The International Chocolate Awards is pleased to announce the Winners of the 2014 European plain/origin bar Semi-final and European Open competition (for countries without their own round), which was judged at the Palazzo Gaddi in Florence, Italy, 27 February – 3 March 2014.
The International Chocolate Awards is an independent competition recognising excellence in fine chocolate making and in the products made with fine chocolate.
International judges
The judges were drawn from experts, food journalists, sommeliers and pastry chefs from Italy, Europe and around the world and was overseen by members of our permanent international Grand Jury. A list of the judges who attended the competition and profiles on each of the Grand Jurors will be published here shortly.
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 10 or more 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.
This year, due to the exceptionally high standard of entries and tied Grand Jury scores, two Golds were awarded within the following two categories: Dark plain/origin bars and in Ganaches and truffles.
In the Plain/origin bar categories, the declared chocolate maker is listed for private label bars.
[line]The Winners and World Finalists of the 2014 European plain/origin bar Semi-final and European Open competition are:
Bars
Bars – Dark plain/origin bars
Overall winners
GOLD: Bonnat (France) – Kaori (Tied)
GOLD: Friis-Holm (Denmark) – Johe 70% (Tied) ( * Bonnat)
SILVER: Friis-Holm (Denmark) – Nicaliso 70% ( * Bonnat)
SILVER: Friis-Holm (Denmark) – Chuno 70% Tripple Turned ( * Bonnat)
SILVER: Bonnat (France) – M Libanio
BRONZE: Akesson’s (United Kingdom) – Bali – Sukrama Farms – 75% Trinitario Cocoa ( * Pralus)
BRONZE: Red Star Chocolate (United Kingdom) – Duffy’s Honduras Indio Rojo 72%
Special category awards
Given for entries that qualify for the special category criteria
GOLD – Chocolate Maker: Bonnat (France) – Kaori
GOLD – Directly Traded: Bonnat (France) – Kaori (Tied)
GOLD – Directly Traded: Friis-Holm (Denmark) – Johe 70% (Tied) ( * Bonnat )
National awards
Given to Grand Jury finalists when 10 or more entries from one country in category
GOLD – France: Bonnat – Kaori
GOLD – British Chocolate Maker: Red Star Chocolate – Duffy’s Honduras Indio Rojo 72%
Bars – High Percentage Dark Plain/Origin Bars
GOLD: Akesson’s (United Kingdom) – Madagascar – Ambolikapiky Plantation – 100% Criollo Cocoa ( * Pralus)
BRONZE: Francois Pralus (France) – Tablette Bio 100% Madagascar
Bars – Rough Ground Dark plain/origin bars
BRONZE: Donna Elvira (Italy) – Cioccolata Modicana – Perù Amazònico
BRONZE: Omnom Chocolate (Iceland) – Madagascar 66 %
Bars – Milk Plain/Origin Bars
GOLD: Francois Pralus (France) – Tablette Melissa
SILVER: Friis-Holm (Denmark) – Dark Milk 65% ( * Bonnat)
BRONZE: Red Star Chocolate Ltd (United Kingdom) – Duffy’s Venezuela Ocumare 55%
* Declared chocolate maker for private label bars
Bars – Dark chocolate bars flavoured with an infusion or flavouring
GOLD: Chocolate Naive (Lithuania) – Dark Chocolate With Forest Honey
SILVER: Gardini Cioccolato D’Autore (Italy) – Dark Chocolate Caffè e Cardamomo
BRONZE: Menakao (Madagascar) – Menakao – Dark Chocolate 70 % trio of pepper
Bars – Dark chocolate bars flavoured with inclusions or pieces
GOLD: Akesson’s (United Kingdom) – Madagascar – 75% chocolate & voatsiperifery pepper
Bars – Flavoured dark chocolate bars with a filling
GOLD: Guido Castagna (Italy) – Gianduja Fondente
SILVER: Co Couture (United Kingdom) – Japanese Cherry Sencha 70%
SILVER: Francois Pralus (France) – Barre Infernale Noir
Bars – Milk chocolate bars flavoured with an infusion or flavouring
BRONZE: Gardini Cioccolato D’Autore (Italy) – Milk Chocolate with liquorice and sweet sea salt of Cervia
Bars – Milk chocolate bars flavoured with inclusions or pieces
