The International Chocolate Awards is pleased to announce the Grand Jury Finalists of the 2017 Americas Competition, which was judged in New York Metropolitan Region, 29 March-4 April 2017. For the first time, this year the Americas and Asia Pacific results will be announced as separate competitions, acknowledging the huge growth in entries in both regions.
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 companies that made it through to the final Grand Jury round, following an initial technical Selection round and four or more 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 entrant will receive a prize.
Winners will be announced in Hoboken, in the New York Metropolitan area on June 26 2017 at 7pm Eastern Time.
View details of our sponsors and partners here.
The 2017 Americas Competition Grand Jury Finalists are:
(In alphabetical order within each category)
Plain/origin bars
Plain/origin dark chocolate bars
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Esmeraldas 60%Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Manabí 65%
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Los Ríos 72%
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Raw 70%
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Piura 70%
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Montubia 70%
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Tutu Iku 70%
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - LaCumbia 70%
Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate (United States) - 72% Belize Dark Chocolate
Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate (United States) - Dick Taylor Chocolate 72% Madagascar Bar
Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate (United States) - Dick Taylor Chocolate 75% Brazil Bar
White Label Chocolate (United States) - Honduras, La Masica
Nugali (Brazil) - Dark Chocolate Serra do Conduru 80%
Dandelion Chocolate (United States) - Mantuano, Venezuela 70%
Dandelion Chocolate (United States) - Maya Mountain, Belize 70%
Dandelion Chocolate (United States) - Ambanja, Madagascar 70%
Dandelion Chocolate (United States) - San Francisco De Macorís, Dominican Republic - 70% (Japan production)
Cacao Hunters (Colombia) - Cacao Hunters Tumaco 82%
herencia divina (Venezuela) - Barlovento 60%
Sirene (Canada) - Tingo Maria
Sirene (Canada) - Kamili
Cru Chocolate (United States) - Honduras, La Masica
Fruition Chocolate Works (United States) - Wild Bolivia Dark
Cacaosuyo (Peru) - Piura Select
Cacaosuyo (Peru) - Chuncho - Cuzco
Cacaosuyo (Peru) - Cuzco 80
Soma Chocolatemaker (Canada) - Bachelor's Hall
Soma Chocolatemaker (Canada) - Porcelana
Soma Chocolatemaker (Canada) - Vietnam Tien Giang
Maraná (Peru) - Cusco 70% - Single Origin
Maraná (Peru) - Piura 80% - Single Origin
Maraná (Peru) - San Martin 80% - Single Origin
Solstice Chocolate (United States) - 70% Kilombero Tanzania
Grocer's Daughter Chocolate (United States) - 70% Dark Chocolate Fortaleza Del Valle Bar
Mānoa Chocolate Hawaii (United States) - Hilo, Hawaii Island Chocolate - 70% Cacao
Conexión Chocolate Ecuador (Ecuador) - 70% Conexión Chocolate
Potomac Chocolate (United States) - Duarte, Dominican Republic 70% Dark
Amano Chocolate Company (United States) - Amano Macoris
Amano Chocolate Company (United States) - Amano Dos Rios
Amano Chocolate Company (United States) - Amano Cuyagua
Amano Chocolate Company (United States) - Amano Madagascar
Micro-batch - Plain/origin dark chocolate bars
LetterPress Chocolate (United States) - Ucayali, PeruDark Forest Chocolate (United States) - Dark Bolivian 75%
Stone Grindz Chocolate (United States) - Ecuador 70%
Hummingbird Chocolate Maker (Canada) - Reserva Zorzal
Wolter (Mexico) - Quetzalli Criollo Tabasco 70%
Wolter (Mexico) - Quetzalli Uranga 74%
Acalli Chocolate (United States) - Barataria Blend 81% Dark Chocolate
Acalli Chocolate (United States) - Barataria Blend 70% Dark Chocolate
Ohiyo Chocolate (United States) - 75% Peru Maranon
Hummingbird Chocolate Maker (Canada) - Alta Verapaz
Hummingbird Chocolate Maker (Canada) - Cap Haitien
Fresco (United States) - Dominican Republic Recipe 212
Fresco (United States) - Dominican Republic Recipe 224
Cru Chocolate (United States) - Honduras, La Masica
Cru Chocolate (United States) - Dominican Republic, Zorzal
Shattell Chocolate (Peru) - Chuncho 70%
Zak's Chocolate (United States) - 70% Dark Haitian Cacao
Zak's Chocolate (United States) - 70% Dark Guatemala Lachua Cacao
Brasstown Chocolate (United States) - Nicaraguan O'Payo 70%.
