The International Chocolate Awards is pleased to announce the Winners of the 2026 Americas – USA Bean-to-Bar and Craft Chocolatier Competition, which was judged remotely during Summer 2026.
Online Winners Presentation event – early September, 2026
Join us for a special online event featuring chats, interviews, videos and features with our winners, judges and sponsors in September. Details of the event will be announced soon.
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 North American region.
Winners will go through to the World Final in October 2026.
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. Grand Jury Finalists are listed here.
All Gold, Silver and Bronze winners in this competition are eligible to enter the World Final in October 2026.
Diamond Custom Machines - Judging shipping partner
Big thanks to DCM for all their help getting the judging samples out to our judges in a timely manner. Find out more about DCM here.
Prizes
The winners of the 2026 Americas – USA 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: Sleep Walk Chocolateria (United States) – Hacienda Napana (91.0)Plain/origin milk bar categories
Gold: Castronovo Chocolate (United States) – Tumaco, Colombia Dark Milk 60% (89.6)Flavoured bar categories
Gold: Goodnow Farms Chocolate (United States) – Maker’s Choice, Caramelized Onion (90.0)Filled chocolates
Gold: Montadero Chocolate (Puerto Rico) – Special Reserve (90.6)Special flavor ingredient recognition
Flavoured with alcohol
Gold: Montadero Chocolate (Puerto Rico) – Special Reserve (90.6)Plain/origin bars
Plain/origin dark chocolate bars
Gold: Amano Chocolate (United States) – Cuyagua (90.1) (**)
+ Gold: Chocolate Maker
Silver: Amano Chocolate (United States) – Dos Rios (89.0) (**)
+ Gold: Direct Traded
Silver: Mānoa Chocolate Hawaii (United States) – Kahaluʻu, Oʻahu Island Bar (88.9) (**)
+ Gold: Growing Country
Silver: Mānoa Chocolate Hawaii (United States) – Kamananui, Oʻahu Island Bar (88.7) (**)
Silver: Amano Chocolate (United States) – Sambirano Valley – Madagascar (88.6) (**)
Silver: Amano Chocolate (United States) – Macoris (88.2) (**)
Bronze: Askinosie Chocolate (United States) – 77% Davao, Philippines Dark Chocolate (87.9) (**)
Bronze: Mānoa Chocolate Hawaii (United States) – Mililani, Oʻahu Island Bar (87.8) (**)
Bronze: Mānoa Chocolate Hawaii (United States) – Honoli’i, Hawai’i Island Bar (87.2) (**)
Bronze: French Broad Chocolate (United States) – Dominican Republic Dark Chocolate (87.0) (**)
Bronze: Ranger Chocolate Co. (United States) – Aguada (87.0) (**)
Micro-batch – Plain/origin dark chocolate bars
Gold: Sleep Walk Chocolateria (United States) – Hacienda Napana (91.0) (**)
+ Gold: Chocolate Maker
+ Gold: Direct Traded
Silver: Sleep Walk Chocolateria (United States) – Trinitario (90.8) (**)
Silver: Hacienda Chocolat (Puerto Rico) – 75% Single Estate (90.1) (**)
+ Gold: Growing Country
Silver: Tucson Chocolate Factory (United States) – Sierra Madre 70% (90.0) (**)
Silver: Blue Spruce Chocolates (United States) – 70% Dark Bolivian Tranquilidad (89.8) (**)
Silver: Hacienda Chocolat (Puerto Rico) – 70% Origin Hawaii (89.6) (**)
Silver: Tucson Chocolate Factory (United States) – Las Esmeraldas 70% (89.5) (**)
