The International Chocolate Awards is pleased to announce the Winners of the 2023 European, Middle Eastern and African Bean-to-Bar Competition, which was judged in-person in Florence, Italy during March and April 2023.
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 later in 2023.
Judges
The judging panel for this competition included our regular European 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, included 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 later in 2023.
- Winners
- Finalists
- Judges
- Grand Jury
Prizes
(Prizes are shown in score order for each medal)
'Best in competition' overall winners
Plain/origin dark bar categories
Gold: Meybol Cacao (Germany) - Solo Kakao 100% (91.6) ( * Meybol Group SAC)Plain/origin milk bar categories
Gold: Essenzo Cacao (Spain) - Dark Milk Filipinas Davao 60% (91.4)Flavoured bar categories
Gold: Guido Castagna (Italy) - Mes Gianduja Fondente (92.0)Plain/origin bars
Plain/origin dark chocolate bars
Gold: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - Johe 70% (91.3)
+ Gold: Danish
+ Gold: Chocolate Maker
+ Gold: Direct Traded
Gold: Vigdis Rosenkilde (Norway) - 70% Kiteni (91.2) ( * Cacaosuyo)
Silver: Aruntam - Sensory Chocolate (Italy) - Marañon 70% Pure Nacional Peru (90.8)
+ Gold: Italian
+ Special: Self-made cocoa butter
Silver: Meybol Cacao (Germany) - Single Origin Vraem 72% (90.5) ( * Meybol Group SAC)
Silver: Guido Castagna (Italy) - Mes Raw Madagascar (90.4)
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - Nicaliso 70% (90.2)
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - O'Payo 68% (90.1)
+ Gold: Organic
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - Chuno 70% Double Turned (90.1)
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - Shrigley - Chocolate is not the Problem (90.0)
Silver: Aruntam - Sensory Chocolate (Italy) - Chuao 70% Harvest 2020 Venezuela (89.9)
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - La Dalia 70% (89.7)
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - Madagascar 64% Slow Dried (89.0)
Silver: Trufas Martinez (Spain) - Mana Philippines 78% (88.7)
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - Rugoso 70% Bad Fermentation (88.7)
Silver: Meybol Cacao (Germany) - Single Origin Piura 72% (88.6) ( * Meybol Group SAC)
Silver: Vigdis Rosenkilde (Norway) - 80% Echarate (88.5) ( * Cacaosuyo)
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - Medagla 70% (88.4)
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - Barba 70% (88.4)
Silver: Deremiens Chocolate Group (Belgium) - Colombia Antioquia Patiburru (88.1)
Silver: Vigdis Rosenkilde (Norway) - 70% Echarate (87.9) ( * Cacaosuyo)
Silver: Vigdis Rosenkilde (Norway) - 80% Quellouno (87.9) ( * Cacaosuyo)
Silver: Aruntam - Sensory Chocolate (Italy) - Vinces Rio Arriba 75% Ecuador (87.8)
Silver: Vigdis Rosenkilde (Norway) - 70% Piura (87.6) ( * Cacaosuyo)
Silver: Meybol Cacao (Germany) - Mazamari 70% (87.6) ( * Meybol Group SAC)
Silver: Vigdis Rosenkilde (Norway) - 70% Santa Ana (87.5) ( * Cacaosuyo)
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - Indio Rojo 70% (87.5)
Silver: Aruntam - Sensory Chocolate (Italy) - Tanzania 72% Kamili Special Harvest (87.3)
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - Chuno 70% Tripple turned (87.2)
