European, Middle Eastern and African Bean-to-bar Competition 2019 – Winners

The International Chocolate Awards is pleased to announce the Winners of the 2019 European, Middle Eastern and African Bean-to-bar Competition, which was judged in Copenhagen, Denmark, May 10 – June 16, 2019 at the prestigious Hotel- og Restaurantskolen / Copenhagen Hospitality College.

The Bean-to-bar competition focuses on fine, craft and micro-batch chocolate makers who work directly from cacao beans to produce plain/origin and flavoured chocolate bars from Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Winners will go through to the World Final in Florence in October 2019. The competition is supported by the Hotel- og Restaurantskolen / Copenhagen Hospitality College.

2019 Highlights

The European, Middle Eastern and African Bean-to-bar Competition was the Award’s first competition focusing only on bars of all types made by bean-to-bar chocolate makers, for the first time including flavoured inclusion, infusion and filled bars made directly from cacao beans. This year we saw an improved standard from European micro-batch producers, with both the dark and milk overall ‘Best-in-show’ prizes going to small craft chocolate makers, from Belgium and the UK.

European craft chocolate is fast catching up with the US craft chocolate movement, with close to 500 bars entered in the European competition, including from emerging small chocolate makers from Eastern Europe, as well as established French and Belgian chocolatiers going back to making their own chocolate.

The Grand Jury is very pleased to announce the winners and looks forward to a tough competition at the World Final as European, Americas and Asia-Pacific winners compete for the world’s most prestigious chocolate prizes.

Judges

The judging panel included regular European judges, along with pastry chefs, restaurateurs, journalists and other specialists from the local area and members of our international Grand Jury panel.

Prizes

This was the fifth international competition devoted to bean-to-bar chocolate bars produced in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and for the second year, included flavoured bars made by chocolate makers. All judging is anonymised, including at the Grand Jury final session, where Golds, Silver and Bronze prizes are awarded by private voting according to the Grand Jury rules.

Prizes are awarded only to entries that meet the required standard for each prize.

View details of our sponsors and partners here.

(Prizes are shown in alphabetical order for each medal)


'Best in competition' overall winners

Plain/origin dark bar categories

Gold: Bonnat Chocolatier  (France) - El Castillero

Plain/origin milk bar categories

Gold: Rosehill Estate Chocolates  (Sweden) - Rosehill Estate 45%

Plain/origin bars

Plain/origin dark chocolate bars

Gold: Bonnat Chocolatier  (France) - El Castillero

+ Gold: Chocolate Maker

+ Gold: Direct Traded

Gold: Friis-Holm Chokolade  (Denmark) - O'Payo 68%

+ Gold: Direct Traded

Silver: Amazing Cacao  (Russia) - Copuazu

+ Gold: Alternate theobromas

Silver: Bonnat Chocolatier  (France) - 1903

Silver: Bonnat Chocolatier  (France) - Cacao Real del Xoconuzco

Silver: Chocolaterie Morin  (France) - Perou Chanchamayo 100%

+ Gold: 100%

Silver: Chocolaterie Morin  (France) - Perou Chanchamayo 63%

Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade  (Denmark) - Barba 70%

Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade  (Denmark) - Chuno 70% Double Turned

Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade  (Denmark) - Chuno 70% Tripple Turned

Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade  (Denmark) - Johe 70%

Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade  (Denmark) - La Dalia 70%

Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade  (Denmark) - La Dalia 85%

+ Silver: High %

Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade  (Denmark) - Medagla 70%

Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade  (Denmark) - Nicaliso 70%

Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade  (Denmark) - Rugoso 70% Bad Fermentation

Silver: Le chocolat des Français  (France) - Noir Origine – Pérou

Silver: PERÚ PURO Chuncho Gold  (Germany) - Chuncho Gold Grand Cru 70% ( * Max Felchlin AG)

