Americas Semi-final 2014 Winners – International Chocolate Awards

The International Chocolate Awards is pleased to announce the winners of the 2014 Americas Semi-final, which was judged at the International Culinary Center in New York, USA, 20 – 24 September 2014.

The International Chocolate Awards aim to recognize 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 2014 Americas Semi-final Grand Jurors here. A list of the judges who attended this competition is published here.

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 a significant number of 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.

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The Winners and World Finalists of the 2014 Americas Semi-finals are:

Bars

Bars – Dark plain/origin bars

Overall winners

Additional Silvers were given in this category due to the exceptionally high number of entries and overall standard.

GOLD: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Tangara 70%

SILVER: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Piura 70%

SILVER: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Raw 70%

SILVER: Soma Chocolate (Canada ) – Peru Nacional

SILVER: Franceschi Chocolate (Venezuela) – Rio Caribe 60% crop 2014

SILVER: Cacaosuyo (Peru) – Lakuna

SILVER: It’s Chocolate (United States) – Venezuelan Chuao 70% dark

SILVER: Franceschi Chocolate (Venezuela) – Ocumare 70% crop 2014

SILVER: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Lacumbia 70%

SILVER: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Montubia 70%

SILVER: Madre Chocolate (United States) – Healani Orchards Hawaii, Criollo

SILVER: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Nube 70%

BRONZE: Franceschi Chocolate (Venezuela) – Sur Del Lago 60% crop 2014

BRONZE: Amano Chocolate Company (United States) – Chuao

BRONZE: Hummingbird Chocolate Maker (Canada) – Hispaniola

BRONZE: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Garua 70%

BRONZE: Chocolat Madagascar (Madagascar) – Fine Dark Chocolate 65% Cocoa

BRONZE: Amano Chocolate Company (United States) – Montanya Dark Chocolate

BRONZE: Potomac Chocolate (United States) – Upala, Costa Rica 70%

Special category awards

Given for entries that qualify for the special category criteria

GOLD – Chocolate Maker: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Tangara 70%

GOLD – Growing Country: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Tangara 70%

GOLD – Organic: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Tangara 70%

GOLD – Directly Traded: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Tangara 70%

National awards

Given to Grand Jury finalists where there were a significant number of entries from one country within the category

GOLD – USA: It’s Chocolate – Venezuelan Chuao 70% dark

GOLD – CANADA: Soma Chocolate – Peru Nacional

GOLD – VENEZUELA: Franceschi Chocolate – Rio Caribe 60% crop 2014

SILVER – USA: Madre Chocolate – Healani Orchards Hawi, Criollo

SILVER – USA: Amano Chocolate Company – Chuao

SILVER – USA: Amano Chocolate Company – Montanya Dark Chocolate

SILVER – USA: Potomac Chocolate – Upala, Costa Rica 70%

SILVER – USA: Dandelion Chocolate – Ambanja, Madagascar 70%

SILVER – CANADA : Hummingbird Chocolate Maker (Canada) – Hispaniola

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Bars – High Percentage Dark plain/origin bars

GOLD: Marou – Faiseurs de Chocolat (Vietnam) – Tan Phu Dong 85% La Grande Epicerie de Paris

SILVER: Pacari (Ecuador) – Raw 85%

SILVER: Chocolat Madagascar (Madagascar) – Fine Dark Chocolate 85% Cocoa

BRONZE: Pacari (Ecuador) – Raw 100%

BRONZE: Cicada Chocolate (Australia) – 99% Madagascan Single Origin Bar

Special category awards

Given for entries that qualify for the special category criteria

GOLD – Chocolate Maker: Marou – Faiseurs de Chocolat (Vietnam) – Tan Phu Dong 85% La Grande Epicerie de Paris

GOLD – Growing Country: Marou – Faiseurs de Chocolat (Vietnam) – Tan Phu Dong 85% La Grande Epicerie de Paris

GOLD – Directly Traded: Marou – Faiseurs de Chocolat (Vietnam) – Tan Phu Dong 85% La Grande Epicerie de Paris

Bars – Rough Ground Dark plain/origin bars

GOLD: Taza (United States) – Cacao Puro

SILVER: Soma Chocolate (Canada) – Old School

National awards

Given to Grand Jury finalists where there were a significant number of entries from one country within the category

GOLD – USA: Taza Chocolate – Cacao Puro

Bars – Milk plain/origin bars

Overall winners

GOLD: Chocolat Madagascar (Madagascar) – Fine Milk Chocolate 50% Cocoa

BRONZE: Castronovo Chocolate (United States) – Rare Cacao Collection- Colombia, Sierra Nevada, Dark Milk

Special category awards

Given for entries that qualify for the special category criteria

GOLD – Growing Country: Chocolat Madagascar (Madagascar) – Fine Milk Chocolate 50% Cocoa

GOLD – Directly Traded: Chocolat Madagascar (Madagascar) –  Fine Milk Chocolate 50% Cocoa

GOLD – Chocolate Maker: Chocolat Madagascar (Madagascar) – Fine Milk Chocolate 50% Cocoa

Bars – White plain/origin bars

Overall winners

GOLD: Chocolates El Rey (Venezuela) – Icoa

SILVER: Chocolat Madagascar (Madagascar) – Fine White 34% Cocoa & bourbon vanilla caviar

