The International Chocolate Awards is pleased to announce the winners of the 2013 European Semi-final, which was judged in London, United Kingdom, 22-26 April 2013 with the support of our European sponsors.
The International Chocolate Awards aim to recognise 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 European 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.
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.
The Winners and World Finalists of the 2013 European Semi-finals are:
Bars
Bars – Dark plain/origin bars
GOLD: Bonnat Chocolatier (France) – Cusco (Overall winner & Chocolate Maker, Directly Sourced, France)
SILVER: Friis-Holm (Denmark) – Friis-Holm Barba 70 % (GOLD, Denmark)
SILVER: Bonnat Chocolatier (France) – Juliana
SILVER: Bonnat Chocolatier (France) – Porcelana
SILVER: Red Star Chocolate (United Kingdom) – Honduras Indio Rojo (GOLD, British)
SILVER: Friis-Holm (Denmark) – Friis-Holm Nicaliso 70 %
NOMINATION: Bonnat Chocolatier (France) – Chuao
NOMINATION: Dolci Libertà (Italy) – Madagascar 68% bars
NOMINATION: Friis-Holm (Denmark) – Friis-Holm Medagla 70 %
GOLD: Switzerland – IDILIO ORIGINS Premium Swiss Chocolates (Switzerland) – Idilio No.1 Porcelana Criollo Puro
Bars – Milk plain/origin bars
GOLD: Friis-Holm (Denmark) – Friis-Holm Dark Milk 55 % (Overall & Directly Traded)
SILVER: Red Star Chocolate (United Kingdom) – Venezuela Ocumare 55% milk (GOLD, Chocolate Maker)
Bars – White plain/origin bars
NOMINATION: Bonnat Chocolatier (France) – Ivoire
Bars – Flavoured dark chocolate
GOLD: Akesson’s (Switzerland) – 75% chocolate & black pepper
SILVER: Clement Chococult (Germany) – Gefüllte Whiskyschokolade
SILVER: Paul A Young Fine Chocolates (United Kingdom) – Sea salted caramel filled bar (GOLD, British)
SILVER: The Chocolate Tree (United Kingdom) – Orange & Pink Lake Salt
NOMINATION: Chocolate Naive (Lithuania) – Dark chocolate with creamy coffee
NOMINATION: The Chocolate Tree (United Kingdom) – The Chieftain
Bars – Flavoured milk chocolate
SILVER: Rococo Chocolates (United Kingdom) – Organic Milk chocolate bar with salted caramelised almonds and rosemary
NOMINATION: Toot Sweets- Shropshire Chocolates (United Kingdom) – Milk Chocolate Bar with Cocoa Nibs, Pistachios and Smoked Sea Salt
NOMINATION: Akesson’s (Switzerland) – 45% Bali Milk Chocolate with Fleur de Sel & Coconut Blossom Sugar
Bars – Flavoured white chocolate
GOLD: Rococo Chocolates (United Kingdom) – Organic White Chocolate & Cardamom Bar
[line]Filled chocolates – dark (flavoured or unflavoured)
Unflavoured dark – Ganaches and truffles
GOLD: Paul A Young Fine Chocolates (United Kingdom) – RAW Ecuadorian 85% dark chocolate truffle
NOMINATION: Clement Chococult (Germany) – Truffelpraline Maracaibo 88
Flavoured dark – Ganaches and truffles
GOLD: Shelly Preston for Boutique Aromatique (United Kingdom) – Garden Mint & Sweet Basil (Overall & British)
SILVER: Shelly Preston for Boutique Aromatique (United Kingdom) – Sicilian Lemon & Sweet Lavender
SILVER: Shelly Preston for Boutique Aromatique (United Kingdom) – Yuzu, Citrus Paradisi, Pimento Berry
NOMINATION: Shelly Preston for Boutique Aromatique (United Kingdom) – Espresso, Cardamom & Bitter Almond
Dark – Nut based pralines and gianduja, enrobed whole nuts
GOLD: Rococo Chocolates (United Kingdom) – Salted Chocolate Toffee & Crunchy Praline
Dark – Caramels
GOLD: Paul A Young Fine Chocolates (United Kingdom) – Sea salted caramel
SILVER: Rococo Chocolates (United Kingdom) – Kalamansi Lime Caramel
SILVER: Rococo Chocolates (United Kingdom) – Passion Fruit and Rosemary Caramel
Dark – Fruit pastes, jellies/gelée, enrobed whole fruits
SILVER: The Chocolate Tree (United Kingdom) – Orange & Salt
[line]Filled chocolates – milk (flavoured or unflavoured)
Milk – Nut based pralines
SILVER: François Pralus (France) – Bar ”infernal” milk
Milk – Caramels
SILVER: The Chocolate Tree (United Kingdom) – Salted Caramel
NOMINATION: Centho-Chocolates (Belgium) – Salin
[line]Filled chocolates – mixed (flavoured or unflavoured)
Ganaches and truffles with mixed dark/milk/white for coating and fillings
GOLD: Paul A Young Fine Chocolates (United Kingdom) – Passion fruit curd (Overall & British)
NOMINATION: Shelly Preston for Boutique Aromatique (United Kingdom) – Honeyed, Hand-Blended Chai
[line]Spreads
Dark – Spreads
SILVER: Coppeneur (Germany) – Cru de Cao Canapé Crème nuts praliné
Milk – Spreads
SILVER: François Pralus (France) – Creme de Noisette (hazelnut spread)
NOMINATION: Paul A Young Fine Chocolates (United Kingdom) – Sea salted caramel
NOMINATION: Coppeneur (Germany) – Cru de Cao Canapé Crème Almond Praline