Stone Grindz Chocolate (United States) - Wild Bolivia 70%
Castronovo Chocolate (United States) - Signature Collection - Patanemo, Venezuela 70%
Castronovo Chocolate (United States) - Rare Cacao Collection - Amazonas 72%
Castronovo Chocolate (United States) - Signature Collection - Nicalizo, Nicaragua 70%
Cocama (Peru) - Chocoazú 70% - Theobroma Grandiflorum
East Van Roasters (Canada) - Pangoa,Peru 70%
Palette de Bine (Canada) - Vietnam Lam Dong 72%
Palette de Bine (Canada) - Pérou Marañón 70%
Palette de Bine (Canada) - Haïti Pisa
Molucca (United States) - Molucca - 72% Morogoro, Tanzania
Fresh Coast Chocolate Co. (United States) - Tanzania 70%
Fresh Coast Chocolate Co. (United States) - Madagascar 70%
Fresh Coast Chocolate Co. (United States) - Belize 70%
Palette de Bine (Canada) - Guatemala Polochic 70%
High % plain/origin dark chocolate bars (85% and over)
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Raw 100%Dandelion Chocolate (United States) - Kokoa Kamili, Tanzania – 85% (Japan production)
Mamuschka (Argentina) - 90% Criollo Peru
Tesoro Amazonico (Peru) - Dark 88%
Brasstown Chocolate (United States) - Brasstown Blend 85%
East Van Roasters (Canada) - Madagascar 100%
Nina Fine Chocolates (Peru) - Nina 85%
Potomac Chocolate (United States) - Upala, Costa Rica 85% Dark
Rough ground/textured plain/origin dark chocolate bars
Mindo Chocolate Makers (United States) - 70% Pure Rustic Chocolate BarPlain/origin dark chocolate bars made with alternative natural sugar
La Rifa Chocolatería (Mexico) - Barra Blanco MarfilLa Rifa Chocolatería (Mexico) - Barra Uranga
Palette de Bine (Canada) - Bine à l'érable, wild Bolivia 70%
Plain/origin milk chocolate bars
República del Cacao (Ecuador) - Milk Chocolate Ecuador 40%Chocolates El Rey (Venezuela) - Caoba Milk Chocolate 41% Cacao
Fruition Chocolate Works (United States) - Brown Butter Milk
Brasstown Chocolate (United States) - Brasstown Milk 45%
French Broad Chocolates (United States) - Milk Chocolate
Plain/origin 'dark' milk chocolate bars (50% and over)
Dark Forest Chocolate (United States) - Goat Milk 55%Dark Forest Chocolate (United States) - Milk Chocolate 50%
TCHO (United States) - Cacao
Chocotenango (United States) - Happy Medium
Sirene (Canada) - Lachua Dark Milk
Sirene (Canada) - Ambanja Dark Milk
Fruition Chocolate Works (United States) - Maranon Canyon Dark Milk
Cacaosuyo (Peru) - Piura Milk
Castronovo Chocolate (United States) - Rare Cacao Collection - Sierra Nevada, Colombia Dark Milk 63%
Castronovo Chocolate (United States) - Dominican Republic Dark Milk 55%
Castronovo Chocolate (United States) - Tumaco, Colombia Dark Milk 60%
Castronovo Chocolate (United States) - Patanemo, Venezuela Dark Milk 66%
Soma Chocolatemaker (Canada) - Fazenda Boa Vista
Maraná (Peru) - Cusco 50% - Milk Chocolate
Maraná (Peru) - Piura 50% - Milk Chocolate
Khao Caribe (Dominican Republic) - Anacaona Chocolate Oscuro con Leche 60%
Micro-batch - Plain/origin milk chocolate bars
TA.CHO taller de chocolate (Mexico) - Ámbar 46% Finca "El Paraíso".Mucho Chocolate (Mexico) - Carmelo Mestizo
Rough ground/textured plain/origin milk chocolate bars
Soma Chocolatemaker (Canada) - Old School MilkPlain/origin white chocolate bars
República del Cacao (Ecuador) - White Chocolate Ecuador 31%Mamuschka (Argentina) - Blanco con Vainilla
Chocolates El Rey (Venezuela) - Icoa White Chocolate 34% Cacao
Angovi (Ecuador) - Angovi Chocolate Blanco
