Americas Semi-final 2013 Winners

The International Chocolate Awards is pleased to announce the winners of the 2013 Americas Semi-final, which was judged at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York, USA, 23-28 June 2013.

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 2013 Americas Semi-final Grand Jurors here. A list of the judges who attended this competition is published here.

Prizes

The categories, which range from origin and flavoured bars to filled chocolates to spreads, are designed to reflect trends in the current chocolate industry. Prizes are given according to category, with just one Gold awarded in each category and a number of Silver awards available at the discretion of the Grand Jury.

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 special Awards for Chocolate Maker, Directly Traded, Organic and Chocolate Maker to the highest scoring entry for each criteria.

The Grand Jury can also nominate outstanding products that didn’t quite achieve an award to go forward as World Finalists. These products qualify to enter the World Final in October 2013 in London, along with the Gold and Silver medal winners.

You can also find a full list of the products that made it to the Grand Jury round here.

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The Winners and World Finalists of the 2013 Americas Semi-finals are:

Bars

Bars – Dark plain/origin bars

Overall winners

GOLD: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Raw 70% cacao

SILVER: Patric Chocolate (United States) – Madagascar 67%

SILVER: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Piura Quemazon 70% cacao

SILVER: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Guayacán 70%

SILVER: Patric Chocolate (United States) – Piura 67%

SILVER: The Grenada Chocolate Company (Grenada) – The Grenada Chocolate Company Organic 60% Dark Bar

Special category awards

Given for entries that qualify for the special category criteria

GOLD – Chocolate Maker: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Raw 70% cacao

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

GOLD – Organic: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – Raw 70% cacao

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

National awards

Given to Grand Jury finalists when 10 or more entries from one country in category

GOLD – ECUADOR: Pacari Chocolate – Raw 70% cacao

GOLD – USA: Patric Chocolate – Madagascar 67%

GOLD – VENEZUELA: Franceschi Chocolate – Franceschi Chocolate, Canoabo crop 2013

SILVER – USA: Patric Chocolate – Piura 67%

SILVER – USA: Amano Chocolate Company – Chuao 70% Dark Chocolate Bar

SILVER – USA: Askinosie Chocolate – 70% Cortés, Honduras Dark Chocolate Bar

SILVER – USA: Tejas Chocolate – Capistrano

SILVER: USA – Dandelion Chocolate (United States) – Papua New Guinea 70%

Additional World Finalists

Additional entries of a high standard nominated to go forward to the World Final

Amazona Chocolate (Peru) – Gran Pajatén, Peru 73% Dark Chocolate Trinitario

Bars – Milk plain/origin bars

Overall winners

SILVER: Forte Chocolates (United States) – Chocolate Love (dark milk chocolate bar)

SILVER: TCHO Chocolate (United States) – Classic

SILVER: Chocolates El Rey (Venezuela) – Irapa

Special category awards

Given for entries that qualify for the special category criteria

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

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

Bars – White plain/origin bars

Overall winners

GOLD: Chocolates El Rey (Venezuela) – Icoa

SILVER: Fruition Chocolate (United States) – Toasted White Chocolate

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 – Flavoured dark chocolate

Overall winners

GOLD – FILLED: Es Koyama (Japan) – Manganji-Temple Green Pepper & Almond Praline

GOLD – FUSED: Pacari Chocolate (Ecuador) – 60% organic chocolatess with lemongrass

SILVER: Patric Chocolate (United States) – Mocha OMG

National awards

Given to Grand Jury finalists when 10 or more entries from one country in category

GOLD – USA: Patric Chocolate (United States) – Mocha OMG

SILVER – USA: Chuao Chocolatier (United States) – Salted Chocolate Crunch

SILVER – USA: Chuao Chocolatier (United States) – Spicy Maya

SILVER – USA: TCHO Chocolate (United States) – Galactic Gelato

Bars – Flavoured milk chocolate

Overall winners

GOLD: Jade Chocolates (United States) – Genmai

SILVER: jcoco (United States) – jcoco edamame sea salt

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

SILVER: es koyama (Japan) – Daitokuji-Temple Natto

SILVER: TCHO Chocolate (United States) – Mokaccino

SILVER: Hudson Chocolates (United States) – Milk Chocolate and Sichimi Togarashi Bar

National awards

Given to Grand Jury finalists when 10 or more entries from one country in category

GOLD – USA: Jade Chocolates (United States) – Genmai

SILVER- USA: jcoco (United States) – jcoco edamame sea salt

SILVER- USA: Chuao Chocolatier (United States) – Pop Corn Pop

SILVER- USA: TCHO Chocolate (United States) – Mokaccino

SILVER- USA: Hudson Chocolates (United States) – Milk Chocolate and Sichimi Togarashi Bar

SILVER- USA: Askinosie Chocolate (United States) – Dark Milk Chocolate + Ancho Chile & Pistachio CollaBARation™ Bar

