The International Chocolate Awards is pleased to announce the Winners of the 2024 Americas - Latin America & the Caribbean Bean-to-Bar and Craft Chocolatier Competition, which was judged remotely during Summer 2024. The Prize ceremony was held on Thursday, 12th September starting at 2pm, New York time on Zoom and Facebook. The winners were announced by our co-founders Dr. Maricel E. Presilla, local organizer in the New York area, Martin Christy from Bucharest and our Grand Jury members Barbie Van Horn, Lauren Adler and Alex Rast.
This was the first time that the Americas competition was divided into two separate regional semi-finals, one of which was this Latin America & the Caribbean Bean-to-Bar and Craft Chocolatier competition.
This competition focuses on fine, craft and micro-batch chocolate makers who work directly from cacao beans to produce plain/origin and flavoured chocolate bars and craft chocolatiers making filled chocolates, dragées and spreads from the Latin America & the Caribbean region.
Winners will go through to the World Final in October 2024.
Judges
The judging panel for this competition included our regular Americas judges, along with many of our IICCT alumni, other specialists from the local area and members of our international Grand Jury panel.
All judging was anonymised, including at the Grand Jury final session, where Golds, Silver and Bronze prizes were awarded by private voting according to the Grand Jury rules.
All Gold, Silver and Bronze winners in this competition are eligible to enter the World Final in October 2024.
Prizes
The winners of the 2024 Americas - Latin America & the Caribbean Bean-to-Bar and Craft Chocolatier Competition are:
(Prizes are shown in score order for each medal)
'Best in competition' overall winners
Plain/origin dark bar categories
Gold: Argencove (Nicaragua) - Mombacho 70% (91.6)Plain/origin milk bar categories
Gold: Almadoré Chocolate de Origem (Brazil) - Chocolate Ao Leite 50% (90.1)Flavoured bar categories
Gold: Binz Chocolates (Mexico) - Barra 70% Cacao con Chile Pasilla Mixe (91.7)Filled chocolates
Gold: Óscar Rodolfo Chocolatier (Mexico) - Bombón de pox - Hacienda Napaná (89.8)Barres llises/originals
Barres llises/originals negres
Gold: Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Arauquita 70% (89.3)
+ Gold: Ecuador
+ Gold: Chocolate Maker
+ Gold: Direct Traded
+ Gold: Organic
+ Special: Vegan
Silver: Cacao Hunters (Colombia) - Sierra Nevada 64% (88.6)
+ Gold: Growing Country
Silver: Buendia cacao (Mexico) - Ya'ab 74% Hacienda el Recuerdo (88.1)
Silver: Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Criollo Llanero 70% (88.1)
Bronze: Cacao Hunters (Colombia) - Arhuacos 72% (87.6)
Bronze: Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Ene Bajo Vraem 68% (87.5)
Bronze: Yojoa Chocolate (Honduras) - Yojoa Chocolate Dark 70% (87.5)
Bronze: Sibö Chocolate Costa Rica (Costa Rica) - Huetar 70% Cacao (87.5)
Bronze: Cacau do Céu Chocolates (Brazil) - Intenso 80% Cacau Catongo Cacau Do Céu (87.4)
Bronze: Chocopunto by Mabel (Dominican Republic) - Chocopunto by Mabel 70% Dark Oko Caribe (87.3)
Bronze: Cacao Hunters (Colombia) - Tumaco 82% (87.0)
Bronze: Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Chuncho 70% (86.8)
Bronze: Cacau do Céu Chocolates (Brazil) - Intenso 70% Cacau Do Céu (86.5)
Bronze: Nugali (Brazil) - Cacau Em Flor 70% Cocoa (86.5)
Micro-batch - Barres llises/originals negres
Gold: Argencove (Nicaragua) - Mombacho 70% (91.6)
+ Gold: Nicaragua