Special category awards

Given for entries that qualify for the special category criteria

GOLD – Growing Country: Chocolates El Rey (Venezuela) – Icoa

GOLD – Directly Traded: Chocolates El Rey (Venezuela) – Icoa

Bars – Dark  flavoured with an infusion or flavouring

GOLD : Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Andean Lemon Verbena

SILVER : Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Andean Mint

BRONZE : Forte Chocolates (United States) – Fireweed and Blackberry Honey

Bars – Dark  flavoured with inclusions or pieces

GOLD: Madre Chocolate (United States) – Triple Cacao

SILVER: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – 70% Passion Fruit

SILVER: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Coffee

SILVER: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Pink Cuzco Salt & Cacao Nibs

BRONZE: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – 60% Passion Fruit

Bars – Flavoured dark with a filling

GOLD – FILLED: Cacaosuyo (Peru) – Camu Camu/Yacon

SILVER – FILLED:  es koyama (Japan) – Spicy Mineral

Bars – Milk flavoured with an infusion or flavouring

GOLD : es koyama (Japan) – Fukinoto

Bars – Milk flavoured with inclusions or pieces

GOLD: Askinosie Chocolate (United States) – Dark Milk Chocolate + Black Licorice CollaBARation™ Bar

BRONZE: Theo Chocolate (United States) – Theo Chocolate Organic & Fair Trade Coffee & Cream 45% Milk Chocolate Bar

BRONZE: jcoco (United States) – jcoco agave quoina sesame

BRONZE: Chuao Chocolatier (United States) – Pop Corn Pop

Bars – Flavoured milk with a filling

GOLD – FILLED: FIKA choklad (United States) – Quinoa/Hazelnut Bar

Bars – Flavoured white chocolate

GOLD: es koyama (Japan) – Genmaicha (Hojicha & Genmai)

SILVER: es koyama (Japan) – Kyoto (Matcha & Mibuna)

SILVER: es koyama (Japan) – Milk-Kintoki (Milk & Azuki)

SILVER: es koyama (Japan) – Strawberry Jam

SILVER: es koyama (Japan) – Japanese Sake

BRONZE: Forte Chocolates (United States) – Lemon Pepper

BRONZE: Forte Chocolates (United States) – Espresso White Swan

BRONZE: es koyama (Japan) – Raspberry Jam
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Filled chocolates – dark (flavoured or unflavoured)

Unflavoured dark – Ganaches and truffles

GOLD: Chocolopolis (United States) – House Blend Dominican Republic Dark Chocolate Truffle

SILVER: Chocolopolis (United States) – Madagascar Craft Truffle

BRONZE: Chocolopolis (United States) – Belize Craft Truffle

Unflavoured dark – Nut pralines

GOLD: es koyama (Japan) – Golden Sesame Praline

Flavoured dark – Ganaches and truffles

Overall winners

GOLD: es koyama (Japan) – Indonesian Café & Lychee Raspberry

SILVER: Arcay Chocolates (Venezuela) – Coco Rum

BRONZE: French Broad Chocolates (United States) – Thai truffle

BRONZE: Roots Chocolates (United States) – Chocolate Mint Basil

National awards

Given to Grand Jury finalists where there were a significant number of entries from one country within the category

SILVER – USA: French Broad Chocolates – Thai truffle

Dark – Caramels

GOLD: Theo Chocolate (United States) – Theo Chocolate Licorice Caramel

SILVER: Chuao Chocolatier (United States) – Strawberry Seduction

BRONZE: Theo Chocolate (United States) – Theo Chocolate Ghost Chili Caramel

BRONZE: FIKA choklad (United States) – Liquorice/Yuzu

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Filled chocolates – milk/white (flavoured or unflavoured)

Milk – Ganaches and truffles

GOLD: es koyama (Japan) – Kaffir Lime Leaves

SILVER: es koyama (Japan) – Genesis (Fig Leaves & Smoked Branch)

BRONZE: Xocolatti (United States) – Passion Fruit Truffle

White – Flavoured filled

GOLD: FIKA choklad (United States) – Key Lime Pie

SILVER: Chocolopolis (United States) – Lemon Lavender Truffle

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Filled chocolates – mixed (flavoured or unflavoured)

Ganaches and truffles with mixed dark/milk/white chocolate for coating and fillings

GOLD: es koyama (Japan) – Yuzu-Miso

SILVER: es koyama (Japan) – Matcha & Kyobancha(Roasted Green Tea of Kyoto)

SILVER: Forte Chocolates (United States) – Lemon Pepper Truffle

SILVER: Dreams of Eva (Peru) – Lúcuma / Pisco Bonbon

SILVER: Arcay Chocolates (Venezuela) – Tamarindo

SILVER:Arcay Chocolates (Venezuela) – Parchita

BRONZE: Arcay Chocolates (Venezuela) – Trufa Salé

BRONZE: Arcay Chocolates (Venezuela) – Romero Salé

BRONZE:es koyama (Japan) – Burnt Soy Sauce

National awards

Given to Grand Jury finalists where there were a significant number of entries from one country within the category

GOLD – USA: Forte Chocolates – Lemon Pepper Truffle

GOLD – VENEZUELA: Arcay Chocolates – Tamarindo

Milk – Nut based pralines

GOLD: es koyama (Japan) – Matcha and Yuzu

SILVER: es koyama (Japan) – Sakekasu Praline

SILVER: FIKA choklad (United States) – Hazelnut Skulls

Milk – Caramels

BRONZE: FIKA choklad (United States) – Salted Caramel

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Spreads

Milk – Spreads

GOLD: es koyama (Japan) – Sakura Leaves & Raspberry

BRONZE: es koyama (Japan) – Yaki-Mikan

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Note: only judged categories with winners are listed.