United Kingdom) - The Four Ferments: Kablon Farms P1R2
+ Special: Vegan
Silver: Duffy's (United Kingdom) - Duffy's Guatemala Rio Dulce 70%
Silver: Duffy's (United Kingdom) - Duffy's Honduras Indio Rojo 72%
Silver: Fjåk Chocolate (Norway) - 70% Dark Tanzania
+ Special: Vegan
Silver: Fjåk Chocolate (Norway) - 72% Dark Guatemala
Silver: Harrer Chocolat (Hungary) - Gran Nativo Blanco 74%
Silver: Kilian & Close (Germany) - Kilian & Close Guatemala 90%
+ Gold: High %
+ Gold: Alternate sugars
Silver: Legast (Belgium) - Sierra Nevada - Colombie 78%
Silver: Meybol Cacao (Germany) - Chuncho Collection N°3 ( * Meybol Group SAC)
Silver: Meybol Cacao (Germany) - Chuncho Collection N°5
Silver: Meybol Cacao (Germany) - Criollo Origin Piura Peru ( * Meybol Group SAC)
Silver: Meybol Cacao (Germany) - Criollo Origin Vraem Peru ( * Meybol Group SAC)
Silver: Míšina Čokoláda / Misha's Chocolate (Czech Republic) - Solomon Islands Dark Chocolate 70%
Silver: Seed Chocolate (United Kingdom) - 75% Gran Chililique
Silver: Utopick Cacao (Spain) - Sierra Nevada 70%
Silver: Utopick Cacao (Spain) - Tumaco 70%
Silver: Zoto (Belgium) - Betulia Ocho 70% ( * Chocolatoa)
Bronze: Ara Chocolat (France) - Huallaga 74%
Bronze: Ara Chocolat (France) - Maceo 70%
Bronze: Bare Bones Chocolate (United Kingdom) - Madagascar 70%
Bronze: Bean Geeks Chocolate (Denmark) - Costa Rica 70% Handroast
Bronze: Cacao Betulia (Switzerland) - Cacao Betulia B6 100% ( * Taucherli)
+ Silver: 100%
Bronze: Cacao Betulia (Switzerland) - Cacao Betulia B8 80% ( * Chocolatoa)
Bronze: Cacao Betulia (Switzerland) - Cacao Betulia B9 80% ( * Chocolatoa)
Bronze: ChocoBio (France) - Chocolat cru 71% Pure origine Pérou.
Bronze: Cococaravan (United Kingdom) - 80 % Selva Tabasqueño
+ Silver: Alternate sugars
Bronze: Coup De Chocolat (Belgium) - Jerome
+ Silver: High %
Bronze: Donna Elvira (Italy) - Perù Chuncho Urusayhua 70%
+ Silver: Rough ground
Bronze: Dormouse Chocolates (United Kingdom) - The Four Ferments: Kablon Farms P2R1
Bronze: Duffy's (United Kingdom) - Duffy's Nicaragua Juno 70%
Bronze: Feitoria do Cacao (Portugal) - Costa Rica Maleku 76%
Bronze: Harrer Chocolat (Hungary) - India 71%
Bronze: Kaitxo (Spain) - Congo Mayuano 88%
+ Silver: High %
Bronze: Kaitxo (Spain) - Tanzania 75%
Bronze: Kakau Worship (Greece) - 75% Guatemala Collection
+ Silver: Alternate sugars
Bronze: Karuna Chocolate (Italy) - Fast Dried cocoa from Belize, 70%
Bronze: Karuna Chocolate (Italy) - Kokoa Kamili beans from Tanzania, 70%
Bronze: Karuna Chocolate (Italy) - Slow Dried cocoa from Belize, 70%
Bronze: La Fèverie by Hasnaâ (France) - Pérou - Piura Blanco 75%
Bronze: Legast (Belgium) - Finca los Lagos - Colombie
Bronze: Martin Mayer Schokoladen (Austria) - Indio Rojo - 72%
Bronze: Nadalina (Croatia) - Nicaragua -Nicaliso 77%
Bronze: Prime Chocolate (Belarus) - Prime Chocolate Bolivia 70%
Bronze: Prime Chocolate (Belarus) - Prime Chocolate Peru Maranon 70%
Bronze: Prime Chocolate (Belarus) - Prime Chocolate Tanzania 70%
Bronze: Romance Chocolate (Belgium) - Romance 60% Kablon Farms ( * Artist Chocolate)
Bronze: Standout Chocolate (Sweden) - Guatemala Lachuá 70%
Plain/origin milk chocolate bars
Gold: Rosehill Estate Chocolates (Sweden) - Rosehill Estate 45%
+ Gold: Direct Traded
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - Dark Milk 55%
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - O'Payo Milk 50%
+ Gold: Organic