Bronze: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - Madagascar 64% Fast Dried (86.5)
Bronze: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - La Dalia 60% (86.5)
Bronze: Aruntam - Sensory Chocolate (Italy) - Chuno 73% Heirloom Cacao Nicaragua (85.8)
Micro-batch - Plain/origin dark chocolate bars
Gold: Meybol Cacao (Germany) - Single Origin Vraem 68% (91.5) ( * Meybol Group SAC)
Silver: Beaningful (Lithuania) - Peru Urubamba 70% (90.9)
+ Gold: Chocolate Maker
Silver: Lurka chocolate (Spain) - Real de Soconusco 70% (90.5)
+ Gold: Spanish
Silver: Kaitxo (Spain) - Tanzania 75% (90.4)
Silver: La Fèverie by Hasnaâ (France) - Peru - Qori Inti 75% (89.9)
+ Gold: French
Silver: Cacao Experience (France) - Kilombero Valley 70% Tanzania (89.7)
Silver: Aroko Chocolate (Italy) - Chuao 70% - Aragua, Venezuela (89.6)
+ Gold: Italian
Silver: London Chocolate (United Kingdom) - London Chocolate Colombia (89.5)
Silver: Madalo (Belgium) - Madalo Chocolat Noir Du Mexique 74% (89.4)
Silver: Solkiki Chocolatemaker (United Kingdom) - Maranon 68 - Peru (89.3)
Silver: Solkiki Chocolatemaker (United Kingdom) - Certified Chuao 70 - Venezuela (89.2)
Silver: Fjåk Chocolate (Norway) - 70% dark Thailand (89.1)
Silver: Shoukâ Chamonix (France) - Dark chocolate - 72% cacao - Brazil (89.0)
Silver: Aroko Chocolate (Italy) - Porcelana 72% Sierra de Perija,Venezuela (88.9)
Silver: Karuna Chocolate (Italy) - Belize dark chocolate 70% (88.8)
Silver: Utopick Cacao (Spain) - Lachua 77% (88.8)
Silver: Fjåk Chocolate (Norway) - 70% dark Madagascar (88.5)
Silver: Fjåk Chocolate (Norway) - 70% dark Tanzania Women's lot (88.5)
Silver: Le Cacaotier (France) - Ouganda Rwenzori 80% (88.5)
Silver: Meybol Cacao (Germany) - Chuncho Collection N°5 (88.5) ( * Meybol Group SAC)
Silver: Terre de Fèves (France) - Nicaragua Kubaly 75% (88.5)
Silver: 20°NORD 20°SUD (France) - Chuao Harvest 2018 (88.3)
Silver: Meybol Cacao (Germany) - Chuncho Collection N°3 (88.3) ( * Meybol Group SAC)
Silver: Chocokoo (Estonia) - Guatemala Lachuá 80% (88.2)
Silver: Sopocka Manufaktura Czekolady (Poland) - Sopocka Manufaktura Hacienda Limon 70% (87.8)
Silver: Choconuva (Germany) - Choconuva 75% dark chocolate Maceo (87.8)
Silver: Kaitxo (Spain) - Filipinas Davao 70% (87.8)
Silver: Utopick Cacao (Spain) - Uganda 70% (87.7)
Silver: 20°NORD 20°SUD (France) - Anamalai 76% (87.6)
Silver: Taman Artisan Chocolates (Croatia) - TAMAN Peru Satipo Ene 70% (87.5)
Silver: Beaningful (Lithuania) - Philippines Paquibato 70 % (87.4)
Silver: LIM Chocolate (Italy) - Chuno 75% (87.1)
Silver: Solkiki Chocolatemaker (United Kingdom) - Heirloom Malagos 70 - The Philippines (87.1)
Silver: Barre Clandestine (France) - Morropón 72% (87.1)
Silver: Cacao Experience (France) - Tsachila 72% Ecuador Finca Garyth (87.1)
Bronze: Chocokoo (Estonia) - Venezuela 77% Villa Franca (86.9)
Bronze: Shoukâ Chamonix (France) - Dark chocolate - 73% cacao - Philippines (86.9)
Bronze: Barre Clandestine (France) - Maya Mountain 73% (86.8)
Bronze: MoonChocolate (Czech Republic) - Nebula (86.8)
Bronze: Kaitxo (Spain) - Madagascar - Sambirano Valley 70% (86.7)
Bronze: Garçoa Chocolate (Switzerland) - Garçoa Chocolate Ana Maria 73% (86.7)
Bronze: Cacao Experience (France) - Waslala 70 % Nicaragua (86.6)
Bronze: Beaningful (Lithuania) - India Idukki 70 % (86.6)
