Americas – Latin America & the Caribbean Bean-to-Bar and Craft Chocolatier Competition 2026 – Grand Jury Finalists

The International Chocolate Awards is pleased to announce the Grand Jury Finalists of the 2025 Americas – Latin America & the Caribbean Bean-to-Bar and Craft Chocolatier Competition, which was judged remotely during Summer 2025.

The judging panel included our regular Americas judges, along with many of our IICCT alumni and other specialists from the local area and members of our international Grand Jury panel.

The Grand Jury Finalists are the entries that made it through to the final Grand Jury round, following an initial technical Selection round and a main round of judging. The Finalists are the nominations from which the Grand Jury select the prize winners, through private voting.

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

You can find the list of winners here.


The 2026 Americas – Latin America & the Caribbean Grand Jury Finalists are:

(In score order within each category)


Barres llises/originals

Barres llises/originals negres

Cacao Hunters (Colombia) - Arhuacos 72% (90.77)
Chocopunto by Mabel (Dominican Republic) - 70% Dark Monte Plata (90.40)
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Raw 80% (90.37)
Vida Silvestre (Mexico) - Chocolate 70% Almendra Blanca (90.17)
Buendia cacao (Mexico) - Santo Tomas 68% Vida Silvestre (89.70)
Cacao Hunters (Colombia) - Tumaco 70% (89.63)
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Guayas 70% (89.53)
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - ChoronĆ­ (89.20)
Chocopunto by Mabel (Dominican Republic) - 70% Dark Zorzal (89.07)
Cacau do CƩu Chocolates (Brazil) - Catongo Variety 80% Dark Chocolate (88.53)
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Chuncho 70% (88.33)
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Raw 70% (88.30)
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - GalƔpagos 75% (87.93)
Maleku Chocolate (Costa Rica) - 70% Dark Chocolate (87.90)
Vida Silvestre (Mexico) - Chocolate Oscuro 80% (87.77)
Nugali (Brazil) - Dark Chocolate 70% Cocoa - Cacau em Flor (86.90)
Vida Silvestre (Mexico) - Chocolate Oscuro 70% (86.84)
XKIK (Mexico) - 75% Cacao (86.50)
Cacao Hunters (Colombia) - Sierra Nevada 72% (85.86)
Kakaw Museo (Mexico) - TulipƔn 72 (83.69)

Micro-batch - Barres llises/originals negres

Feliu Chocolate (Mexico) - Chontalpa 70% (90.20)
Argencove (Nicaragua) - Batch 18 80% (89.52)
Feliu Chocolate (Mexico) - Soconusco 70% (89.48)
Delirio Chocolate (Venezuela) - Porcelana 75% cacao (89.02)
Delirio Chocolate (Venezuela) - Ocumare 72% Cacao (88.98)
Feliu Chocolate (Mexico) - Flor de Un DĆ­a 70% (88.94)
LevĆŖlez Chocolate (Mexico) - 70% Cacao Almendra Blanca (88.92)
Semilla Escuela de Cacao y Chocolate ( Semilla, Cocoa. And Chocolate School ) (Nicaragua) - Tumchele 70% (88.88)
Jacinto (Mexico) - Las Delias, Almendra Blanca (88.82)
20/20 Chocolates (Venezuela) - Chuao 70% (88.68)
Buendia cacao (Mexico) - Mayi 80% Finca Las Delias (88.18)
Feliu Chocolate (Mexico) - Finca La Rioja 70% (88.02)
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Piura Quemazón (88.02)
Chocolates CayrƩ (Venezuela) - CayrƩ - Sur del Lago 70% (87.78)
Chocolata Soul (Mexico) - Chocolate 70% Cacao Finca Cacayo (87.70)
Delirio Chocolate (Venezuela) - Mi Tierra 67% Cacao (87.70)
Hacienda RC (Mexico) - Chocolate 74% Cacao Rosain -Hacienda RC (87.44)
Buendia cacao (Mexico) - Utsil 70% Hacienda El Recuerdo (87.36)
Kakaw Museo (Mexico) - Malinche 65 (87.22)
MestiƧo Chocolates (Brazil) - Catongo Varietal Intenso 67% (87.16)
Buendia cacao (Mexico) - NƔay 67% / Finca Cacayo (87.12)
Argencove (Nicaragua) - Masaya 70% (86.62)
Hacienda NapanĆ” (Mexico) - Arraigo 65% (86.55)
Creativa KAKAW Chocolate de Origen By Gabriel Herrera (Mexico) - La Piedra 70% Polivarietal (86.50)
Creativa KAKAW Chocolate de Origen By Gabriel Herrera (Mexico) - Zafra 70% Almendra Blanca. (86.36)
Semilla Escuela de Cacao y Chocolate ( Semilla, Cocoa. And Chocolate School ) (Nicaragua) - Trilogia 70% (86.30)
Kakaw Museo (Mexico) - Siibalkuj 70 (86.14)
Cacau Dourado Chocolates (Brazil) - Chocolate 70% Cacau (85.82)
Argencove (Nicaragua) - 77 (85.41)
LevĆŖlez Chocolate (Mexico) - 75% Sierra de Tabasco (85.36)
20/20 Chocolates (Venezuela) - Jobito 70% (85.25)
Pasión de Cacao (Mexico) - 78% Sitio Grande (84.98)
Tibitó Chocolate (Colombia) - Putumayo 70% (84.84)
20/20 Chocolates (Venezuela) - Yaracuy 74% (84.72)
LIKKLE MORE CHOCOLATE (Jamaica) - Signature Dark Terroir 70% Cocoa (84.61)
Kilimbo (Colombia) - Santander 60% Cacao With Panela (84.35)
El Encanto (Venezuela) - Chocolate oscuro Camoruco (84.02)

