European Semi Final 2012 – winners

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:

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Spreads

Spreads with dark chocolate

No awards given

Spreads with milk chocolate

World Finalists

Hotel Chocolat – Peanut Smudge

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