Bronze: Pastisseria Àger (Spain) - Uganda 73% (86.6)
Bronze: La Brigaderie de Paris (France) - Terroir Fazenda BONANÇA 70% (86.5)
Bronze: Livstory Craft Chocolate (Romania) - Ciocolata Neagra 70% Uganda Semuliki (86.5)
Bronze: Banchini (Italy) - Principe Perù Ucayali 72% (86.4)
Bronze: Barre Clandestine (France) - Kilombero 73% (86.2)
Bronze: Chocolatoa (Belgium) - Mwena Uganda 75% (86.2)
Bronze: Ara Chocolat (France) - Agua Viva Criollo 74% (86.0)
Bronze: xoco (Kuwait) - xoco nicaragua SJM (85.8)
Bronze: Ara Chocolat (France) - Huallaga 74% (85.8)
Bronze: Cacao Experience (France) - Idukki 70% India (85.7)
Bronze: 20°NORD 20°SUD (France) - Kokoa Kamili 76% (85.7)
Bronze: Puchero (Spain) - Philippines 75% Mana (85.7)
Bronze: Puchero (Spain) - Nicaragua 70% El Castillero (85.5)
Bronze: Depetris Riccardo / Depetris...i Ciculaté (Italy) - Depetris i Ciculaté - Peru Piura 75% (85.5)
High % plain/origin dark chocolate bars (85% and over)
Gold: Meybol Cacao (Germany) - Solo Kakao 100% (91.6) ( * Meybol Group SAC)
+ Special: Direct Traded
Silver: Fjåk Chocolate (Norway) - 85% dark Tahiland (89.9)
+ Gold: Chocolate Maker
Silver: Karuna Chocolate (Italy) - Peru Chuncho pure dark 100% (89.3)
Silver: Kaitxo (Spain) - Ecuador 100% (89.3)
Silver: Chocolate Tree (United Kingdom) - Venezuela Porcelana (88.1)
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - La Dalia 100% (87.9)
Silver: Kakau Worship (Greece) - 100% Madagascar Collection (87.1)
Bronze: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - La Dalia 85% (86.9)
Bronze: PERÚ PURO Chuncho Gold (Germany) - Chuncho Gold Grand Cru 85% (86.7) ( * Max Felchlin AG)
Bronze: Criollo/Trinitario 90% Belize - Maya Mountain - 2022Â (Denmark) - Criollo/Trinitario 90% - Belize 2022 (86.7)
Plain/origin milk chocolate bars
Gold: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - Dark Milk 55% (90.8)
+ Gold: Chocolate Maker
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - Dark Milk 65% (88.1)
Silver: Vigdis Rosenkilde (Norway) - 60% mørk melkesjokolade (87.7) ( * Cacaosuyo)
Bronze: PERÚ PURO Chuncho Gold (Germany) - Chuncho Gold Grand Cru 52% (85.1) ( * Max Felchlin AG)
Bronze: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - O'Payo Milk 50% (84.6)
Micro-batch - Plain/origin milk chocolate bars
Gold: Essenzo Cacao (Spain) - Dark Milk Filipinas Davao 60% (91.4)
Silver: Butterfly Chocolate Turkey (Turkey) - Bean To Bar %58 Tanzania (90.4)
Silver: Utopick Cacao (Spain) - Chuncho Urusayhua milk 56% (89.0)
Silver: Barre Clandestine (France) - Morropón & Lait caramélisé (88.5)
+ Gold: Organic
Silver: Duffy's (United Kingdom) - Duffy's Guatemala Rio Dulce 50% Milk (87.9)
+ Special: Direct Traded
Silver: xoco (Kuwait) - Xoco Uganda milk (87.6)
Silver: Shoukâ Chamonix (France) - Dark milk chocolate - 60% cacao Tanzania (87.2)
Silver: Kaitxo (Spain) - Dark milk Peru (87.1)
Silver: Shoukâ Chamonix (France) - Milk chocolate - 50% cacao - Venezuela (86.6)
Bronze: xoco (Kuwait) - xoco philippine milk (85.9)
Bronze: La Fèverie by Hasnaâ (France) - Tanzania - Chiwa Chiwa Village Dark Milk (85.9)
Bronze: Kankel cacao (Spain) - Kankel Dark Milk 57% de oveja (85.7)
Bronze: xoco (Kuwait) - xoco congo milk (85.6)
Bronze: ACAOYERÂ (France) - Chocolat lait 51% - COLOMBIE - Antioquia (85.2)