Barres llises/originals/negres alt % (> 85%)

Chocopunto by Mabel (Dominican Republic) - 85% Dark Monte Plata (88.52)
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Raw 90% (88.52)
Cacao Hunters (Colombia) - Arauca 86% (86.58)
Argencove (Nicaragua) - 92 (84.20)

Barres llises/originals/negres 100 %

Legado Cacao (Colombia) - Anaya 100% (89.33)
Chocopunto by Mabel (Dominican Republic) - 100% Zorzal Cacao (89.13)
Feliu Chocolate (Mexico) - Soconusco 100% (88.75)
Sub Umbra Floreo (Belize) - Floreo Belize 100% Dark Chocolate Bar (88.40)
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Raw 100% (87.28)
Delirio Chocolate (Venezuela) - Cacao Mass 100% Cacao (86.53)
Finca Manantiales (Ecuador) - 100% Dark Chocolate Bar 50g (84.13)

Barres llises/originals amb llet

Cacao Hunters (Colombia) - Tumaco Leche 53% (88.84)
Cacau do CƩu Chocolates (Brazil) - Chocolate Ao Leite 40% Cacau Do CƩu (85.93)
XKIK (Mexico) - 50% Cacao Milk Chocolate (85.70)
Nugali (Brazil) - Milk Chocolate 45% Cocoa (85.48)
Vida Silvestre (Mexico) - Chocolate con Leche 47% (84.75)
REPÚBLICA DEL CACAO (Ecuador) - 40% Chocolate (82.34)

Micro-batch - Barres llises/originals amb llet

Argencove (Nicaragua) - Dark Milk 60% (89.62)
Cacau Dourado Chocolates (Brazil) - Chocolate 41% Cacao Ao Leitee (86.30)
Buendia cacao (Mexico) - Ki’ 54% Leche de Cabra / Finca la Joya (85.83)
DoSemente Cacau (Brazil) - Milk Chocolate 55% Cacao (85.82)
Binz Chocolates (Mexico) - Dark milk 52% Las Lluvias. (85.48)
Maleku Chocolate (Costa Rica) - 60% Milk Chocolate (84.47)
Miroh! Chocolate Makers (Brazil) - Idukki Dark Milk 54% Cacau (82.06)

Barres llises/originals alternative amb sucres alternatius

Chocolates Bios (Ecuador) - Bios 70 "whole Fruit Mucilage" (86.63)

Barres llises/originals amb substituts de la llet

Cacao Hunters (Colombia) - Coconut 53% (86.63)
Kairi Chocolate (Trinidad and Tobago) - Plantain 50% (85.73)

Barres llises/originals amb altres Theobromas

Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Bicolor Patasmuyo 70% (85.98)
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Grandiflorum / CupuazĆŗ 70% (83.09)