Bronze: Bonnat Chocolatier  (France) - Côté d’Ivoire

Bronze: Bonnat Chocolatier  (France) - Madre de Dios

Bronze: Chocolaterie Morin  (France) - Equateur Esmeralda 100%

+ Silver: 100%

Bronze: Chocolaterie Morin  (France) - Equateur Esmeralda Noir 70%

Bronze: Chocolaterie Morin  (France) - Nicaragua Nicalizo Noir 70%

Bronze: Chocolaterie Morin  (France) - Nicaragua Rugoso Noir 70%

Bronze: Chocolaterie Morin  (France) - Perou Pablino Noir 70%

Bronze: Chocolaterie Morin  (France) - Venezuela Chuao Noir 70%

Bronze: Fresh Cacao  (Russia) - Origin, 70% Venezuela Guasare

Bronze: Friis-Holm Chokolade  (Denmark) - Indio Rojo 70%

Bronze: Friis-Holm Chokolade  (Denmark) - La Dalia 100%

Bronze: Friis-Holm Chokolade  (Denmark) - La Dalia 60%

Bronze: Friis-Holm Chokolade  (Denmark) - Løgismose 76% Mørk

Bronze: Friis-Holm Chokolade  (Denmark) - Rugoso 70%

Bronze: Holy Cacao Chocolate  (Israel) - 70% Cacao, Marañon

Bronze: Le chocolat des Français  (France) - Noir Origine – République Dominicaine

Bronze: Lyra  (Slovakia) - Lyra Galery dark

Bronze: Marussia  (Russia) - Premium Chocolate Marussia, Cuba Baracoa

Bronze: Marussia  (Russia) - Premium Chocolate Marussia, Tanzania

Bronze: Tobago Estate Chocolates  (Sweden) - Tobago Estate Chocolate 70% ( * PRALUS)

Micro-batch - Plain/origin dark chocolate bars

Gold: Aruntam - Sensory Chocolate  (Italy) - 72% Madagascar-Bejofo Estate Åkesson's

+ Gold: Chocolate Maker

+ Gold: Direct Traded

+ Gold: Organic

+ Special: Vegan

Silver: Ara Chocolat  (France) - Indio Blanco 72%

+ Special: Vegan

Silver: Aruntam - Sensory Chocolate  (Italy) - 72% India - Idukki Kerala

+ Special: Vegan

Silver: Aruntam - Sensory Chocolate  (Italy) - 72% Piura Albino Perù

+ Special: Vegan

Silver: Aruntam - Sensory Chocolate  (Italy) - 78% Tanzania - Kokoa Kamili

+ Special: Vegan

Silver: Bean Geeks Chocolate  (Denmark) - Guatemala 70%

Silver: Chocokoo  (Estonia) - El Salvador 75%

Silver: Chocolatoa  (Belgium) - Tanzania 80% Kokoa Kamili

Silver: Ciao Cacao, s.r.o.  (Czech Republic) - Chuao 75% Cocoa, Dark Chocolate

Silver: Cococaravan  (United Kingdom) - 100 % Arhuaco - Colombia

+ Gold: 100%

+ Special: Vegan

Silver: Depetris Riccardo / Depetris...i Ciculaté  (Italy) - Depetris I Ciculate' - Piura 75%

Silver: Donna Elvira  (Italy) - Colombia La Lengüeta Sierra Nevada 70%

+ Gold: Rough ground

Silver: Dormouse Chocolates  (United Kingdom) - The Four Ferments: Kablon Farms P1R2

+ Special: Vegan

Silver: Duffy's  (United Kingdom) - Duffy's Guatemala Rio Dulce 70%

Silver: Duffy's  (United Kingdom) - Duffy's Honduras Indio Rojo 72%

Silver: Fjåk Chocolate  (Norway) - 70% Dark Tanzania

+ Special: Vegan

Silver: Fjåk Chocolate  (Norway) - 72% Dark Guatemala

Silver: Harrer Chocolat  (Hungary) - Gran Nativo Blanco 74%

Silver: Kilian & Close  (Germany) - Kilian & Close Guatemala 90%

+ Gold: High %

+ Gold: Alternate sugars

Silver: Legast  (Belgium) - Sierra Nevada - Colombie 78%

Silver: Meybol Cacao  (Germany) - Chuncho Collection N°3 ( * Meybol Group SAC)

Silver: Meybol Cacao  (Germany) - Chuncho Collection N°5

Silver: Meybol Cacao  (Germany) - Criollo Origin Piura Peru ( * Meybol Group SAC)

Silver: Meybol Cacao  (Germany) - Criollo Origin Vraem Peru ( * Meybol Group SAC)