Bars – Flavoured white chocolate

Overall winners

SILVER: Forte Chocolates (United States) – Rosemary Sea Salt Bar

SILVER: es koyama (Japan) – Raspberry & Lychee

Additional World Finalists

Additional entries of a high standard nominated to go forward to the World Final

jcoco (United States) – jcoco Veracruz Orange Cayenne

Filled chocolates – dark (flavoured or unflavoured)

Unflavoured dark – Ganaches and truffles

No medal prizes given

World Finalists

Entries of a high standard nominated to go forward to the World Final

Payard (United States) – Chocolat Chocolat

Chocolopolis (United States) – Colombia Truffle

Flavoured dark – Ganaches and truffles

Overall winners

GOLD: Theo Chocolate (United States) – Mint Ganache

SILVER: The Secret Chocolatier (United States) – Cardamom Chocolate Truffle

SILVER: L.A.Burdick (United States) – Fig bonbon

SILVER: Arcay Chocolates (Venezuela) – Coco Rum

National awards

Given to Grand Jury finalists when 10 or more entries from one country in category

GOLD-USA: Theo Chocolate (United States) – Mint Ganache

Additional World Finalists

Additional entries of a high standard nominated to go forward to the World Final

Socola Chocolatier (United States) – Dark Chocolate Cognac truffles

Chocolate Springs (United States) – Salted Caramel Truffle

Chocolopolis (United States) – Anise Ganache Fig

Dark – Nut based pralines and gianduja, enrobed whole nuts

No medal prize given

World Finalists

Entries of a high standard nominated to go forward to the World Final

Gearharts Fine Chocolates (United States) – Pistachio Toffee

Dark – Caramels

Overall winners

GOLD: Forte Chocolates (United States) – Rosemary Caramel

SILVER: Theo Chocolate (United States) – Ghost Chile Caramel

SILVER: Lillie Belle Farms (United States) – Lavender Sea Salt Caramel

SILVER: Theo Chocolate (United States) – Licorice Caramel

National awards

Given to Grand Jury finalists when 10 or more entries from one country in category

GOLD – USA: Forte Chocolates (United States) – Rosemary Caramel

Additional World Finalists

Additional entries of a high standard nominated to go forward to the World Final

Forte Chocolates (United States) – Sea Salt Caramel

Filled chocolates – Milk (flavoured or unflavoured)

Milk – Ganaches and truffles

Overall winners

GOLD: es koyama (Japan) – Nanko Ume Plum & Almond Praline

SILVER: Xocolatti (United States) – Passion Fruit Truffle

SILVER: Theo Chocolate (United States) – Burnt Sugar Ganache

National awards

Given to Grand Jury finalists when 10 or more entries from one country in category

GOLD – USA: Xocolatti (United States) – Passion Fruit Truffle

Additional World Finalists

Additional entries of a high standard nominated to go forward to the World Final

tumbador chocolate (United States) – Salted Peanut Bar

Milk – Nut based pralines and gianduja, enrobed whole nuts

No medal prize given

World Finalists

Entries of a high standard nominated to go forward to the World Final

FIKA choklad (United States) – Quinoa Hazelnut

Milk – Gianduiotto

No awards given

Milk – Caramels

GOLD: Theo Chocolate (United States) – Honey Saffron Caramel

SILVER: Chuao Chocolatier (United States) – Rosemary Salt Caramel

SILVER: Tumbador chocolate (United States) – Kalamansi “Pie” Caramel

Filled chocolates – Mixed (flavoured or unflavoured)

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

Overall winners

GOLD: Es Koyama (Japan) – Laphroaig 10 Year Old(Whisky) & Raspberry

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

SILVER: Arcay Chocolates (Venezuela) – Limon

SILVER: L.A.Burdick (United States) – White chocolate mouse

SILVER: Payard (United States) – Key Lime Chocolate

National awards

Given to Grand Jury finalists when 10 or more entries from one country in category

GOLD – USA: Forte Chocolates (United States) – Lemon Pepper Butter Truffle

SILVER- USA: L.A.Burdick (United States) – White chocolate mouse

SILVER- USA: Payard (United States) – Key Lime Chocolate

SILVER- USA: Fruition Chocolate (United States) – Strawberry and Toasted Cashew Gianduja

World Finalists

Additional entries of a high standard nominated to go forward to the World Final

FIKA choklad (United States) – Goat Cheese Truffle

Luxx Chocolat (United States) – Fig & Port Hat Trick

Payard (United States) – Salted Caramel Chocolate

Filled chocolates – White (flavoured or unflavoured)

White – Flavoured filled chocolates

GOLD: Chocolopolis (United States) – Lemon Lavender Truffle

Spreads

Dark – Spreads

No awards given

Note: only judged categories are listed.