+ Gold: Chocolate Maker
+ Gold: Growing Country
Silver: La Biga (Nicaragua) - La Biga - O'payo 70% (90.1) ( * Semilla Escuela de Cacao y Chocolate)
Silver: Argencove (Nicaragua) - Apoyo 70% (90.0)
Silver: Delirio Chocolate (Venezuela) - Choroní 70% Cacao (89.8)
+ Gold: Venezuela
+ Gold: Direct Traded
Silver: Colors Chocolate (Dominican Republic) - Guananico Dark Chocolate (89.7)
Silver: Delirio Chocolate (Venezuela) - Barlovento 65% Cacao (89.6)
Silver: Delirio Chocolate (Venezuela) - Ocumare 72% Cacao (89.6)
Silver: Huma Chocolate (Ecuador) - Esmeraldas (89.3)
+ Gold: Ecuador
Silver: Atucun (Honduras) - Barra de Chocolate Criollo (89.0)
Silver: Argencove (Nicaragua) - Batch 18 80% (88.8)
Silver: Mission Chocolate (Brazil) - Two Rivers (88.6)
+ Gold: Brazil
Silver: Kaê Chocolates (Brazil) - KAÊ Intenso - 71% (88.5)
Silver: Colors Chocolate (Dominican Republic) - Pentágona Dark Chocolate (88.4)
Silver: Códice Cacao (Mexico) - Chocolate Amargo 75% (88.3)
+ Gold: Mexico
Silver: Mayak Chocolate (Honduras) - 70% Dark chocolate - Mayan Red (88.1)
Silver: Buendia cacao (Mexico) - Santo Tomás 68% Fiprocab (88.1)
Silver: Feliu Chocolate (Mexico) - Finca La Rioja 73% (88.1)
Silver: Almadoré Chocolate de Origem (Brazil) - Chocolate Intenso 70% (88.0)
Bronze: Delirio Chocolate (Venezuela) - Negrito de Sucre 72% Cacao (87.9)
Bronze: Franceschi Chocolate (Venezuela) - Canoabo 80% (87.6)
Bronze: Colors Chocolate (Dominican Republic) - Las Mariposas Dark Chocolate (87.4)
Bronze: Metiche (Mexico) - 75% Cacao Las Delias (87.3)
Bronze: Mil534 (Mexico) - Mil534 No.4 - Cacao Almendra Blanca (87.1)
Bronze: 20/20 Chocolates (Venezuela) - Yaracuy 74% (87.0)
Bronze: Baianí Chocolates (Brazil) - 70% Dark - Bold Roast (87.0)
Bronze: Buendia cacao (Mexico) - Mayi 80% Las Delias (86.9)
Bronze: Kakoa (Mexico) - 82% Cacao Criollo de Pichucalco, Chiapas (86.8)
Bronze: Feliu Chocolate (Mexico) - Flor de un día 70% (86.7)
Bronze: Colors Chocolate (Dominican Republic) - Monte Adentro Dark Chocolate (86.6)
Bronze: Delirio Chocolate (Venezuela) - Chuao 75% cacao (86.6)
Bronze: Mission Chocolate (Brazil) - Wild Brasil (86.6)
Bronze: Códice Cacao (Mexico) - Chocolate Semiamargo 60% (86.5)
Bronze: Franceschi Chocolate (Venezuela) - Choroni 70% (86.5)
Bronze: Kakoa (Mexico) - 70% Cacao de Tuzantán, Chiapas (86.5)
Barres llises/originals/negres alt % (> 85%)
Gold: Argencove (Nicaragua) - 92 bar (90.8)
+ Gold: Growing Country
+ Gold: Chocolate Maker
Silver: Cacao Hunters (Colombia) - Hachimitsu 86% (89.8)
+ Gold: Direct Traded
Silver: Colors Chocolate (Dominican Republic) - Dark Night Dark Chocolate (89.1)
+ Gold: 100%
Silver: Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Cuyabeno 95% (88.9)
+ Gold: Organic
Silver: Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Galápagos 87% (88.5)
Bronze: Eden Reserve Cacao Royale (Grenada) - Eden Reserve - >50% Criollo/Trinitario (87.8)
Bronze: Cacao Hunters (Colombia) - Colombia 100% (86.5)
Micro-batch - Barres llises/originals amb llet
Gold: Almadoré Chocolate de Origem (Brazil) - Chocolate Ao Leite 50% (90.1)
+ Gold: Chocolate Maker
+ Gold: Growing Country
+ Gold: Direct Traded
Silver: Colors Chocolate (Dominican Republic) - Marmolejos Darkmilk Chocolate (89.1)
Silver: Delirio Chocolate (Venezuela) - Chocolate con Leche Güelitos 54% Cacao (88.0)
Silver: Colors Chocolate (Dominican Republic) - La Isla Bonita Darkmilk Chocolate (87.7)
Silver: Códice Cacao (Mexico) - Chocolate con Leche 50% (87.5)