Silver: Boho Chocolate (United States) – Belize – Maya Mountain (89.1) (**)
+ Gold: Organic
Silver: Duluth Coffee Company (United States) – Superior Chocolate (89.0) (**)
Silver: Goodnow Farms Chocolate (United States) – Limited Release, Yasica (88.9) (**)
+ Special: Limited edition
Silver: Eigen Chocolate (United States) – Kokoa Kamili, Tanzania 70% (88.9) (**)
Silver: Hacienda Chocolat (Puerto Rico) – 68% Single Estate (88.9) (**)
Silver: Embers Chocolate (United States) – Peru Piura 70% (88.6) (**)
Silver: Sleep Walk Chocolateria (United States) – Luna (88.6) (**)
Silver: Tucson Chocolate Factory (United States) – Almendra Blanca 70% (88.6) (**)
Silver: Embers Chocolate (United States) – Peru Chuncho 70% (88.5) (**)
Silver: Castronovo Chocolate (United States) – Piura Blanco, Peru 76% (88.2) (**)
Silver: Hacienda Chocolat (Puerto Rico) – 65% Single Estate (88.2) (**)
Silver: Sleep Walk Chocolateria (United States) – Selva Lacandona (88.1) (**)
Bronze: Goodnow Farms Chocolate (United States) – Signature Line, Asochivite 77% (87.9) (**)
Bronze: Tucson Chocolate Factory (United States) – Alto Beni 70% (87.8) (**)
Bronze: Seahorse Chocolate (United States) – La Cueva Del Oso Huila, Colombia (87.8) (**)
Bronze: Bixby & Co. (United States) – Organic Dominican Republic 70% Bar (87.5) (**)
Bronze: Prophecy Chocolate (United States) – Origen (87.5) (**)
Bronze: Goodnow Farms Chocolate (United States) – Signature Line, Esmeraldas 70% (87.4) (**)
Bronze: Goodnow Farms Chocolate (United States) – Signature Line, Boyaca 73% (87.4) (**)
Bronze: Goodnow Farms Chocolate (United States) – Signature Line, El Carmen 77% (87.3) (**)
Bronze: Tucson Chocolate Factory (United States) – Agua Escondida 70% (87.3) (**)
Bronze: Eigen Chocolate (United States) – Tabasco, Mexico 70% (87.2) (**)
Bronze: Gansett Craft Chocolate (United States) – 70% Dark Chocolate (87.1) (**)
Bronze: Godsend Chocolate (United States) – 75% Dark Chocolate Maya Mountain, Belize (87.0) (**)
Bronze: Goodnow Farms Chocolate (United States) – Signature Line, Ucayali 70% (87.0) (**)
Bronze: Sleep Walk Chocolateria (United States) – Broca (87.0) (**)
Bronze: Choco Del Mar LLC (United States) – Maya Mountain, Belize (86.9) (**)
Bronze: Seahorse Chocolate (United States) – Zorzal Dominican Republic (86.8) (**)
Bronze: Castronovo Chocolate (United States) – Awajún Women 70% (86.5) (**)
Bronze: Eldora Chocolate (United States) – Peru Rio Mayo Valley 70% (86.5) (**)
High % plain/origin dark chocolate bars (85% and over)
Bronze: Honoka’a Chocolate (United States) – Hawaiian Dark Chocolate 85% (87.1) (**)
Bronze: Choco Del Mar LLC (United States) – Tumaco, Colombia (86.8) (**)
100 % plain/origin dark chocolate bars
Silver: Goodnow Farms Chocolate (United States) – Special Reserve, 100% Cacao (88.2) (**)
+ Gold: Direct Traded
+ Gold: Chocolate Maker
Plain/origin milk chocolate bars
Silver: Amano Chocolate (United States) – Ocumare Milk Chocolate (88.0) (**)
+ Gold: Chocolate Maker
Micro-batch – Plain/origin milk chocolate bars
Gold: Castronovo Chocolate (United States) – Tumaco, Colombia Dark Milk 60% (89.6) (**)
+ Gold: Chocolate Maker
Silver: Godsend Chocolate (United States) – 65% Dark Milk Chocolate from Peru (89.4) (**)