Flavoured bars
Dark chocolate bars with an infusion or flavouring
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - MerkenPaccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Lemongrass
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Guayusa
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Andean Mint
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Lemon Verbena
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Andean Rose
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Passion Fruit 60%
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Cardamom
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Sweet Pepper / Allspice
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Orange
Creo Chocolate (United States) - Minty Dark
Cocoa Republic (Trinidad and Tobago) - 65% Dark Chocolate with Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee
TCHO (United States) - Coconut Crisp
Ohiyo Chocolate (United States) - 70% Alto Beni Dark Chocolate with Coffee
herencia divina (Venezuela) - Sabores de Doña Petra 65 %
AMMA (Brazil) - Cupuaçu
Cacao Hunters (Colombia) - Cacao Hunters Cafe de Edi 61%
Forte Chocolates (United States) - Honey Bar
Forte Chocolates (United States) - Orange Jazz
Maverick Chocolate Company (United States) - Espresso Dark Chocolate
Hoja Verde (Ecuador) - Hoja Verde Organic Orange 66%
Amano Chocolate Company (United States) - Amano Mango Chili
Dark chocolate bars with inclusions or pieces
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Andean Blueberry 60%Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Salt & Nibs 60%
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Goldenberry
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Fig
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Coffee
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Ginger & Chia
Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate (United States) - Dick Taylor Chocolate Black Fig Bar
TCHO (United States) - Drunken Nibble: Reserva de La Familia Tequila infused Nibs
TCHO (United States) - Mint Chip Gelato
Nugali (Brazil) - Dark chocolate (63% cocoa) With Cupuaçu Brittle
Cacaosuyo (Peru) - Piura Nibs
Cacaosuyo (Peru) - Inka Berry
Cacaosuyo (Peru) - Cuzco Maras Salt
Nina Fine Chocolates (Peru) - Nina 70% with Nibs
Dreams of Eva (Peru) - Eucalipto & Frambuesa
Madre Chocolate (United States) - Triple Cacao
Potomac Chocolate (United States) - 70% Dark + Coconut
Xocolatl de Davíd (United States) - Peanut Butter Truffle Bar
Xocolatl de Davíd (United States) - Brown Butter Crunch Bar
Xocolatl de Davíd (United States) - Almond & Pimentón
Amano Chocolate Company (United States) - Amano Raspberry Rose
Amano Chocolate Company (United States) - Amano Cardamom Black Pepper
Dark chocolate bars with a filling
Hudson Valley Naturals (United States) - Dark Chocolate with Peanut Butter and Crispy RiceLux Artisan Chocolates (United States) - 64% dark chocolate, Peanut butter & sea salt bar
Milla Chocolates (United States) - Hazelnut Praliné Bar
Milla Chocolates (United States) - Hazelnut Praliné Bar with Turkish Coffee
Cacaosuyo (Peru) - Camu Camu & Yacon
Rough ground flavoured dark chocolate bars
Wolter (Mexico) - Quetzalli Mexican Memories 74%Wolter (Mexico) - Quetzalli 70% with sea salt, chicatana and cardamon
Askinosie Chocolate (United States) - Dark Chocolate + Crunchy Sugar Crystals & Vanilla Bean CollaBARation™ Bar