Silver: C'alma Chocolate (Brazil) - Ao Leite 55% (87.1)
Silver: Colors Chocolate (Dominican Republic) - Mi Amorcito Milk Chocolate (87.1)
Bronze: Colors Chocolate (Dominican Republic) - La Jaguita Darkmilk Chocolate (86.9)
Bronze: Colors Chocolate (Dominican Republic) - Septentrional Darkmilk Chocolate (85.5)
Bronze: Colors Chocolate (Dominican Republic) - Mirabal Darkmilk Chocolate (85.5)
Barres llises/originals alternative
Gold: Belú Cacao (El Salvador) - Oatmilk Chocolate (89.0)
+ Gold: Chocolate Maker
+ Gold: Growing Country
+ Gold: Direct Traded
Silver: Franceschi Chocolate (Venezuela) - Rio Caribe 70% W/ Coconut Sugar (87.0)
Barres de sabors
Barres de xocolata negra amb una infusió o aroma
Gold: Binz Chocolates (Mexico) - Barra 70% Cacao con Chile Pasilla Mixe (91.7) (**)
+ Special: Local ingredients
+ Special: Recipe
Silver: Noel Verde (Ecuador) - Noel Verde Cappuccino (88.8) (**)
Silver: Noel Verde (Ecuador) - Noel Verde Sake Powder (88.6) (**)
Silver: Cacao Hunters (Colombia) - Pimienta 70% (88.2) (**)
Silver: Mil534 (Mexico) - 68% Cacao Tequila Extra Añejo (88.0) (**)
Silver: Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Ajedrea (87.8) (**)
Silver: Feliu Chocolate (Mexico) - Pitaya de Mayo 58% (87.3) (**)
+ Special: Local ingredients
Bronze: Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Cañamo (86.9) (**)
Bronze: Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Pomelo (86.2) (**)
Bronze: Atucun (Honduras) - Barra de Chocolate con Mango (86.1) (**)
Bronze: Luzz Cacau (Brazil) - Chocolate 62% Com Café Luzz Cacau (86.1)
Bronze: Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Menta Rastrera (86.1) (**)
Bronze: Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Palma Rosa (85.9) (**)
Bronze: Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Melisa Toronjil (85.8) (**)
Bronze: Quai Craft Chocolate (Guyana) - Cinnamon Sorrel 70% (85.7) (**)
Bronze: Saltus (Bolivia) - Wild Cacao Chocolate 62% with Khoa (85.6) (**)
Barres de xocolata negra amb inclusions o trossos
Gold: Chocolateria Artesanal Citlalli (Mexico) - Chocolate al 70 % con Cacao Cristalizado (91.2) (**)
+ Special: Biome
+ Special: Recipe
Silver: Argencove (Nicaragua) - Banana, Cinnamon and Cloves (88.0) (**)
Bronze: Sibö Chocolate Costa Rica (Costa Rica) - Salted Caramel 70% Cacao (86.8) (**)
Bronze: ZAAD Bean to Bar (Brazil) - 70% Intenso Com Cupuaçu (86.8) (**)
Bronze: Odle Chocolates (Brazil) - Chocolate 60% com Laranja e Amêndoas (86.8) (**)
Bronze: Delirio Chocolate (Venezuela) - Orange 65% Cacao (86.7) (**)
Bronze: Baianí Chocolates (Brazil) - 65% Passion Fruit Crunch (86.6) (**)
Bronze: Nugali (Brazil) - Dark Chocolate 63% With Pink Peppercorn (86.5)
Bronze: Saltus (Bolivia) - Wild Cacao Chocolate 62% With Cacao Nibs (85.8) (**)
Bronze: Kaê Chocolates (Brazil) - KAÊ Cupuaçu - 64% com Cupuaçu (85.6) (**)
Barres de xocolata amb llet amb una infusió o aroma
Gold: Feliu Chocolate (Mexico) - Leche y Café 58% (91.5) (**)
+ Special: Recipe
Silver: Feliu Chocolate (Mexico) - Leche y Vainilla 57% (90.9) (**)
+ Special: Ingredients
Bronze: Nugali (Brazil) - Milk Chocolate With Coffee (86.8) (**)
Bronze: Kaê Chocolates (Brazil) - Kaê Cumaru - Ao Leite 55% Com Cumaru (85.8) (**)
Barres de xocolata amb llet amb inclusions o trossos
Gold: Sibö Chocolate Costa Rica (Costa Rica) - Coffee Toffee 63% Cacao (90.1) (**)
Silver: Mission Chocolate (Brazil) - Brazilian Cheese (88.2) (**)
+ Special: Local ingredients
Silver: Benevides Chocolates (Brazil) - 43% Cacau Com Rapadura E Flor de Sal (87.8) (**)