Barres llises/originals blanques

DoSemente Cacau (Brazil) - Caramelized Milk White Chocolate (88.24)
Chocopunto by Mabel (Dominican Republic) - 40% White Chocolate (87.88)
MendoĆ” Chocolates (Brazil) - Chocolate Branco 35% Cacau Doce de Leite (86.97)
MestiƧo Chocolates (Brazil) - Branco 35% (85.98)
Binz Chocolates (Mexico) - Chocolate Blanco 40% NapanĆ” (82.89)
XKIK (Mexico) - 35% Cacao White Chocolate (82.16)

Barres de sabors

Barres de xocolata negra amb una infusió o aroma

Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Ylang Ylang 60% (90.38)
Semilla Escuela de Cacao y Chocolate ( Semilla, Cocoa. And Chocolate School ) (Nicaragua) - Chocolate Oscuro con Ron de CafƩ (88.98)
Cacau do CƩu Chocolates (Brazil) - Intense Dark Chocolate with Gentle Spice (88.36)
Feliu Chocolate (Mexico) - Oscuro y cafƩ 62% (87.90)
Binz Chocolates (Mexico) - Barra 70% NapanĆ” con Chile Pasilla Mixe (87.87)
Hacienda NapanĆ” (Mexico) - Molienda 67% (87.62)
Cacao Hunters (Colombia) - Cardamom 67% (87.60)
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Dill / Eneldo 60% (87.48)
Velmont (Brazil) - Hojicha Razuberi (87.48)
Hacienda NapanĆ” (Mexico) - Cazuela 60% (87.10)
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Bicolor con Uchu (AjĆ­) 60% (87.08)
Delirio Chocolate (Venezuela) - Choroni Parchita 60% Cacao (87.07)
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Palo Santo 60% (87.05)
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Andean Aromatic Eucalyptus 60% (86.80)
Chocolates Bios (Ecuador) - Bios 70% Sweetened With Mango Sugar (86.68)
Huma Chocolate (Ecuador) - Aromaticas (86.53)
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Wild Andean Boletus 60% (86.41)
Yojoa Chocolate (Honduras) - 70% Dark Chocolate with Coffee. (86.03)
Mission Chocolate (Brazil) - CafƩ con Ron (85.98)
ANQURIA (Ecuador) - Anquria "63% Cacao - Ishpingo" (85.95)
Kakaw Museo (Mexico) - Mole 62% - Rancho del Lago (85.89)
Argencove (Nicaragua) - Cardamom & Orange (85.86)
Huma Chocolate (Ecuador) - Palo Santo (84.80)
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Molle / Pepper Tree 60% (84.79)
LIKKLE MORE CHOCOLATE (Jamaica) - Jamaican Sorrel 70% Cacao (84.27)
MCB Xocolate (Venezuela) - GuanƔbana (83.50)
Vida Silvestre (Mexico) - Chocolate 54% Flor de Naranja (83.09)
Feliu Chocolate (Mexico) - Pitaya y Jamaica 62% (82.89)
LIKKLE MORE CHOCOLATE (Jamaica) - Blue Mountain Coffee 68% Cocoa (82.54)

Barres de xocolata negra amb inclusions o trossos

Cacau Dourado Chocolates (Brazil) - Chocolate 70% Cacau Com CupuaƧu (89.30)
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Raw 101% (88.43)
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Bicolor con Sal 60% (87.77)
Chocolates Bios (Ecuador) - Bios 70% Tangerine (87.73)
ANQURIA (Ecuador) - Anquria "100% Cacao - Mucilage & Nibs" (87.64)
ANQURIA (Ecuador) - Anquria "63% Cacao -Caramelized Macambo" (87.48)
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Spicy Tamarind / Tamarindo Picante 60% (87.43)
Chocolates Bios (Ecuador) - Bios 70% Araza (87.06)
Chocolates Bios (Ecuador) - Bios 70% Hog Plum & Salt / Obos con Sal (86.62)
Nugali (Brazil) - Dark Chocolate 70% with AƧaƭ Brittle (86.62)
LIKKLE MORE CHOCOLATE (Jamaica) - Jamaican Thyme & Orange Peels 70% Cacao (86.45)
Chocolates Bios (Ecuador) - Bios 70% Macambo & Mucilago (86.20)
Pasión de Cacao (Mexico) - Flamenco (86.08)
ANQURIA (Ecuador) - Anquria Mucilage & Caramelized Wachansu (85.76)
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Green Banana Chips / Chifle 60% (85.66)
Chocolates Bios (Ecuador) - Bios 70% Intag Coffee (85.50)
Caramela (Mexico) - Caramelia (85.02)
Chocolates Bios (Ecuador) - Bios 70% Banana & Blackberry (84.49)
LIKKLE MORE CHOCOLATE (Jamaica) - Pink Peppercorn 70% Cacao (84.36)
Mission Chocolate (Brazil) - Maravilhosa (84.23)
Chocolata Soul (Mexico) - Chocolate 70% con Mango Enchilado (83.33)
Feliu Chocolate (Mexico) - Agrillito 62% (83.02)
Nugali (Brazil) - Dark Chocolate 63% with Pink Peppercorn (82.88)
Maleku Chocolate (Costa Rica) - 70% Dark Chocolate with Coconut (82.43)