Bronze: Essenzo Cacao (Spain) - Dark Milk Ecuador Hacienda Limón 60% (85.1)
Bronze: Tobago Estate Chocolates (Sweden) - Tobago Estate Chocolate Laura (84.7) ( * PRALUS)
Plain/origin chocolate bars with alternative ingredients
Gold: Barre Clandestine (France) - Kilombero & Crème de cajou (89.9)
+ Gold: Organic
Silver: Depetris Riccardo / Depetris...i Ciculaté (Italy) - Depetris i Ciculaté - Alternative 70% (87.8)
Silver: Shoukâ Chamonix (France) - Coco sugar - 70% cacao - Philippines (87.7)
Silver: Kakau Worship (Greece) - 60% Belize Collection (86.5)
Silver: Depetris Riccardo / Depetris...i Ciculaté (Italy) - Depetris i Ciculaté - ChocoAmel 50% (86.2)
Plain/origin white chocolate bars
Gold: Chocolaterie Morin (France) - Pérou Chanchamayo 40% BLANC A. Morin (91.4)
Bronze: Cacao Experience (France) - Moreno 40% chocolat Blond (84.9)
Flavoured bars
Dark chocolate bars with an infusion or flavouring
Gold: Lidka Chocolate (Czech Republic) - 70% Raspberry Spirit (91.6) (**)
+ Special: Cacao flavoring/aging
Silver: Chocolaterie Morin (France) - Laurel - Pérou Chanchamayo 63% A. Morin (89.4) (**)
+ Special: Local ingredients
Silver: Lidka Chocolate (Czech Republic) - 70% Rum Chocolate (88.6) (**)
+ Special: Cacao flavoring/aging
Silver: Karuna Chocolate (Italy) - Stone Pine dark chocolate 70% (87.9) (**)
+ Special: Local ingredients
Silver: Chocolaterie Morin (France) - Thym - Pérou Chanchamayo 63% A. Morin (87.8) (**)
Silver: Solkiki Chocolatemaker (United Kingdom) - Pineapple Fig Leaf 54 - Peru (87.6) (**)
Silver: Ivee Promenade (Poland) - Madagascar Fermented Grape Dark 70% (86.6) (**)
Silver: Standout Chocolate (Sweden) - Liquorice & Beech Smoked Sea Salt (86.5) (**)
Silver: Chocolaterie Morin (France) - Rosemary-Pérou Chanchamayo 63% A. Morin (86.3) (**)
Bronze: Butterfly Chocolate Turkey (Turkey) - Bean To Bar %69 Ghana With Lemon (85.9)
Bronze: Beau Cacao (France) - Café Matagalpa Nicaragua (85.6) (**)
Bronze: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - Nicaliso Cinnamon (85.0) (**)
Bronze: Kakau Worship (Greece) - 77% Peru Collection Cardamom (84.9) (**)
Bronze: Nordic Chocolate (Sweden) - 65% Cloudberry (84.9) (**)
Bronze: LIM Chocolate (Italy) - Africa (84.9) (**)
Bronze: LABYs (Sweden) - Rosépeppar & Hallon 60% (84.5) (**)
Dark chocolate bars with inclusions or pieces
Gold: Fjåk Chocolate (Norway) - Vermouth time (91.2) (**)
+ Special: Cacao flavoring/aging
+ Special: Vegan
Silver: Vigdis Rosenkilde (Norway) - 70% Piura med kakaonibs (90.1)
Silver: Karuna Chocolate (Italy) - Orange and Timut pepper 70% (89.8) (**)
Silver: Kaitxo (Spain) - Cafe y Copa - Patxaran y Cafe (88.9) (**)
+ Special: Reinterpretation
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - La Dalia Nibs (87.9) (**)
Silver: Harrer Chocolat (Hungary) - Grenada 61% with nibs (86.9) (**)
Silver: Chocolate Tree (United Kingdom) - Sea Salt and Caramel (86.0) (**)
Bronze: Aruntam - Sensory Chocolate (Italy) - Pietra del Sole (85.7) (**)
Bronze: Aruntam - Sensory Chocolate (Italy) - Gin Spritz (85.5) (**)
Dark chocolate bars with a filling
Gold: Guido Castagna (Italy) - Mes Gianduja Fondente (92.0) (**)
Silver: Guido Castagna (Italy) - Cento+Fondente Ripieno Giuinott (91.5) (**)
Silver: Aruntam - Sensory Chocolate (Italy) - Dark Gianduja 48% (87.3)