Milk chocolate bars with an infusion or flavouring
TCHO (United States) - MokaccinoTCHO (United States) - Earl Grey
Fruition Chocolate Works (United States) - Hudson Valley Bourbon Dark Milk
Fruition Chocolate Works (United States) - Dark Milk with Flor de Sal
Castronovo Chocolate (United States) - Tumaco, Colombia Mocha Milk 58%
Cacaosuyo (Peru) - Banana Maras salt
Cacaosuyo (Peru) - Lucuma
Maverick Chocolate Company (United States) - Prohibition Milk Chocolate
Dreams of Eva (Peru) - Vainilla & Ají Panca
Mānoa Chocolate Hawaii (United States) - 60% Dark Milk with Alii Kula Maui Lavender
Milk chocolate bars with inclusions or pieces
TCHO (United States) - SnickerdoodleTCHO (United States) - Golden Milk: Ginger + Turmeric
Vivra Chocolate (United States) - Curry Cashew
Fruition Chocolate Works (United States) - Milk Chocolate Quinoa Crunch
Cacaosuyo (Peru) - Quinoa Crunch
Vivra Chocolate (United States) - PB & Pretzel
Maverick Chocolate Company (United States) - 60% Dark Milk Chocolate with Nibs
Chuao Chocolatier (United States) - Potato Chip
Chuao Chocolatier (United States) - Caramel Apple Crush
Milk chocolate bars with a filling
KOHLER Original Recipe Chocolates (United States) - Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter BarSt. Croix Chocolate Company (United States) - Peanut butter and wild grape jelly
Flavoured white chocolate bars
Askinosie Chocolate (United States) - “Dirty” White Chocolate + Vintage Cocoa Gravel BarFruition Chocolate Works (United States) - Strawberries and Cream
Castronovo Chocolate (United States) - White Chocolate with Lemon & Lemon Salt
Forte Chocolates (United States) - Rosemary Sea Salt Bar
Forte Chocolates (United States) - Lemon Pepper Bar
Le Caméléon (Mexico) - Abril en México tea in white chocolate
Solstice Chocolate (United States) - Brown Butter White Chocolate
Ganaches, palets, ganache pralines and truffles
Unflavoured dark chocolate ganaches or truffles
Garcia Nevett (United States) - AmazonasChocolaterie Tessa (United States) - Madagascar 70
Chocolaterie Tessa (United States) - Costa Rica 85
Chocolaterie Tessa (United States) - Madagascar 100
Chocolopolis (United States) - Dominican Republic House Blend Truffle
Chocolopolis (United States) - Madagascar Craft Truffle
Truffle Shots (United States) - World Peace Truffle Shots
Truffle Shots (United States) - Girl Power Truffle Shots
Flavoured dark chocolate ganaches or truffles
Giovanna Maggiolo Chocolate Artesanal (Peru) - SpicesGiovanna Maggiolo Chocolate Artesanal (Peru) - Cherries & Pisco
Wolter (Mexico) - Mezcal bonbon
Roots Chocolates (United States) - Lapsong Souchong - Smoked Tea
French Broad Chocolates (United States) - Strawberry Balsamic Truffle (vegan)
XO Confections (United States) - Modena Summer
Dreams of Eva (Peru) - Frambuesa, Asaí & Ají Panca
Chocolopolis (United States) - Spicy Aztec Truffle
Socola Chocolatier (United States) - Jasmine tea truffles
Dreams of Eva (Peru) - Piña & Pimienta Negra
Dreams of Eva (Peru) - Granada IPA
Arcay Chocolates (United States) - Coco Rum
Truffle Shots (United States) - Rosemary Caramel Truffle Shots
Truffle Shots (United States) - Bumbleberry Truffle Shots
Truffle Shots (United States) - Lemon Basil Truffle Shots
Flavoured milk chocolate ganaches or truffles
Chocotenango (United States) - Yuzu & GingerChocolat du Jour (Brazil) - Coffee Truffle
Forte Chocolates (United States) - Classic Milk