Silver: Míšina Čokoláda / Misha's Chocolate  (Czech Republic) - Solomon Islands Dark Chocolate 70%

Silver: Seed Chocolate  (United Kingdom) - 75% Gran Chililique

Silver: Utopick Cacao  (Spain) - Sierra Nevada 70%

Silver: Utopick Cacao  (Spain) - Tumaco 70%

Silver: Zoto  (Belgium) - Betulia Ocho 70% ( * Chocolatoa)

Bronze: Ara Chocolat  (France) - Huallaga 74%

Bronze: Ara Chocolat  (France) - Maceo 70%

Bronze: Bare Bones Chocolate  (United Kingdom) - Madagascar 70%

Bronze: Bean Geeks Chocolate  (Denmark) - Costa Rica 70% Handroast

Bronze: Cacao Betulia  (Switzerland) - Cacao Betulia B6 100% ( * Taucherli)

+ Silver: 100%

Bronze: Cacao Betulia  (Switzerland) - Cacao Betulia B8 80% ( * Chocolatoa)

Bronze: Cacao Betulia  (Switzerland) - Cacao Betulia B9 80% ( * Chocolatoa)

Bronze: ChocoBio  (France) - Chocolat cru 71% Pure origine Pérou.

Bronze: Cococaravan  (United Kingdom) - 80 % Selva Tabasqueño

+ Silver: Alternate sugars

Bronze: Coup De Chocolat  (Belgium) - Jerome

+ Silver: High %

Bronze: Donna Elvira  (Italy) - Perù Chuncho Urusayhua 70%

+ Silver: Rough ground

Bronze: Dormouse Chocolates  (United Kingdom) - The Four Ferments: Kablon Farms P2R1

Bronze: Duffy's  (United Kingdom) - Duffy's Nicaragua Juno 70%

Bronze: Feitoria do Cacao  (Portugal) - Costa Rica Maleku 76%

Bronze: Harrer Chocolat  (Hungary) - India 71%

Bronze: Kaitxo  (Spain) - Congo Mayuano 88%

+ Silver: High %

Bronze: Kaitxo  (Spain) - Tanzania 75%

Bronze: Kakau Worship  (Greece) - 75% Guatemala Collection

+ Silver: Alternate sugars

Bronze: Karuna Chocolate  (Italy) - Fast Dried cocoa from Belize, 70%

Bronze: Karuna Chocolate  (Italy) - Kokoa Kamili beans from Tanzania, 70%

Bronze: Karuna Chocolate  (Italy) - Slow Dried cocoa from Belize, 70%

Bronze: La Fèverie by Hasnaâ  (France) - Pérou - Piura Blanco 75%

Bronze: Legast  (Belgium) - Finca los Lagos - Colombie

Bronze: Martin Mayer Schokoladen  (Austria) - Indio Rojo - 72%

Bronze: Nadalina  (Croatia) - Nicaragua -Nicaliso 77%

Bronze: Prime Chocolate  (Belarus) - Prime Chocolate Bolivia 70%

Bronze: Prime Chocolate  (Belarus) - Prime Chocolate Peru Maranon 70%

Bronze: Prime Chocolate  (Belarus) - Prime Chocolate Tanzania 70%

Bronze: Romance Chocolate  (Belgium) - Romance 60% Kablon Farms ( * Artist Chocolate)

Bronze: Standout Chocolate  (Sweden) - Guatemala Lachuá 70%

Plain/origin milk chocolate bars

Gold: Rosehill Estate Chocolates  (Sweden) - Rosehill Estate 45%

+ Gold: Direct Traded

Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade  (Denmark) - Dark Milk 55%

Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade  (Denmark) - O'Payo Milk 50%

+ Gold: Organic

+ Gold: Chocolate Maker

Silver: La Fèverie by Hasnaâ  (France) - Colombia - Arhuaco Dark Milk 60%

Silver: Lyra  (Slovakia) - Lyra Galery Milk

Silver: Rosehill Estate Chocolates  (Sweden) - Rosehill Estate Dark Milk

Silver: Tobago Estate Chocolates  (Sweden) - Tobago Estate Chocolate Laura 45% ( * PRALUS)