Silver: ZAAD Bean to Bar (Brazil) - 55% Com Banana Passa, Amendoas E Cumaru (87.7) (**)
Silver: C'alma Chocolate (Brazil) - Coco E Café (87.1) (**)
Barres de xocolata amb llet amb un farcit
Silver: JUCOLATTE (Brazil) - 40% Avelã - Chocolate Bean to Bar (87.2)
Bronze: Nugali (Brazil) - Gianduia Chocolate (85.7)
Barres de xocolata blanca amb una infusió o aroma
Gold: Baianí Chocolates (Brazil) - White Chocolate - Brazilian Spices (91.0) (**)
Silver: Priscyla França chocolates (Brazil) - Chocolate de Caramelo Com Flor de Sal (88.9) (**)
Silver: Kaê Chocolates (Brazil) - Kaê Caipira - Branco Com Milho (88.4) (**)
Silver: Colors Chocolate (Dominican Republic) - Flor de Jamaica Pink Chocolate (88.0) (**)
Barres de xocolata blanca amb inclusions o trossos
Silver: Odle Chocolates (Brazil) - Chocolate Branco Caramelizado com Toffee (87.2) (**)
Silver: Mestiço Chocolates (Brazil) - Doce de Leite & Honeycomb 37% (87.0) (**)
Bronze: Pretiosus (Brazil) - Pretiosus Branco de Abacaxi Com Coco (86.8) (**)
Bronze: Hagi Torroneria e Chocolateria (Brazil) - Caramelo com Banana e Castanha de Caju (86.5) (**)
Bronze: Argencove (Nicaragua) - Pecan Pie (86.4) (**)
Bronze: Almadoré Chocolate de Origem (Brazil) - Chocolate Branco com Framboesa (86.3) (**)
Bronze: JUCOLATTE (Brazil) - 35% Maracujá com Morango - Bean to Bar (85.6) (**)
Barres de xocolata amb combination amb inclusions o trossos
Bronze: Colors Chocolate (Dominican Republic) - Caramello Chocolate (86.9) (**)
Ganaches, palets, bombons i trufes ganache
Ganaches o trufes de xocolata negra aromatitzada
Gold: Óscar Rodolfo Chocolatier (Mexico) - Bombón de pox - Hacienda Napaná (89.8) (**)
+ Special: Recipe
+ Special: Local ingredients
Ganaches de xocolata amb llet o trufes
Gold: Colors Chocolate (Dominican Republic) - Mojito Praline (89.6) (**)
+ Special: Recipe
Ganaches o trufes utilitzant recobriment o farcit negre / amb llet ..
Silver: Feliu Chocolate (Mexico) - Trufa Napaná (87.9) (**)
Ganaches o trufes utilitzant recobriment o farcit negre / amb llet
Silver: Colors Chocolate (Dominican Republic) - Café Caramello (87.5) (**)
Silver: Colors Chocolate (Dominican Republic) - Piña Praline (87.2) (**)
Bronze: Montadero Chocolate (Puerto Rico) - Cherry Blossom (85.7) (**)
Bombons a base de fruits secs, nous recobertes
Praliné a base de nous / gianduja amb xocolata amb llet
Silver: Colors Chocolate (Dominican Republic) - Rosemary Hazelnut Praliné (88.2)
Silver: Caramela (Mexico) - Milk Pistache (87.2)
Caramels
Caramels recoberts de xocolata amb llet
Silver: Colors Chocolate (Dominican Republic) - Salty Caramel Sand Dollar (87.0) (**)
Altres - fruita / sucre / mantega / crema
Fruita sencera recoberta de xocolata negra
Silver: Óscar Rodolfo Chocolatier (Mexico) - Dátil con Queso Azul Nueces y Chocolate (87.4) (**)
Cremes per untar
Cremes per untar de xocolata negra (sense llet en pols)
Silver: Kamm (Ecuador) - Kamm Spread Cacao and Mango (88.2) (**)
Cremes per untar de xocolata amb llet
Bronze: Kamm (Ecuador) - Kamm Spread Cacao and Passion Fruit (86.8) (**)
Cocoa Powder
Gold: Hacienda Napaná (Mexico) - Cacao en Polvo Hacienda Napaná (87.7)
Cocoa Butter
Silver: Hacienda Napaná (Mexico) - Manteca de Cacao Hacienda Napaná (86.5)
Bronze: Catica Chocolates (Costa Rica) - Catica Chocolates Manteca de Cacao (85.4)
(*) Declared chocolate maker for private label bars.
(**) Winner has declared the product is made with their own bean-to-bar chocolate or couverture.