Flavoured white chocolate ganaches or truffles
Wolter (Mexico) - Tequila BonbonChocolat du Jour (Brazil) - Passion Fruit Truffle
Chocolaterie Tessa (United States) - Maracuya
Le Caméléon (Mexico) - Hibiscus flower ganache in white chocolate
XO Confections (United States) - Bananas Foster
Chocolopolis (United States) - Lemon Lavender Truffle
Truffle Shots (United States) - Castelvetrano Olive Truffle Shots
Compania de Chocolates (Argentina) - Pistache and Lime praline
Flavoured ganaches or truffles with combination coating or filling
Giovanna Maggiolo Chocolate Artesanal (Peru) - Miel de picarónGiovanna Maggiolo Chocolate Artesanal (Peru) - Almendras y limón
Milla Chocolates (United States) - Manhattan Bon Bon
Milla Chocolates (United States) - Raspberry Bon Bon
St. Croix Chocolate Company (United States) - Coffee malt bon bon
Arcay Chocolates (United States) - Romero Salé
Arcay Chocolates (United States) - Lemon Basil
Compania de Chocolates (Argentina) - Cardamom ginger
Nuts
Nut based pralines with dark chocolate
Arcay Chocolates (United States) - Praliné D'OrangeDark chocolate dragées, enrobed whole nuts
Truffle Shots (United States) - Pistache Orange DragéesNut based pralines with milk chocolate
Chocolaterie Tessa (United States) - Carmel Almond PralineCaramela (Mexico) - Salted Caramel pecan milk chocolate bombon
Milk chocolate dragées, enrobed whole nuts
French Broad Chocolates (United States) - Hazelnut DrageeTruffle Shots (United States) - Malabar Cardamom Dragées
White chocolate dragées, enrobed whole nuts
Truffle Shots (United States) - Ginger Snap DragéesCaramels
Dark chocolate enrobed caramels
Chocotenango (United States) - Coffee CaramelChocolaterie Tessa (United States) - Salted Butter Caramel, Dark
Fruition Chocolate Works (United States) - Brown Butter Bourbon Caramels
Milk chocolate enrobed caramels
Chocotenango (United States) - Simply LemonForte Chocolates (United States) - Milk Sea Salt Caramel
French Broad Chocolates (United States) - Lavender honey caramel
Sibö Chocolate Costa Rica (Costa Rica) - Apple lime caramel
Others - fruit/sugar/butter/cream/misc
Dark chocolate enrobed fruit pastes, jellies/gelée
La Goulue Chocolatier (Argentina) - Dark Chocolate filled with Malbec Sweet red wineLa Praline (Venezuela) - Mariposa
La Praline (Venezuela) - Mora
Dark chocolate enrobed whole fruit
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Cocoa Cacao Beans NaturalPaccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Dark Chocolate Covered Dehydrated Banana
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Dark Chocolate Covered Dehydrated Goldenberry
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Dark Chocolate Covered Cacao Nibs
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Dark Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans
Dark chocolate enrobed manon/butter/cream
Chuao Chocolatier (United States) - Mocha BonbonMilk chocolate enrobed whole fruit
Le Caméléon (Mexico) - Mexican banana coated in milk chocolateSpreads
Spreads with dark chocolate (no milk powder)
Truffle Shots (United States) - Fig + Chocolate SpreadTruffle Shots (United States) - Gingered Chocolate Spread
Spreads with milk chocolate
Mamuschka (Argentina) - Mamusch CreamArcay Chocolates (United States) - Passion Spread
Arcay Chocolates (United States) - Tamarind Spread
Truffle Shots (United States) - Rum Raisin Chocolate Spread