Bronze: Chocolaterie Morin  (France) - Equateur Esmeralda Lait 48%

Bronze: Chocolaterie Morin  (France) - Jamaique Marvia Lait 48%

Bronze: Friis-Holm Chokolade  (Denmark) - Dark Milk 65%

Bronze: Friis-Holm Chokolade  (Denmark) - Løgismose 48% Mælk

Bronze: Lyra  (Slovakia) - Cuba 45%

Bronze: Michel Cluizel  (France) - Chocolat Plantation La Laguna Lait 47%

Bronze: PERÚ PURO Chuncho Gold  (Germany) - Chuncho Gold Grand Cru 52% ( * Max Felchlin AG)

Micro-batch - Plain/origin milk chocolate bars

Gold: Míšina Čokoláda / Misha's Chocolate  (Czech Republic) - Madagascar Milk Chocolate 50%

Silver: Bare Bones Chocolate  (United Kingdom) - Honduras Milk 60%

Silver: Duffy's  (United Kingdom) - Duffy's Honduras Mayan Red 61%

+ Gold: High %

Silver: Duffy's  (United Kingdom) - Duffy's Nicaragua Oh Juno! 45%

Silver: Holy Cacao Chocolate  (Israel) - 70% Cacao, Milk Chocolate, Marañon

Silver: Lilla Chokladfabriken Borgå  (Finland) - Madagascar 40%

Silver: Solkiki Chocolatemaker  (United Kingdom) - 65% Dark Milk, Gran Palo Blanco, Peru

+ Special: Vegan

Silver: Steiner & Kovarik by Prague Chocolate  (Czech Republic) - Aluna 44%

+ Gold: Alternate sugars

Bronze: Chocokoo  (Estonia) - El Salvador Dark Milk 65%

Bronze: Depetris Riccardo / Depetris...i Ciculaté  (Italy) - Depetris ICiculate'-Esmeraldas Latte 48%

Bronze: Idilio Origins  (Switzerland) - Idilio No. 15 con Leche

Bronze: Solkiki Chocolatemaker  (United Kingdom) - 62% Dark Milk, Gran Chililique, Peru

Bronze: Zart Pralinen Chocolate Makers  (Austria) - Staatzer Milk Chocolate

Plain/origin white chocolate bars

Gold: Summerbird  (Denmark) - Amber Chocolate Bar

Silver: Chocolaterie Morin  (France) - Perou Chanchamayo Blanc 40%

Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade  (Denmark) - White 40%

Silver: Summerbird  (Denmark) - White Chocolate Bar

Bronze: Chocolat Dieter Meier  (Switzerland) - White Chocolate Guatemala 42%

Bronze: Chocolaterie Morin  (France) - Venezuela Sur del Lago Blanc


Flavoured bars

Dark chocolate bars with an infusion or flavouring

Gold: Karuna Chocolate  (Italy) - Coffee Arabica and Cocoa from Belize 68% (**)

+ Special: Ground-in

Silver: Casa Kakau  (Bulgaria) - Bulgarian Rose Water and Cardamom (**)

Silver: Kakau Worship  (Greece) - 62% Guatemala Collection Coffee (**)

+ Special: Alternate sugars

Bronze: Bodrato Cioccolato  (Italy) - Dark Chocolate Bar Coffee and Anice (**)

Bronze: Lilla Chokladfabriken Borgå  (Finland) - Licorice 65% (**)

Dark chocolate bars with inclusions or pieces

Gold: Utopick Cacao  (Spain) - Cidra Canarone (**)

Silver: Amazing Cacao  (Russia) - Dark Chocolate 70% with Pine Nuts (**)

+ Special: Local ingredients

Silver: Bean Geeks Chocolate  (Denmark) - Beer Geek Crunch (**)

+ Special: Innovation

Silver: Bonnat Chocolatier  (France) - Noir Pistache (**)

Bronze: Coup De Chocolat  (Belgium) - Marcel (**)

Bronze: Fjåk Chocolate  (Norway) - 68% Dark India & Nibs (**)

Bronze: Idilio Origins  (Switzerland) - Idilio No. 7 Selección Cata Ocumare Nibs

Bronze: Karuna Chocolate  (Italy) - Raspberries and Cocoa from Belize, 70% (**)

Bronze: Legast  (Belgium) - Piura- Eclats de Cacao 70% (**)