+ Gold: Chocolate Maker
Silver: La Fèverie by Hasnaâ (France) - Colombia - Arhuaco Dark Milk 60%
Silver: Lyra (Slovakia) - Lyra Galery Milk
Silver: Rosehill Estate Chocolates (Sweden) - Rosehill Estate Dark Milk
Silver: Tobago Estate Chocolates (Sweden) - Tobago Estate Chocolate Laura 45% ( * PRALUS)
Bronze: Chocolaterie Morin (France) - Equateur Esmeralda Lait 48%
Bronze: Chocolaterie Morin (France) - Jamaique Marvia Lait 48%
Bronze: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - Dark Milk 65%
Bronze: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - Løgismose 48% Mælk
Bronze: Lyra (Slovakia) - Cuba 45%
Bronze: Michel Cluizel (France) - Chocolat Plantation La Laguna Lait 47%
Bronze: PERÚ PURO Chuncho Gold (Germany) - Chuncho Gold Grand Cru 52% ( * Max Felchlin AG)
Micro-batch - Plain/origin milk chocolate bars
Gold: Míšina Čokoláda / Misha's Chocolate (Czech Republic) - Madagascar Milk Chocolate 50%
Silver: Bare Bones Chocolate (United Kingdom) - Honduras Milk 60%
Silver: Duffy's (United Kingdom) - Duffy's Honduras Mayan Red 61%
+ Gold: High %
Silver: Duffy's (United Kingdom) - Duffy's Nicaragua Oh Juno! 45%
Silver: Holy Cacao Chocolate (Israel) - 70% Cacao, Milk Chocolate, Marañon
Silver: Lilla Chokladfabriken Borgå (Finland) - Madagascar 40%
Silver: Solkiki Chocolatemaker (United Kingdom) - 65% Dark Milk, Gran Palo Blanco, Peru
+ Special: Vegan
Silver: Steiner & Kovarik by Prague Chocolate (Czech Republic) - Aluna 44%
+ Gold: Alternate sugars
Bronze: Chocokoo (Estonia) - El Salvador Dark Milk 65%
Bronze: Depetris Riccardo / Depetris...i Ciculaté (Italy) - Depetris ICiculate'-Esmeraldas Latte 48%
Bronze: Idilio Origins (Switzerland) - Idilio No. 15 con Leche
Bronze: Solkiki Chocolatemaker (United Kingdom) - 62% Dark Milk, Gran Chililique, Peru
Bronze: Zart Pralinen Chocolate Makers (Austria) - Staatzer Milk Chocolate
Plain/origin white chocolate bars
Gold: Summerbird (Denmark) - Amber Chocolate Bar
Silver: Chocolaterie Morin (France) - Perou Chanchamayo Blanc 40%
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - White 40%
Silver: Summerbird (Denmark) - White Chocolate Bar
Bronze: Chocolat Dieter Meier (Switzerland) - White Chocolate Guatemala 42%
Bronze: Chocolaterie Morin (France) - Venezuela Sur del Lago Blanc
Flavoured bars
Dark chocolate bars with an infusion or flavouring
Gold: Karuna Chocolate (Italy) - Coffee Arabica and Cocoa from Belize 68% (**)
+ Special: Ground-in
Silver: Casa Kakau (Bulgaria) - Bulgarian Rose Water and Cardamom (**)
Silver: Kakau Worship (Greece) - 62% Guatemala Collection Coffee (**)
+ Special: Alternate sugars
Bronze: Bodrato Cioccolato (Italy) - Dark Chocolate Bar Coffee and Anice (**)
Bronze: Lilla Chokladfabriken Borgå (Finland) - Licorice 65% (**)
Dark chocolate bars with inclusions or pieces
Gold: Utopick Cacao (Spain) - Cidra Canarone (**)
Silver: Amazing Cacao (Russia) - Dark Chocolate 70% with Pine Nuts (**)
+ Special: Local ingredients
Silver: Bean Geeks Chocolate (Denmark) - Beer Geek Crunch (**)
+ Special: Innovation
Silver: Bonnat Chocolatier (France) - Noir Pistache (**)
Bronze: Coup De Chocolat (Belgium) - Marcel (**)
Bronze: Fjåk Chocolate (Norway) - 68% Dark India & Nibs (**)
Bronze: Idilio Origins (Switzerland) - Idilio No. 7 Selección Cata Ocumare Nibs
Bronze: Karuna Chocolate (Italy) - Raspberries and Cocoa from Belize, 70% (**)
Bronze: Legast (Belgium) - Piura- Eclats de Cacao 70% (**)
