The International Chocolate Awards is pleased to announce the Grand Jury Finalists of the 2015 Americas Competition, which was judged in New York, April 26 – 30, 2015.
The judging panel included judges from Europe, Japan, South America and the USA and members of our international Grand Jury panel.
The Grand Jury Finalists are the entries that made it through to the final Grand Jury round, following an initial technical Selection round and two days of Main round judging. The Finalists are the nominations from which the Grand Jury select the prize winners, through private voting. The Grand Jury follow strict rules, which you can read here (PDF).
While listing as a Grand Jury Finalist is an achievement in itself, it does not necessarily indicate that the entry will receive a prize.
Winners will be announced in June, with details of an Awards party to follow.
The 2015 Americas Competition Grand Jury Finalists are:
(In alphabetical order within each category)
Plain/origin bars
Plain/origin dark chocolate bars
Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate (United States) - 74% Dominican, Finca ElvesiaDick Taylor Craft Chocolate (United States) - 72% Madagascar, Sambirano
Franceschi Chocolate (Venezuela) - Canoabo 70% Crop 2015
Franceschi Chocolate (Venezuela) - FRANCESCHI CHOCOLATE, Ocumare 70% crop 2015
Franceschi Chocolate (Venezuela) - FRANCESCHI CHOCOLATE, Choroni 70% crop 2015
Franceschi Chocolate (Venezuela) - FRANCESCHI CHOCOLATE, Rio Caribe 60% crop 2015
Franceschi Chocolate (Venezuela) - FRANCESCI CHOCOLATE, Sur del Lago 60% crop 2015
SPAGnVOLA (United States) - SPAGnVOLA 70% Dominican Single Estate
SPAGnVOLA (United States) - SPAGnVOLA 75% Dominican Single Estate
SPAGnVOLA (United States) - SPAGnVOLA 80% Dominican Single Estate
ChocXO Bean to Bar Chocolatier (United States) - Yaguachi Single Origin Dark Chocolate 70%
ChocXO Bean to Bar Chocolatier (United States) - Camino Verde Ecuador Single Origin Dark Chocolate 72%
ChocXO Bean to Bar Chocolatier (United States) - Tres Rios Limited Edition 68% Single Origin Dark Chocolate
Amano Chocolate Company (United States) - Porcelana 70%
Cacaosuyo (Peru) - Piura Select
Marou - Faiseurs de Chocolat (Vietnam) - Lam Dong 74%
Marou - Faiseurs de Chocolat (Vietnam) - Tien Giang 70%
Marou - Faiseurs de Chocolat (Vietnam) - Treasure Island 75%
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Tangara 70%
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Montubia 70%
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Lacumbia 70%
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Raw 70%
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Pacari Manabi 65%
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Esmeraldas
Soma Chocolatemaker (Canada) - Porcelana
TCHO Chocolate (United States) - Bright
Ritual Chocolate (United States) - Mid Mountain Blend
Soma Chocolatemaker (Canada) - CSB Chama
AMAZ Chocolate (Peru) - Chocolate Origen Amazonas 67%
Rogue Chocolatier (United States) - Tranquilidad
Rogue Chocolatier (United States) - Jamaica
Rogue Chocolatier (United States) - Porcelana
Amano Chocolate Company (United States) - Chuao 70% Dark Chocolate
Amano Chocolate Company (United States) - Amano Dos Rios 70% Dark Chocolate
Micro-batch - Plain/origin dark chocolate bars
Dandelion Chocolate (United States) - Oko-Caribe, Dominican RepublicCacao Hunters (Colombia) - Sierra Nevada 64%
Cacao Hunters (Colombia) - Tumaco 70%
Cacao Hunters (Colombia) - Arauca 70%
Brasstown Chocolate (United States) - Ecuador 75%
Millcreek Cacao Roasters (United States) - 70% Pure Dark Chocolate Bar
Palette de Bine (Canada) - Palette de Bine Lam Dong Vietnam 72%
Hummingbird Chocolate Maker (Canada) - Hispaniola 70%
Hummingbird Chocolate Maker (Canada) - Reserva Zorzal 70%
Cacao Hunters (Colombia) - Arhuaco 72%