Bronze: Solkiki Chocolatemaker  (United Kingdom) - 59% Dark Gran Palo with Candied Peanut (**)

Dark chocolate bars with a filling

Gold: Guido Castagna  (Italy) - MES Gianduja Fondente (**)

+ Special: Naked

Silver: Vito Allotta Craft Chocolate  (Italy) - Sicilian Autumn Gianduia Fondente

+ Special: Naked

+ Special: Local ingredients

Silver: Volpati Davide  (Italy) - Fondente Tre Strati

Milk chocolate bars with an infusion or flavouring

Gold: Friis-Holm Chokolade  (Denmark) - O'Payo Milk 50% - Sansho (**)

+ Special: Eclectic

Silver: Fjåk Chocolate  (Norway) - 45% Milk & Norwegian Wild Mushroom (**)

+ Special: Gastronomic

Silver: Fjåk Chocolate  (Norway) - 50% Milk & Liquorice Root (**)

Silver: Kilian & Close  (Germany) - Kilian & Close Warener Salinensalz (**)

+ Special: Vegan

+ Special: Alternate vegan milk

+ Special: Alternate sugars

Silver: Zart Pralinen Chocolate Makers  (Austria) - Damson (**)

+ Special: Ground-in

Bronze: Savanna Premium Chocolate  (Zambia) - Savanna Premium Chocolate Ginger Milk (**)

Bronze: Solkiki Chocolatemaker  (United Kingdom) - 33mg 5.5%CBD 63% Gran Nativo Dark Milk (**)

Bronze: XOCO by Corina  (Norway) - Koselig Sjokolade (**)

Milk chocolate bars with inclusions or pieces

Gold: Fjåk Chocolate  (Norway) - 45% Milk & Brown Cheese (**)

+ Special: Local ingredients

+ Special: Gastronomic

Silver: Fjåk Chocolate  (Norway) - 50% Milk with Sourdough Bread & Salt (**)

Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade  (Denmark) - O'Payo Milk 50% - Chunky Salty Liquorice (**)

Bronze: Lyra  (Slovakia) - Lyra Galery Milk with Hazelnuts

Milk chocolate bars with a filling

Bronze: Holy Cacao Chocolate  (Israel) - 45% Cacao, Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter (**)

White chocolate bars with an infusion or flavouring

Gold: Mojo Cacao  (Russia) - Cashew White Chocolate - Cookie (**)

+ Special: Ground-in

Silver: Fresh Cacao  (Russia) - Matcha Tea White Chocolate (**)

Silver: Míšina Čokoláda / Misha's Chocolate  (Czech Republic) - White Chocolate 40% + Strawberries (**)

White chocolate bars with inclusions or pieces

Gold: Edelmond  (Germany) - Edelmond Sanddorn Mandel WeißeSchokolade (**)

+ Special: Organic

Silver: Fjåk Chocolate  (Norway) - White & Blackcurrant Crumble Cake (**)

Silver: Solkiki Chocolatemaker  (United Kingdom) - Cranachan White Chocolate (**)

+ Special: Vegan

Bronze: Amazing Cacao  (Russia) - White Chocolate&Tieguanyin Tea&Nibs (**)

Bronze: Holy Cacao Chocolate  (Israel) - 32% Cacao, White Chocolate, Cappuccino


National awards

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

Plain/origin dark chocolate bars


Gold – Danish: Friis-Holm Chokolade  (Denmark) - O'Payo 68%

Gold – French: Bonnat Chocolatier  (France) - El Castillero

Micro-batch - Plain/origin dark chocolate bars


Gold – Belgian: Zoto  (Belgium) - Betulia Ocho 70% ( * Chocolatoa)

Gold – British: Duffy's  (United Kingdom) - Duffy's Guatemala Rio Dulce 70%

Gold – French: Ara Chocolat  (France) - Indio Blanco 72%

Gold – German: Meybol Cacao  (Germany) - Criollo Origin Piura Peru ( * Meybol Group SAC)

Gold – Italian: Aruntam - Sensory Chocolate  (Italy) - 72% Madagascar-Bejofo Estate Åkesson's

Gold – Spanish: Utopick Cacao  (Spain) - Tumaco 70%

(*)  Declared chocolate maker for private label bars.

(**) Winner has declared the product is made with their own bean-to-bar chocolate or couverture.