Bronze: Solkiki Chocolatemaker (United Kingdom) - 59% Dark Gran Palo with Candied Peanut (**)
Dark chocolate bars with a filling
Gold: Guido Castagna (Italy) - MES Gianduja Fondente (**)
+ Special: Naked
Silver: Vito Allotta Craft Chocolate (Italy) - Sicilian Autumn Gianduia Fondente
+ Special: Naked
+ Special: Local ingredients
Silver: Volpati Davide (Italy) - Fondente Tre Strati
Milk chocolate bars with an infusion or flavouring
Gold: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - O'Payo Milk 50% - Sansho (**)
+ Special: Eclectic
Silver: Fjåk Chocolate (Norway) - 45% Milk & Norwegian Wild Mushroom (**)
+ Special: Gastronomic
Silver: Fjåk Chocolate (Norway) - 50% Milk & Liquorice Root (**)
Silver: Kilian & Close (Germany) - Kilian & Close Warener Salinensalz (**)
+ Special: Vegan
+ Special: Alternate vegan milk
+ Special: Alternate sugars
Silver: Zart Pralinen Chocolate Makers (Austria) - Damson (**)
+ Special: Ground-in
Bronze: Savanna Premium Chocolate (Zambia) - Savanna Premium Chocolate Ginger Milk (**)
Bronze: Solkiki Chocolatemaker (United Kingdom) - 33mg 5.5%CBD 63% Gran Nativo Dark Milk (**)
Bronze: XOCO by Corina (Norway) - Koselig Sjokolade (**)
Milk chocolate bars with inclusions or pieces
Gold: Fjåk Chocolate (Norway) - 45% Milk & Brown Cheese (**)
+ Special: Local ingredients
+ Special: Gastronomic
Silver: Fjåk Chocolate (Norway) - 50% Milk with Sourdough Bread & Salt (**)
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - O'Payo Milk 50% - Chunky Salty Liquorice (**)
Bronze: Lyra (Slovakia) - Lyra Galery Milk with Hazelnuts
Milk chocolate bars with a filling
Bronze: Holy Cacao Chocolate (Israel) - 45% Cacao, Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter (**)
White chocolate bars with an infusion or flavouring
Gold: Mojo Cacao (Russia) - Cashew White Chocolate - Cookie (**)
+ Special: Ground-in
Silver: Fresh Cacao (Russia) - Matcha Tea White Chocolate (**)
Silver: Míšina Čokoláda / Misha's Chocolate (Czech Republic) - White Chocolate 40% + Strawberries (**)
White chocolate bars with inclusions or pieces
Gold: Edelmond (Germany) - Edelmond Sanddorn Mandel WeißeSchokolade (**)
+ Special: Organic
Silver: Fjåk Chocolate (Norway) - White & Blackcurrant Crumble Cake (**)
Silver: Solkiki Chocolatemaker (United Kingdom) - Cranachan White Chocolate (**)
+ Special: Vegan
Bronze: Amazing Cacao (Russia) - White Chocolate&Tieguanyin Tea&Nibs (**)
Bronze: Holy Cacao Chocolate (Israel) - 32% Cacao, White Chocolate, Cappuccino
National awards
Given to Grand Jury finalists when there are 10 or more entries from one country in a category
Plain/origin dark chocolate bars
Gold – Danish: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - O'Payo 68%
Gold – French: Bonnat Chocolatier (France) - El Castillero
Micro-batch - Plain/origin dark chocolate bars
Gold – Belgian: Zoto (Belgium) - Betulia Ocho 70% ( * Chocolatoa)
Gold – British: Duffy's (United Kingdom) - Duffy's Guatemala Rio Dulce 70%
Gold – French: Ara Chocolat (France) - Indio Blanco 72%
Gold – German: Meybol Cacao (Germany) - Criollo Origin Piura Peru ( * Meybol Group SAC)
Gold – Italian: Aruntam - Sensory Chocolate (Italy) - 72% Madagascar-Bejofo Estate Åkesson's
Gold – Spanish: Utopick Cacao (Spain) - Tumaco 70%
(*) Declared chocolate maker for private label bars.
(**) Winner has declared the product is made with their own bean-to-bar chocolate or couverture.
