The International Chocolate Awards is pleased to announce the Grand Jury Finalists of the Canadian Chocolatier Competition which was held on 14 – 15 September in Toronto.

The judging panel was made up of pastry chefs, journalists, restaurant reviewers, bloggers, culinary educators and chefs, as well as members of our Grand Jury.

The Grand Jury Finalists are the entries that made it through to the final Grand Jury round, following an initial technical Selection round and one day of Main round judging. The Finalists are the nominations from which the Grand Jury select the prize winners, through private voting. The Grand Jury follow strict rules, which you can read here (PDF).

While listing as a Grand Jury Finalist is an achievement in itself, it does not necessarily indicate that the entry will receive a prize.

The 2019 Canadian Finalists are:

(In alphabetical order within each category)

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Flavoured bars

Dark chocolate bars with inclusions or pieces

Etat de Choc (Canada) – Mini-Tablette Maïs Piment
Etat de Choc (Canada) – Carte Arc-En-Ciel – Fruit de la Passion
Solasta Chocolate (Canada) – Candied Ginger & Cardamom
Etat de Choc (Canada) – Carte Montréal
Etat de Choc (Canada) – Mini-Tablette Sapin Érable
CXBO (Canada) – The After Dark Bar
cōchu chocolatier (Canada) – Espresso Bar
Centre and Main Chocolate Co. (Canada) – Sesame Za’atar Bar
ONYX Chocolates (Canada) – Mi Goreng (Indonesian Fried Noodle)
Island Chocolate Company (Canada) – Honduran 76% single farm dark chocolate

Milk chocolate bars with inclusions or pieces

CXBO (Canada) – La Banane Bar
CXBO (Canada) – The Honey Bar
Centre and Main Chocolate Co. (Canada) – Toffee & Potato Chip Bar
Centre and Main Chocolate Co. (Canada) – Turkish Coffee Bar

White chocolate bars with an infusion or flavouring

Alicja Confections (Canada) – Matcha Postcard Chocolate Bar
Centre and Main Chocolate Co. (Canada) – Saffron Bar

White chocolate bars with inclusions or pieces

Guild Chocolates (Canada) – Lavender and Candied Lilac Petals Bar
cōchu chocolatier (Canada) – Latte Bar
ONYX Chocolates (Canada) – Black Sesame Yuzu
Centre and Main Chocolate Co. (Canada) – Tea & Toast Bar
Centre and Main Chocolate Co. (Canada) – Gin & Tonic Bar
cōchu chocolatier (Canada) – Pecan Pie Bar

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Ganaches, palets, ganache pralines and truffles

Unflavoured dark chocolate ganaches or truffles

Sweet Lollapalooza Fine Chocolates (Canada) – Pure Nacional
The Chocolate Lab (Canada) – Rio Moho

Flavoured dark chocolate ganaches or truffles

East Van Roasters (Canada) – Cranberry Spruce
East Van Roasters (Canada) – Cardi C
Sweet Lollapalooza Fine Chocolates (Canada) – Orange Grove
Sweet Lollapalooza Fine Chocolates (Canada) – Raspberry Noir
Sweet Lollapalooza Fine Chocolates (Canada) – Lime
Sweet Lollapalooza Fine Chocolates (Canada) – Herbsaint
Sweet Lollapalooza Fine Chocolates (Canada) – Sakanti Bonbon
The Chocolate Lab (Canada) – Current Currant
cōchu chocolatier (Canada) – Balvenie & Prune

Milk chocolate ganaches or truffles

ChocolaTas Vancouver Chocolates Ltd. (Canada) – Pumpkin Pie Bourbon Caramel
ChocolaTas Vancouver Chocolates Ltd. (Canada) – Espresso Ganache
Sweet Lollapalooza Fine Chocolates (Canada) – Teaism
Sweet Lollapalooza Fine Chocolates (Canada) – Honey Coffee
cōchu chocolatier (Canada) – Tonka Bean

White chocolate ganaches or truffles

Guild Chocolates (Canada) – Smoked White Chocolate with Lime
The Chocolate Lab (Canada) – Karē Yuzu

Ganaches or truffles using mixed dark/milk/white for coating and fillings

Drunken Chocolatier (Canada) – Elderflower Lime Truffle
CXBO (Canada) – Butter Pecan
ChocolaTas Vancouver Chocolates Ltd. (Canada) – Earl Grey Tea
Inspiration Chocolates (Canada) – Bourbanized Figs and Pecan Praline
Inspiration Chocolates (Canada) – Ube Coconut Delight
Inspiration Chocolates (Canada) – Straub
Succulent Chocolates and Sweets (Canada) – Passion Fruit Bonbon

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Nuts

Nut based pralines with dark chocolate

East Van Roasters (Canada) – Hazelnut Caramel
East Van Roasters (Canada) – Pepita Praline
cōchu chocolatier (Canada) – Hazelnut Crunch

Dark chocolate dragées, enrobed whole nuts

East Van Roasters (Canada) – Chocolate Covered Giant Inca Corn
The Chocolate Lab (Canada) – Cara Latte Hazelnuts

Nut based pralines with milk chocolate

Etat de Choc (Canada) – Lingot Noisette
Sweet Lollapalooza Fine Chocolates (Canada) – Peanut Crunch
Soma Chocolatemaker (Canada) – Half Popped Popcorn Toffee
Island Chocolate Company (Canada) – Peanut butter supreme

Milk chocolate dragées, enrobed whole nuts

The Chocolate Lab (Canada) – PB&J Malts
Soma Chocolatemaker (Canada) – Pecan Pie Tumbles

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Caramels

Dark chocolate enrobed caramels

cōchu chocolatier (Canada) – ButterScotch
Cococo Chocolatiers (Canada) – Coffee Caramel and Cream

Milk chocolate enrobed caramels

Cococo Chocolatiers (Canada) – Passionfruit Caramel in White Chocolate

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Others – fruit/sugar/butter/cream

Dark chocolate enrobed fruit pastes, jellies/gelée

Etat de Choc (Canada) – Lingot Tout Érable
Island Chocolate Company (Canada) – Honduran 76% with PEI Raspberry
Island Chocolate Company (Canada) – Lemon Lime

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Spreads

Spreads with dark chocolate (no milk powder)

Allo Simonne (Canada) – Hazelnut, Dark Chocolate and Coffee
Allo Simonne (Canada) – Hazelnut & Dark Chocolate
Allo Simonne (Canada) – Hazelnut, Dark Chocolate and Buckweat
Allo Simonne (Canada) – Noisettes & Chocolat Jaguar