Finalists are Chosen for the International Chocolate Awards 2012

The only event that we at The Cacaoist are sponsoring this year (as Chocolate Earth). This is the LARGEST chocolate awards ever to be held! We are definitely a proud logistical sponsor of the 2012 International Chocolate Awards. The main sponsors are www.seventypercent.com and www.chocolateweek.com, both out of England. Ultramarinos, in Hoboken, NJ, provided a number of meals, housing,  and services as sponsor, as well.

The International Chocolate Awards, in its first year, has successfully circumnavigated the globe in seeking out the best chocolate makers and putting them in competition against one another. The Semi-final round of judging has just completed and finalists have been chosen from around the world to compete in the Finals, being judged in London at the end of Chocolate Week this month.

For each region that they judged, the ICA selected Gold and Silver Awards to the highest ranked products. Then some products, mostly those already awarded, are chosen as World Finalists to compete in the Finals in London. The Italian National winners will all go on to compete in the Finals.

Without further adieu: (from www.internationalchocolateawards.com)

World Finalists:
"Italian National"
Bars - Flavored dark chocolate

• GOLD: Slitti - 'CafféNero'
• SILVER: L'Artigiano - 'Extra fondente caffé e cardamomo'

Bars - Flavored milk chocolate

• GOLD: Domori - 'Lattesal'
• SILVER: Slitti - 'CafféLatte'

Bars - Stone ground

• SILVER: Donna Elvira Dolceria - 'Modicana Pepe Nero Kuching'

Filled chocolates - Flavored dark - Ganaches and truffles

• GOLD, ALCOHOL: Dolci Libertà ‘Tartufo modellato al Nucillo’
• GOLD, FRUIT: De Bondt Cioccolato Originale ‘Ganache al limone’
• SILVER: Slitti ‘Cappuccino’
• SILVER: Slitti ‘Passion Fruit’
• SILVER: De Bondt Cioccolato Originale ‘Ganache al tè’
• SILVER: Dolci Libertà ‘Tartufo modellato al Barolo Chinato Cocchi’

Filled chocolates - Flavored dark - Nut based pralines and gianduja

• GOLD: A Giordano ‘Giandujotti fatti a mano’
• SILVER: Guido Castagna ‘Giandujotti’

Filled chocolates - Milk - Nut based pralines and gianduja
Pralines

• GOLD: De Bondt Cioccolato Originale ‘Pralina alla nocciola al latte’
• SILVER: Dolci Libertà ‘Rocher al Latte e Nocciola’

Flavored Cremino

• GOLD: L’Artigiano ‘Cremino latte fondente con amarena’
• SILVER: L’Artigiano ‘Cremino latte fondente con liquerizia’

Filled chocolates - Milk - Enrobed whole fruits or nuts

• GOLD: De Bondt Cioccolato Originale 'Pinoli'

Spreads - Spreads with dark chocolate

• SILVER: Guido Castagna '55+'

Spreads - Spreads with milk chocolate

• GOLD: Slitti ‘Riccosa’
• SILVER: Piluc ‘Pilucchella’

"European"
Bars- Dark plain/origin bars

• Domori - Apurimac
• Growing country chocolate: Menakao - 72% Madagascar, Ambaja, Millot plantation
  

Bars- Milk plain/origin bars

• Friis-Holm - Dark Milk - Nicaragua 65%

Bars- White plain/origin bars

• Chocolatier Michel Cluizel - Ivoire

Bars- Flavored dark chocolate

• Idilio Origins Premium Swiss Chocolates – Idilio No.7 Seleccion Cata Ocumare, Cacaonibs

Bars- Flavored milk chocolate

• Åkesson’s – Bali – 45% Milk Chocolate with Fleur de Sel & Coconut Blossom Sugar
• Chocolatier Michel Cluizel – Grand Lait aux Noisettes

 Filled Chocolates - Unflavored dark - Ganaches and truffles

• Rococo Chocolates - Madagascar House Truffle
• Iain Burnett Highland Chocolatier - The Velvet Truffle Dark pure

Filled Chocolates - Flavored dark - Ganaches and truffles

• Matcha Chocolat - Cardamom & Banana

Filled Chocolates - Flavored dark - Caramels

• Lauden Chocolate - Sea Salted Caramel Chocolate

Filled Chocolates - Fruit pastes, jellies/gelée, enrobed whole fruits

• Chococo - Blackcurrant Beauty
• Melt Chocolates - Passion Fruit Square

Filled Chocolates - Milk - Ganaches and truffles

• Ika chocolate - Lemon praline bonbon
• Nicky Grant - Cornish Blue & Port

Filled Chocolates - Milk - Nut based pralines and gianduja

• Melt Chocolates - Salted Square

Spreads - Spreads with milk chocolate

• Hotel Chocolat - Peanut Smudge

"Americas"
Bars- Dark plain/origin bars

• Amano Artisan Chocolate, United States – Chuao 70% Dark Chocolate
• Franceschi Chocolate, Venezuela – Franceschi Chocolate/ Sur Del Lago
• Amma Chocolate, Brazil – Amma 60%
• Amano Artisan Chocolate, United States – Ocumare — 70% Dark Chocolate

Bars- Flavored dark chocolate

• Pacari Chocolate, Ecuador – Raw 70% Chocolate Bar With Maca
• The Grenada Chocolate Company, Grenada – Nib-A-Licious

Filled Chocolates- Flavored dark- Ganaches and truffles

• Arcay Chocolates, Venezuela – Limon (Lemon Or Lime)
• Delysia Chocolatier, United States – Jalapeno Tequila

Filled Chocolates- Flavored dark- Caramels

• Luxx Chocolat, United States - Oh Ginger

Spreads- Spreads with milk chocolate

• Lillie Belle Farms, United States - Smokey Blue Truffle Spread

"Canadian National"

Bars- Flavored dark chocolate

• Beanpod – Fernie Lavender Bar, 70% Dark infused with Salt Spring Island Lavender  

Bars- Flavored milk chocolate

• Cococo Chocolatiers Inc. – Habanero Sea Salt Thyme And Rosemary Milk Chocolate Bar 
• Christophe Morel Chocolatier – Salted Caramel And Crumble Gianduja Bar

Filled Chocolates- Flavored dark - Ganaches and truffles

• Christophe Morel Chocolatier - Green Tea Chanson Du Nord

Filled Chocolates- Flavored dark - Caramels

• Beta5 - Salted Caramels

Find all of the GOLD, SILVER and Special awards at: www.internationalchocolateawards.com