Silver: Goodnow Farms Chocolate (United States) – Milk Line, Classic Milk (87.2) (**)
+ Gold: Direct Traded
Bronze: Heritage Food Crafters (United States) – 58% Dark Milk (86.4) (**)
Bronze: Limited Chocolate (United States) – Hawaii Hamakua 55% Dark Milk Chocolate (86.4) (**)
Plain/origin chocolate bars with alternative sugars
Gold: Prophecy Chocolate (United States) – Classic Maple (89.3) (**)
+ Gold: Chocolate Maker
+ Special: Local ingredients
Silver: Goodnow Farms Chocolate (United States) – Maker’s Choice, Asochivite Maple Sugar (88.4) (**)
+ Gold: Direct Traded
Plain/origin chocolate bars with milk replacements
Silver: Seahorse Chocolate (United States) – Dark Milk (87.4) (**)
+ Gold: Chocolate Maker
Bronze: Goodnow Farms Chocolate (United States) – Milk Line, Oat Milk (85.6) (**)
Plain/origin white chocolate bars
Silver: Goodnow Farms Chocolate (United States) – Limited Release, White Chocolate (87.0) (**)
+ Gold: Direct Traded
+ Gold: Chocolate Maker
Flavoured bars
Dark chocolate bars with an infusion or flavouring
Gold: Goodnow Farms Chocolate (United States) – Maker’s Choice, Caramelized Onion (90.0) (**)
+ Special: Gastronomic
Silver: Goodnow Farms Chocolate (United States) – Limited Edition, Demon Seed Whiskey (89.1) (**)
+ Special: Alcohol
Silver: Gansett Craft Chocolate (United States) – 70% Dark Chocolate Whiskey (88.5) (**)
Silver: Prophecy Chocolate (United States) – Not Chocolate (88.4) (**)
+ Special: Alternate theobromas
Silver: Orinoco Chocolate Co. (United States) – Doc Holliday’s Whiskey Bar (88.3) (**)
Silver: Bixby & Co. (United States) – Organic Bourbon 70% Dark Chocolate Bar (88.1) (**)
Silver: Goodnow Farms Chocolate (United States) – Maker’s Choice, Pure Passion Fruit (88.0) (**)
Silver: Goodnow Farms Chocolate (United States) – Limited Release, Winter Maple (87.8) (**)
+ Special: Craft
Silver: Goodnow Farms Chocolate (United States) – Limited Release, Root Beer (87.6) (**)
Bronze: Lyons (United States) – Teresa (86.5) (**)
Bronze: Lyons (United States) – Merlot (86.5) (**)
Bronze: Honoka’a Chocolate (United States) – Barrel Aged Bourbon (86.4) (**)
Bronze: Goodnow Farms Chocolate (United States) – Special Reserve, Lawley’s Rum (86.2) (**)
Bronze: Goodnow Farms Chocolate (United States) – Limited Release, Pumpkin Pie (86.1) (**)
Bronze: Honoka’a Chocolate (United States) – Barrel Aged Rum (86.1) (**)
Bronze: Goodnow Farms Chocolate (United States) – Special Reserve, Brown Butter (85.9) (**)
Bronze: Goodnow Farms Chocolate (United States) – Special Reserve, Putnam Rye Whiskey (85.9) (**)
Bronze: Godsend Chocolate (United States) – 75% Dark Chocolate with Scotch (85.7) (**)
Bronze: French Broad Chocolate (United States) – Whiskey Barrel Dark Chocolate (85.5) (**)
Dark chocolate bars with inclusions or pieces
Silver: Sleep Walk Chocolateria (United States) – Aztec (88.7) (**)
+ Special: Reinterpretation
+ Special: Recipe
Silver: Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate (United States) – Brown Butter with Nibs & Sea Salt (87.9) (**)
+ Special: Recipe
Silver: Goodnow Farms Chocolate (United States) – Maker’s Choice, El Carmen Coffee Crunch (87.6) (**)
Bronze: Boho Chocolate (United States) – 62% Dark Almond (86.8) (**)
