The International Chocolate Awards is pleased to reveal the winners of the European 2012 semi-final, which took place in London, 30th May – 1st June at The Mariott Hotel, County Hall. The organisers received over 250 entries for this round, with a fantastic array of styles and flavours on offer.
The International Chocolate Awards is a new scheme set 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. The judging panel is made up of experts, food journalists and pastry chefs from the host country, overseen by a Grand Jury who travel to each competition.
Prizes
The categories, which range from flavoured bars to filled chocolates to spreads, are designed to reflect the current chocolate industry. Prizes are separated according to category, with just one Gold awarded in each category and a number of Silver awards available.
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 for Directly Traded, Organic and Chocolate Maker. World finalists have also been indicated, these are products which have achieved a highly commended and will also be invited to enter the judging of the World Final in October 2012 in London, along with the medal winners.
The medal winners and World Finalists of the 2012 European Semi Final round are:
[line]Bars
Bars – Dark plain/origin bars
Overall winners
GOLD: Chocolatier Michel Cluizel – Los Anconès Bio
SILVER: Bonnat – Porcelana
SILVER: Domori – Guasare
SILVER: Original Beans – Beni Wild Harvest 66%
Special awards
GOLD – Chocolate Maker: Chocolatier Michel Cluizel – Los Anconès Bio
GOLD – Directly Traded Cacao: Chocolatier Michel Cluizel – Los Anconès Bio
GOLD – Organic: Chocolatier Michel Cluizel – Los Anconès Bio
National awards
GOLD – France: Chocolatier Michel Cluizel – Los Anconès Bio
GOLD – Italy: Domori – Guasare
GOLD – Switzerland: Idilio Origins Premium Swiss Chocolates – Idilio No.2 Seleccion Amiari Meridenha
World Finalists
Domori – Apurimac
Growing country chocolate: Menakao – 72%, Madagascar, Ambaja, Millot plantation
Bars – Milk plain/origin bars
Overall winners
GOLD: Chocolatier Michel Cluizel – Maralumi Milk
SILVER: Friis-Holm – Dark Milk – Nicaragua 55%
Special awards
GOLD – Organic: Francois Pralus – Melissa
World Finalists
Friis-Holm – Dark Milk – Nicaragua 65%
Bars – White plain/origin bars
World Finalists
Chocolatier Michel Cluizel – Ivoire
Bars – Flavoured dark chocolate
Overall winners
GOLD: Damian Allsop Chocolates – Eat London Soho Square
SILVER: Åkesson’s – Madagascar – 75% Chocolate & Voatsiperifery Pepper
SILVER: Paul A Young Fine Chocolates – 70% RAW Ecuadorian with rose and bergamot
Special awards
GOLD – Organic: Åkesson’s – Madagascar – 75% Chocolate & Voatsiperifery Pepper
National awards
GOLD – British: Damian Allsop Chocolates – Eat London Soho Square
World Finalists
Idilio Origins Premium Swiss Chocolates – Idilio No.7 Seleccion Cata Ocumare, Cacaonibs
Bars – Flavoured milk chocolate
Overall winners
GOLD: Damian Allsop Chocolates – Eat London China Town
SILVER: Hotel Chocolat – St Lucian, 70% milk, salted caramel eclat, broken slab
National awards
GOLD – British: Damian Allsop Chocolates – Eat London China Town
World Finalists
Åkesson’s – Bali – 45% Milk Chocolate with Fleur de Sel & Coconut Blossom Sugar
Chocolatier Michel Cluizel – Grand Lait aux Noisettes
[line]Filled chocolates – unflavoured dark
Unflavoured dark – Ganaches and truffles
Overall winners
GOLD: Paul A Young Fine Chocolates – 85% RAW Ecuadorian dark chocolate truffle
SILVER: Damian Allsop Chocolates – Madagascan Water ganache
World Finalists
Rococo Chocolates – Madagascar House Truffle
Iain Burnett Highland Chocolatier – The Velvet Truffle Dark pure
Nut based pralines
(No flavour other than nut)
No awards given
[line]Filled chocolates – flavoured dark
Flavoured dark – Ganaches and truffles
Overall winners
GOLD: Damian Allsop Chocolates – Salty Liquorice water ganache
SILVER: Boutique Aromatique – Mint & Sweet Basil
SILVER: Paul A Young Fine Chocolates – Raspberry ganache
SILVER: Matcha Chocolat – Yuzu
SILVER: Rococo Chocolates – Rose & Cocoa Nib Ganache
SILVER: Paul A Young Fine Chocolates – Banoffee Pie
World Finalists
Matcha Chocolat – Cardamom & Banana
Flavoured dark – Nut based pralines and gianduja
World Finalists
Francois Pralus – Barre Infernale Noire
Flavoured dark – Caramels
(Iincluding plain caramels)
Overall winners
GOLD: Paul A Young Fine Chocolates – Sea salted caramel
World Finalists
Lauden Chocolate – Sea Salted Caramel Chocolate
Fruit pastes, jellies/gelée, enrobed whole fruits
World Finalists
Chococo – Blackcurrant Beauty
Melt Chocolates – Passion Fruit Square
[line]Filled chocolates – milk (flavoured or unflavoured)
Milk – Ganaches and truffles
World Finalists
Ika chocolate – Lemon praline bonbon
Nicky Grant – Cornish Blue & Port
Milk – Nut based pralines and gianduja
Overall winners
GOLD: Francois Pralus – Barre Infernale Lait
World Finalists
Melt Chocolates – Salted Square
Milk – Caramels
(Iincluding plain caramels)
No awards given
[line]Spreads
Spreads with dark chocolate
No awards given
Spreads with milk chocolate
World Finalists
Hotel Chocolat – Peanut Smudge
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