Barres de xocolata amb llet amb una infusió o aroma

Feliu Chocolate (Mexico) - Leche y CafƩ 58% (90.93)
Cacao Hunters (Colombia) - Mocha 49% (88.93)
Miroh! Chocolate Makers (Brazil) - Chocolate Ao Leite Com CafƩ Blum`s (86.97)
Kairi Chocolate (Trinidad and Tobago) - Island Spice 50% Dark Milk (86.68)
Feliu Chocolate (Mexico) - Leche y Vainilla 58% (85.73)
LevĆŖlez Chocolate (Mexico) - LevĆŖlez 47% Chocolate con Leche (85.66)
NOMƉ (Panama) - 50% Chocolate con Leche y CafĆ© Geisha N. (84.08)
Maleku Chocolate (Costa Rica) - 56% Milk Chocolate with Chili ("Lava") (83.09)

Barres de xocolata amb llet amb inclusions o trossos

Cacau do CƩu Chocolates (Brazil) - Choc.canastra Cheese and Dulce de Leche (88.20)
MestiƧo Chocolates (Brazil) - Mel & Baru 50% ao Leite (88.00)
Miroh! Chocolate Makers (Brazil) - 45% ao Leite, Banana e Castanha de Caju (86.76)
Cacau Dourado Chocolates (Brazil) - Chocorock (86.56)
MendoƔ Chocolates (Brazil) - Chocolate 50% Cacau Ao Leite Com CupuaƧu (86.38)
Nugali (Brazil) - Milk Chocolate 45% Cocoa With Brazil Nut (85.90)
Huma Chocolate (Ecuador) - Chulpi con Leche (85.83)
Maleku Chocolate (Costa Rica) - 60% Milk Chocolate with Coffee (84.18)
Mission Chocolate (Brazil) - Nutcracker (84.15)
Chocolates Bios (Ecuador) - Bios Milk with Blackberry & Macadamia (84.10)
Finca Manantiales (Ecuador) - 60% Dark Milk Chocolate - Coffee & Nibs (82.70)

Barres de xocolata amb llet amb un farcit

Caramela (Mexico) - Royal Crunch (82.84)
Caramela (Mexico) - Golden Dubai (81.99)

Barres de xocolata blanca amb una infusió o aroma

Yojoa Chocolate (Honduras) - White Chocolate with Anise Avocado (90.48)
Jucolatte (Brazil) - Chocolate 33% Milho (89.23)
Kakaw Museo (Mexico) - Taxcalate 41% (88.33)
MCB Xocolate (Venezuela) - Tropical (88.18)
Velmont (Brazil) - Golden Banana (87.64)
Mission Chocolate (Brazil) - Coquito (86.33)
BaianĆ­ Chocolates (Brazil) - White Chocolate Latte (82.61)

Barres de xocolata blanca amb inclusions o trossos

Cacau Dourado Chocolates (Brazil) - Chocolate Branco Caramelo Com Coco (89.38)
Chocolates Bios (Ecuador) - Chocolate Blanco 37% Araza (88.48)
Cacau do CƩu Chocolates (Brazil) - White Choc w/ Freeze-Dried Passion Fruit (87.82)
Cacau do CƩu Chocolates (Brazil) - WC Freeze-Dried Strawberry and Pistaquio (84.42)
MendoĆ” Chocolates (Brazil) - Chocolate Branco 35% Cacau Com MaracujĆ” (83.86)