Bronze: Amano Chocolate (United States) – Citrus Mélange À Trois (86.7) (**)
Bronze: Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate (United States) – Black Fig (86.0) (**)
Bronze: Amano Chocolate (United States) – Raspberry Rose (85.9) (**)
Milk chocolate bars with an infusion or flavouring
Silver: Embers Chocolate (United States) – Dream Bar (88.3) (**)
+ Special: Eclectic
Bronze: Goodnow Farms Chocolate (United States) – Maker’s Choice, Cafe Con Leche (86.7) (**)
Bronze: Goodnow Farms Chocolate (United States) – Limited Release, Passion Fruit & Cream (86.7) (**)
Bronze: Goodnow Farms Chocolate (United States) – Limited Release, Chocolate Banana Split (86.4) (**)
Bronze: Honoka’a Chocolate (United States) – Barrel Aged Rum with Coconut Milk (86.1) (**)
Bronze: Honoka’a Chocolate (United States) – Drunken Goat Milk (85.6) (**)
Milk chocolate bars with inclusions or pieces
Bronze: Choco Del Mar LLC (United States) – Vanilla Starlight Crunch (86.7) (**)
White chocolate bars with an infusion or flavouring
Gold: Chocolates by Hollywood Casino Toledo (United States) – Brown Butter Chai (89.4) (**)
+ Special: Recipe
Silver: French Broad Chocolate (United States) – Cafe Latte White Chocolate (89.0) (**)
+ Special: Recipe
Bronze: Castronovo Chocolate (United States) – Cacao Fruit White Chocolate (85.7) (**)
+ Special: Ingredients
+ Special: Innovation
White chocolate bars with inclusions or pieces
Silver: Bixby & Co. (United States) – Organic Creme Brûlée Bar (88.0) (**)
Bronze: Eldora Chocolate (United States) – Horchata Plus Bar (86.5) (**)
+ Special: Reinterpretation
White chocolate bars with a filling
Bronze: TCHO (United States) – Perfect Matcha (85.8) (**)
Combination chocolate bars with an infusion or flavouring
Silver: Rhyme and Reason Chocolate Company (United States) – Chocolate Dipped Strawberry (87.7) (**)
Combination chocolate bars with a filling
Bronze: TCHO (United States) – Lemon Twist (86.6) (**)
Ganaches, palets, ganache pralines and truffles
Flavoured dark chocolate ganaches or truffles
Gold: Montadero Chocolate (Puerto Rico) – Special Reserve (90.6) (**)
+ Special: Alcohol
+ Special: Local ingredients
Silver: Garcia Nevett (United States) – Pain d’Epice (88.4)
+ Special: Recipe
Flavoured ganaches or truffles with combination coating or filling
Silver: Bixby & Co. (United States) – Bourbon with Bourbon Barrel Heirloom Sal (88.3) (**)
Bronze: Cacao & Cardamom Chocolatier (United States) – Chai Spice (86.0)
Bronze: Garcia Nevett (United States) – Tulasi (85.8)
Nuts
Dark chocolate dragées, enrobed whole nuts
Gold: Prophecy Chocolate (United States) – Spicy Macambo (89.1) (**)
+ Special: Alternate theobromas
+ Special: Recipe
Bronze: Prophecy Chocolate (United States) – Choco-Macambo Combo (86.0) (**)
Nut based pralines with combination chocolate
Silver: Cacao & Cardamom Chocolatier (United States) – Pistachio Knafeh (87.3)
+ Special: Reinterpretation
Others – fruit/sugar/butter/cream/misc
Milk chocolate torrone/manon/butter/cream
Bronze: Ranger Chocolate Co. (United States) – Root Beer Bonbon (85.9) (**)
(*) Declared chocolate maker for private label bars.
(**) Winner has declared the product is made with their own bean-to-bar chocolate or couverture.