Madre Chocolate (United States) - Likao Kula Farm, Kona HI
Sirene (Canada) - Guatemala 73%
Fresco (United States) - 224 Dominican Republic 72%
High % plain/origin dark chocolate bars (85% and over)
Palette de Bine (Canada) - Palette de Bine Camino Verde Ecuador 85%Marou - Faiseurs de Chocolat (Vietnam) - Tan Phu Dong 85% (Heart of Darkness)
Ritual Chocolate (United States) - Ecuador 85%
Rough ground/textured plain/origin dark chocolate bars
Cacaosuyo (Peru) - BataneroPlain/origin dark chocolate bars made with alternative natural sugar
Palette de Bine (Canada) - Palette de Bine "Bines à l'érable" San Juan Estate Trinidad 70%Starchild Chocolate (United States) - Wild & Raw
Plain/origin milk chocolate bars
SPAGnVOLA (United States) - SPAGnVOLA 54% Milk Chocolate Dominican Single EstateChocolates El Rey (Venezuela) - Caoba
Cacaosuyo (Peru) - Piura Milk
TCHO Chocolate (United States) - Cacao
Fruition Chocolate Works (United States) - Maranon Milk
Micro-batch - Plain/origin milk chocolate bars
Escazu Artisan Chocolates (United States) - Goats Milk, Carenero, Venezuela 60%Castronovo Chocolate (United States) - Rare Cacao Collection - Colombia, Sierra Nevada Dark Milk 63%
Castronovo Chocolate (United States) - Dominican Republic Dark Milk 50%
Plain/origin white chocolate bars
Chocolates El Rey (Venezuela) - IcoaFlavoured bars
Dark chocolate bars with an infusion or flavouring
Brasstown Chocolate (United States) - Sea Salt 62%Le Chocolat de H (Japan) - Sakura Cigar
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Lemon Verbena
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Andean Mint
Ritual Chocolate (United States) - Novo Coffee Bar
Soma Chocolatemaker (Canada) - Stratus
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Andean Geranium
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Lemongrass
Chuao Chocolatier (United States) - Spicy Maya
Xocolatl de Davíd (United States) - Brown Butter Bar
Forte Chocolates (United States) - Orange Jazz Bar
Dark chocolate bars with inclusions or pieces
Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate (United States) - Black FigAskinosie Chocolate (United States) - San Jose Del Tambo, Ecuador Dark Chocolate Nibble Bar
Madre Chocolate (United States) - Triple Cacao, Dominican 70%
Amano Chocolate Company (United States) - Raspberry Rose
Amano Chocolate Company (United States) - Chili Mango
TCHO Chocolate (United States) - Galactic Gelato
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Passion Fruit
Ritual Chocolate (United States) - Fleur de Sel
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Pacari Golden Berry
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Cuzco Salt and Cacao Nibs
Chuao Chocolatier (United States) - Ooh Ahh Almond
Xocolatl de Davíd (United States) - Sourdough & Olive Oil Bar
Xocolatl de Davíd (United States) - Brown Butter Crunch Bar
Dark chocolate bars with a filling
Ethereal Confections (United States) - Meltaway 66% Cacao Blood Orange & Vanilla BeanMilk chocolate bars with an infusion or flavouring
TCHO Chocolate (United States) - Mokaccinoes koyama (Japan) - Tablet + husk(milk chocolate)
Fruition Chocolate Works (United States) - Barrel Aged Dark Milk
Maverick Chocolate Company (United States) - Prohibition Bar
Milk chocolate bars with inclusions or pieces
Chocotenango (United States) - Milk Chocolate with nutmeg, red pepper chili and sea saltTCHO Chocolate (United States) - Strawberry Rhubarb Pie
TCHO Chocolate (United States) - TCHunky TCHOtella
es koyama (Japan) - Double Black (Black Currant & Black Garlic)
es koyama (Japan) - White Fermented Bean Curd & Milk Chocolate
Le Chocolat de H (Japan) - Natto
Le Chocolat de H (Japan) - Tropical Island
es koyama (Japan) - Edamame (Black Beans)
Chuao Chocolatier (United States) - Baconluxious Chocolate
Milk chocolate bars with a filling