Barres de xocolata amb combination amb inclusions o trossos

Cacau do CƩu Chocolates (Brazil) - White & Milk Chocolate with Blue Cheese (86.23)
Huma Chocolate (Ecuador) - Colada Morada (84.54)
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Coffee Cardamom / Cardamomo con CafƩ 32% (83.03)

Ganaches, palets, bombons i trufes ganache

Ganaches o trufes de xocolata negra aromatitzada

Ɠscar Rodolfo Chocolatier (Mexico) - Bombón de Tequila - Rioja 70%, Feliu (87.44)
Ɠscar Rodolfo Chocolatier (Mexico) - Bombón de Whisky - Rioja 70%, Feliu (86.66)
Ɠscar Rodolfo Chocolatier (Mexico) - Bombón de Vino Tinto - Rioja 70%, Feliu (86.32)
Ɠscar Rodolfo Chocolatier (Mexico) - Bombón de Romero - Huimango 67% (85.08)
Caramela (Mexico) - Molten Macadamia (84.38)

Ganaches de xocolata amb llet o trufes

Ɠscar Rodolfo Chocolatier (Mexico) - Bombón de Mezcal - Leche&cafĆ© 58% Feliu (89.04)
Caramela (Mexico) - Beso de Cacahuate (88.12)

Ganaches o trufes utilitzant recobriment o farcit negre / amb llet

Binz Chocolates (Mexico) - Bombón de Pixtle (90.18)
Akbal Chocolates (Mexico) - Oaxacan Mole Negro Bonbon (87.83)
Akbal Chocolates (Mexico) - Morita Chili Ganache (86.00)
Caramela (Mexico) - Suspiro de PlƔtano (81.98)

Bombons a base de fruits secs, nous recobertes

Bombons a base de fruita seca / gianduja amb xocolata negra

Caramela (Mexico) - Macadamia Enchilada (83.97)

Dragees de xocolata negra, nous senceres recobertes

ANQURIA (Ecuador) - Anquria "70% Cacao - Whole cacao seed" (86.82)

Dragees de xocolata amb llet, nous senceres recobertes

Nugali (Brazil) - DragƩe Coffee Beans (87.18)
Nugali (Brazil) - DragƩe Cocoa Nibs (86.36)
MestiƧo Chocolates (Brazil) - Drageado de Caju - 58% ao Leite de Coco (83.11)

Dragees de xocolata amb llet, nous senceres recobertes ...

Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - ManĆ­ Salao With Amazonic Peanuts 32% (83.06)

Altres - fruita / sucre / mantega / crema

Pastes de fruita recobertes de xocolata negra, gelatina/gelƩe

LevĆŖlez Chocolate (Mexico) - Manguitos Enchilados 75% (85.50)

Pastes de fruita recobertes de xocolata amb llet, gelatina/gelƩe ..

Miroh! Chocolate Makers (Brazil) - Bombom de CupuaƧu Com Cumaru (87.93)

Fruita sencera recoberta de xocolata negra

Cacao Hunters (Colombia) - Gulupa Recubierta (86.86)
MestiƧo Chocolates (Brazil) - Drageado CupuaƧu 65% (86.44)
Cacao Hunters (Colombia) - Uchuvas Recubiertas (84.70)
ANQURIA (Ecuador) - Anquria "70% Cacao - Tangerine" (83.43)

Fruita sencera recoberta de xocolata amb llet

Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Higos con Chocolate 32% y Frambuesa (89.18)
Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Uvilla con Chocolate 32% y Frambuesa (86.45)

Cremes per untar

Cremes per untar de xocolata negra (sense llet en pols)

Paccari Chocolate (Ecuador) - Dark Chocolate Cream with Salt (81.97)

Cocoa Powder

Hacienda NapanĆ” (Mexico) - Cacao en Polvo Hacienda NapanĆ” (88.88)
Vida Silvestre (Mexico) - Cacao En Polvo (87.72)
Mindo Chocolate (Ecuador) - Polvo de Cacao (84.90)

Cocoa Butter

Hacienda NapanĆ” (Mexico) - Manteca de Cacao Hacienda NapanĆ” (90.60)
Vida Silvestre (Mexico) - Manteca de Cacao (89.33)
Catica Chocolates (Costa Rica) - Cocoa butter (86.13)
Mindo Chocolate (Ecuador) - Manteca de Cacao (83.98)