Silver: Terre de Fèves (France) - Praliné Sésame (86.2) (**)
Milk chocolate bars with an infusion or flavouring
Gold: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - O'Payo Milk Sansho (91.3) (**)
Silver: Harrer Chocolat (Hungary) - Rooibos tea (89.6) (**)
Silver: AHERZÂ (Austria) - Edelvollmilch (89.6) (**)
Silver: Solkiki Chocolatemaker (United Kingdom) - Maranon 60 - Salted Caramel - Peru (88.3)
Silver: Beaningful (Lithuania) - Juniper berries & Brown butter (87.8) (**)
Silver: Lilla Chokladfabriken Borgå (Finland) - Kuusi 45% (87.7) (**)
Silver: Fjåk Chocolate (Norway) - 50% milk & sour cherry (87.4) (**)
Bronze: Standout Chocolate (Sweden) - Swedish Favourites Getmese (85.6) (**)
Bronze: Livstory Craft Chocolate (Romania) - Ciocolata Neagra Cu Lapte Si Cafea (85.5) (**)
Bronze: Kaitxo (Spain) - Dark Milk & Earl Grey Tea (85.2) (**)
Bronze: Harrer Chocolat (Hungary) - Chai latte (85.0) (**)
Milk chocolate bars with inclusions or pieces
Gold: Shoukâ Chamonix (France) - Cacao nibs - 53% cacao - Philippines (89.7) (**)
Silver: Chocolate Tree (United Kingdom) - Orange and Almond (87.0) (**)
Bronze: DESEO Chocolate (Poland) - Darkmilk 52% with caramel and salt (85.8)
Bronze: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - O'Payo Milk Liquorice (85.6) (**)
Bronze: Solkiki Chocolatemaker (United Kingdom) - Almond & Cherry Liqueur 64 - Ecuador (85.4) (**)
Bronze: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) - O'Payo Milk 50% Hazelnut (85.0) (**)
Bronze: DESEO Chocolate (Poland) - Darkmilk 52% with caramelized pecan nuts (84.9)
Milk chocolate bars with a filling
Silver: Guido Castagna (Italy) - Cento+Latte Ripieno Pistacchio (87.4) (**)
White chocolate bars with an infusion or flavouring
Gold: Harrer Chocolat (Hungary) - Raspberry curd cheese (90.4) (**)
Gold: Solkiki Chocolatemaker (United Kingdom) - Chuncho White 42 - Peru (90.0)
+ Special: Vegan
Silver: Harrer Chocolat (Hungary) - Strawberry sour cream (88.4) (**)
Silver: Harrer Chocolat (Hungary) - White chocolate with chamomile (86.7) (**)
Bronze: Prague Chocolate Steiner & Kovarik (Czech Republic) - White Chocolate 40% with Oyster Mushroom (85.7) (**)
Bronze: Prague Chocolate Steiner & Kovarik (Czech Republic) - White 40% Choocolate with Collagen (84.9) (**)
White chocolate bars with inclusions or pieces
Gold: Depetris Riccardo / Depetris...i Ciculaté (Italy) - Depetris i Ciculaté - ViolaMirtillo (91.4) (**)
+ Special: Local ingredients
Silver: Cacao Experience (France) - Matcha chocolat blanc (90.9) (**)
Silver: Fjåk Chocolate (Norway) - Oatmeal porridge (87.2) (**)
Bronze: Kaitxo (Spain) - Regaliz Con Caramelo De Menta (85.3) (**)
White chocolate bars with a filling
Gold: DESEO Chocolate (Poland) - Pecan & Cinnamon Crunchy (89.0)
Silver: DESEO Chocolate (Poland) - Pistachio Crunchy (87.7)
Ingredients from cacao
Cocoa Powder
Gold: Chocolaterie Morin (France) - Poudre Pérou Chanchamayo 100% (90.4)
Bronze: Chocolaterie Morin (France) - Poudre Madagascar Sambirano 100% (85.4)
Cocoa Butter
Gold: Chocolaterie Morin (France) - Beurre Pérou Chanchamayo (89.5)
Bronze: Chocolaterie Morin (France) - Beurre Madagascar Sambirano (85.7)
(*) Â Declared chocolate maker for private label bars.
(**) Winner has declared the product is made with their own bean-to-bar chocolate or couverture.