BRONZE: Gardini Cioccolato D’Autore (Italy) – Milk chocolate and coffee
BRONZE: Manufacture Cluizel (France) – Milk Salted Butter Caramel
Bars – Flavoured milk chocolate bars with a filling
BRONZE: Piccola Pasticceria (Italy) – Gianduja
BRONZE: Francois Pralus (France) – Barre Infernale Lait
Bars – Flavoured white chocolate
BRONZE: Bonnat (France) – Chocolat Blanc Fraize
Unflavoured dark ganaches and truffles
BRONZE: Le Cacaotier (France) – Taïnos
Unflavoured dark nut pralines
GOLD: A Giordano (Italy) – Giacometta lavorata a mano
BRONZE: Giuseppe Manilia (Italy) – Incontro
Unflavoured dark gianduiotto
GOLD: Guido Castagna (Italy) – Giandujotto
BRONZE: A Giordano (Italy) – Gianduiotti lavorati a mano
Unflavoured dark cremino
GOLD: Guido Castagna (Italy) – Cremino Nocciola Piemonte IGP e Pistacchio di Bronte
BRONZE: Piccola Pasticceria (Italy) – Nuovo Cremino
Flavoured dark ganaches and truffles
GOLD: Ika chocolate (Israel) – Za’atar Ganache
SILVER: Dolci Libertà (Italy) – Truffle with Barolo Chinato Cocchi
BRONZE: Atelier du Confiseur (France) – Framboise
BRONZE: Damian Allsop Chocolates (Spain) – Rhubarb & dark water ganache
Dark – nut based pralines and gianduja, enrobed whole nuts
GOLD: Guido Castagna (Italy) – Cremino Nocciola Piemonte IGP e Cannella
SILVER: Atelier du Confiseur (France) – Sel de Guérande
Dark – Caramels
GOLD: Paul A Young Fine Chocolates (United Kingdom) – Sea Salted Caramel
Dark fruit pastes, jellies/gelée, enrobed whole fruits, liquid centres with alcohol and fondants
GOLD: Atelier du Confiseur (France) – Mandarine
SILVER: Il Cioccolato di BruCo (Italy) – Lonzetta di Fico ricoperta al cioccolato
Milk – Ganaches and truffles
GOLD: Ben Le Prevost chocolatier (United Kingdom) – Miso (Tied)
GOLD: Peano (Italy) – Milk chocolate praline filled with bitter honey (Tied)
SILVER: Andrea Bianchini (Italy) – Ganache al latte con rosmarino e sale grosso/milk ganache with rosemary and rock salt
SILVER: Paul A Young Fine Chocolates (United Kingdom) – 55% Venezuelan milk chocolate truffle
Ganaches and truffles with mixed dark/milk/white for coating and fillings
GOLD: Paul A Young Fine Chocolates (United Kingdom) – Passion fruit curd
SILVER: Piccola Pasticceria (Italy) – Sole Del Sud
SILVER: Nicky Grant (United Kingdom) – Fennel & Ginger
SILVER: Piccola Pasticceria (Italy) – Origine
SILVER: Bruno Chocolate (Israel) – Mumbai Crunch
SILVER: Bruno Chocolate (Israel) – Halvah Cream
BRONZE: Chococo (United Kingdom) – Black Cow Vodka Chocolate
Milk – Gianduiotto
SILVER: Piccola Pasticceria (Italy) – Piccolo Gianduja
Milk – Unflavoured Cremino
BRONZE: A Giordano (Italy) – cremino nocciola
Milk – Flavoured Cremino
GOLD: Gardini Cioccolato D’Autore (Italy) – Cremino Liquerizia
SILVER: Gardini Cioccolato D’Autore (Italy) – Cremino Amarena
Milk – Enrobed whole nuts
GOLD: TortaPistocchi (Italy) – Dragee Pistacchio e Arancio
SILVER: Dolci Libertà (Italy) – Dragees with Nocciola Piemonte IGP and milk chocolate
SILVER: Slitti Chocolate (Italy) – Mandorle d’Avola (Almonds from Avola)
SILVER: chocoMe (Hungary) – chocoMe Raffinée Piemonte Hazelnut RF103
Milk – Fruit pastes, jellies/gelée, enrobed whole fruits, liquid centres with alcohol and fondants
GOLD: Paul A Young Fine Chocolates (United Kingdom) – Peanut butter and raspberry jelly
SILVER: Il Cioccolato di BruCo (Italy) – Mandarino di Calabria candito intero ricoperto con cioccolato fondente
BRONZE: Piccola Pasticceria (Italy) – Banana
Spreads with dark chocolate
GOLD: Guido Castagna (Italy) – Crema di nocciole + 55
SILVER: Slitti Chocolate (Italy) – Gianera
Spreads with milk chocolate
GOLD: Slitti Chocolate (Italy) – Riccosa
SILVER: Gusti di Napoli (Italy) – Crema di cioccolata al latte di bufala
BRONZE: Pasticceria Vacchieri Marco – Dolci intuizioni (Italy) – Crema gianduia
BRONZE: Piluc (Italy) – Pilucchella
Note: only judged categories are listed.