Bissinger's Handcrafted Chocolatier (United States) - Coconut Caramel BarFlavoured white chocolate bars
Castronovo Chocolate (United States) - White Chocolate with Lemon Oil & Lemon Saltes koyama (Japan) - Brown Sugar & Yuzu
es koyama (Japan) - Matcha & Rhubarb
Le Chocolat de H (Japan) - Houjicha Soba
es koyama (Japan) - Real Strawberry
Forte Chocolates (United States) - Espresso White Swan Bar
Forte Chocolates (United States) - Lemon Pepper Bar
Ganaches, palets, ganache pralines and truffles
Unflavoured dark chocolate ganaches or truffles
Dreams of Eva (Peru) - 70/70The Secret Chocolatier (United States) - 80% Dark Chocolate Truffle
Chocolopolis (United States) - Madagascar Craft Truffle
Chocolopolis (United States) - Dominican Republic House Blend Truffle
Truffle Shots (United States) - Signature Dark
Flavoured dark chocolate ganaches or truffles
Dreams of Eva (Peru) - Piura / Amazonases koyama (Japan) - Black Shichimi Pepper & Chinese Milk Vetch Honey
Compania de Chocolates (Argentina) - Malbec Ganache Truffle
Chuao Chocolatier (United States) - Spicy Maya Bonbon
Arcay Chocolates (United States) - Coco Rum
Forte Chocolates (United States) - Cherry Almond Truffle
Garcia Nevett (United States) - Anís y Papelón
Truffle Shots (United States) - Caramel Beurre Noisette
Flavoured milk chocolate ganaches or truffles
es koyama (Japan) - Daitokuji-Temple Nattoes koyama (Japan) - Vanilla Miso
es koyama (Japan) - Grappa (Bric del Gaian Grappa di Moscato d’Asti)
Truffle Shots (United States) - Tellicherry Cardamom
Flavoured white chocolate ganaches or truffles
Chocolopolis (United States) - Lemon Lavender TruffleFrench Broad Chocolates (United States) - Cosmopolitan Truffle
Flavoured ganaches or truffles with combination coating or filling
Dreams of Eva (Peru) - Lúcuma / PiscoDreams of Eva (Peru) - Ají Amarillo
Dreams of Eva (Peru) - Plátano / Habas
es koyama (Japan) - Matcha & Kinmokusei(fragrant olive)
es koyama (Japan) - Double Vanilla
es koyama (Japan) - Double Berry & Camomille (Strawberry & Red Currant)
Compania de Chocolates (Argentina) - Gin and Grapefruit
Arcay Chocolates (United States) - Romero Salé
Arcay Chocolates (United States) - MANGO BASIL
Arcay Chocolates (United States) - CARDAMOM BLACKBERRY
Arcay Chocolates (United States) - Tamarindo
Arcay Chocolates (United States) - Confiture D'Orange
Arcay Chocolates (United States) - LIMON
Arcay Chocolates (United States) - Parchita
Arcay Chocolates (United States) - Crema Irlandesa
Chocolopolis (United States) - Raspberry Rose Truffle
Forte Chocolates (United States) - Strawberry Lemonade Truffle
Nuts
Dark chocolate gianduiotto / cremino
Valenza Chocolatier (United States) - Gianduiotti - MaximoDark chocolate dragées, enrobed whole nuts
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Chocolate Covered Cacao Beans NaturalNut based pralines with milk chocolate
es koyama (Japan) - Hyuganatsu Noisettees koyama (Japan) - Kumquat Noisette
Milk chocolate gianduiotto or cremino
Valenza Chocolatier (United States) - Gianduiotti - ClassicoCaramels
Dark chocolate enrobed caramels
Laurie & Sons (United States) - Dark Chocolate Toffee Minis in Deliciously Dangerous Black LicoriceLaurie & Sons (United States) - Moroccan Spiced Dark Chocolate Toffee Mini
Milk chocolate enrobed caramels
Bissinger's Handcrafted Chocolatier (United States) - Vanilla CaramelBissinger's Handcrafted Chocolatier (United States) - Chardonnay Salt Caramel
Forte Chocolates (United States) - Pecan Milk Caramel
Others - fruit/sugar/butter/cream/misc
Dark chocolate enrobed whole fruit
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Chocolate Covered BananaSpreads
Spreads with dark chocolate (no milk powder)
Xocolatl de Davíd (United States) - FoietellaSpreads with milk chocolate
es koyama (Japan) - Vanilla MisoArcay Chocolates (United States) - Passion Spread
