The International Chocolate Awards is pleased to announce the Winners of the European, Middle Eastern and African Bean-to-Bar competition, which was judged remotely in April-May 2025.
The winners’ announcement was held at Artisan HUB in Bucharest, Romania on Saturday, 17th May during a fun live event where specialty coffee expertise met with the best craft chocolate of Europe. Our co-founder Martin Christy was hosting the event together with Alex Rast, one of our Grand Juror, while our co-founder Monica Meschini and another Grand Juror, George Gensler joined us through Zoom.
The Grand Jury Finalists are listed here.
Winners of these rounds will pass through to the World Final organized in October-November 2025.
This competition awards prizes for plain/origin and flavoured bean-to-bar products from European, Middle Eastern and African chocolate makers.
Judges
The judges were drawn from local experts, food journalists, our IICCT Alumni and members of our permanent international Grand Jury.
Prizes
All judging is anonymized, including at the Grand Jury final session, where Gold, Silver and Bronze prizes are awarded by private voting.
Awards are awarded only to entries that meet the required standard for each prize.
The 2025 European, Middle Eastern and African Bean-to-Bar Winners are:
(Prizes are shown in score order for each medal)
‘Best in competition’ overall winners
Plain/origin dark bar categories
Gold: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) – O’Payo 68% (90.2)Plain/origin milk bar categories
Gold: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) – O’Payo Milk 50% (89.0)Flavoured bar categories
Gold: Míšina čokoláda (Czech Republic) – Vegan Raspberry Chocolate 42% (92.3)Plain/origin bars
Plain/origin dark chocolate bars
Gold: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) – O’Payo 68% (90.2) (**)
+ Gold: Chocolate Maker
+ Gold: Direct Traded
+ Gold: Organic
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) – Johe 70% (88.9) (**)
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) – Nicaliso 70% (88.7) (**)
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) – Chuno 70% Double Turned (88.4) (**)
Silver: Meybol Cacao (Germany) – Vraem 72% (88.2) (**)
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) – Chuno 70% Triple Turned (88.1) (**)
Silver: Vigdis Rosenkilde (Norway) – 80% Echarate (87.7) ( * Theobroma Inversiones S.A.C (Cacaosuyo)) (**)
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) – Barba 70% (87.7) (**)
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) – Indio Rojo 70% (87.4) (**)
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) – Madagascar 64% Fast Dried (87.3) (**)
+ Special: Organic
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) – Rugoso 70% (87.0) (**)
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) – Don Alfonso 70% (86.5) (**)
Silver: Chocolaterie Morin (France) – Pérou Chanchamayo 63% A. Morin (86.5) (**)
Micro-batch – Plain/origin dark chocolate bars
Gold: Acaoyer (France) – Nicaragua 70% – O’Payo (89.4) (**)
+ Gold: Chocolate Maker
+ Gold: Organic
Silver: Ara Chocolat (France) – Santa Cruz 72% (88.8) (**)
+ Gold: Direct Traded
Silver: Kaitxo (Spain) – Tanzania 75% (88.7) (**)
Silver: LīLā (Czech Republic) – Philippines Luna 75% (88.6) (**)
Silver: Shoukâ Chamonix (France) – Philippine 73% de Cacao (88.5) (**)
Silver: S T R A N G E R craft chocolate (Ukraine) – Ecuador 70% (88.5) (**)
Silver: Acaoyer (France) – Madagascar 70% – T’mar (88.4) (**)
Bronze: S T R A N G E R craft chocolate (Ukraine) – Guatemala 70% (87.7) (**)
Bronze: Shoukâ Chamonix (France) – Chuao Grand Cru 74% de Cacao (87.5) (**)
Bronze: Kaitxo (Spain) – Filipinas 70% (87.4) (**)
Bronze: Kestar Chocolate (Romania) – Grenada Mount Horn Specialty 70% (87.4) (**)
Bronze: Aroko Chocolate (Italy) – Porcelana 72% Sierra de Perija,Venezuela (87.3) (**)
Bronze: Fjåk Chocolate (Norway) – 70% Dark Madagascar (87.2) (**)
Bronze: S T R A N G E R craft chocolate (Ukraine) – Colombia 73% (87.2) (**)
Bronze: Casa Cacao | El Celler de Can Roca (Spain) – 68% Dark Chocolate Grana (87.2) (**)
Bronze: TËRT Kakao (Estonia) – Peru Ucayali River 70% (87.2) (**)
Bronze: Taman Artisan Chocolates (Croatia) – Ecuador Finca Garyth National 70% (87.2) (**)
Bronze: 20°Nord 20°Sud (France) – Utkku – Perou (87.1) (**)
Bronze: Cacao Experience (France) – Perou 75% Gran Palo (87.1) (**)
Bronze: Kestar Chocolate (Romania) – Peru Chuncho Chungi 70% (87.1) (**)
Bronze: Utopick Cacao (Spain) – Haiti 70% (87.0) (**)
Bronze: Kina Chocolates (Spain) – Chuncho 70% (87.0) (**)
Bronze: Diamonds Roastery (Slovakia) – Peru Utkku Organic (86.9) (**)
Bronze: Aurélien Plassard Chocolatier (France) – Tablettes 70% De La Serrania Colombie (86.8) (**)
Bronze: Meybol Cacao (Germany) – Chuncho Collection N°5 (86.8) (**)
Bronze: S T R A N G E R craft chocolate (Ukraine) – Solomon Islands 70% (86.7) (**)
Bronze: Kestar Chocolate (Romania) – Venezuela Criollo Choroni 70% (86.7) (**)
Bronze: Fjåk Chocolate (Norway) – 70% Tanzania, Women´s lot (86.7) (**)
Bronze: Beaningful (Lithuania) – Bolivia Wild Tranquilidad 70 % (86.6) (**)
Bronze: Kaitxo (Spain) – Peru Cuzco 70% (86.6) (**)
Bronze: Maychoco (Spain) – Chocolate 70% Cuzco (86.6) (**)
Bronze: Beaningful (Lithuania) – Peru Qori Inti 70% (86.6) (**)
Bronze: Feitoria do Cacao (Portugal) – Chocolate Negro Tailândia Chanthaburi 72 (86.6) (**)
Bronze: Choklad i väst (Sweden) – Peru 70% (86.5) (**)
High % plain/origin dark chocolate bars (85% and over)
Gold: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) – La Dalia 85% (88.7) (**)
+ Gold: Chocolate Maker
+ Gold: Direct Traded
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) – La Dalia 100% (88.2) (**)
+ Gold: 100%
Silver: Kestar Chocolate (Romania) – Venezuela Criollo Choroni 95% (88.2) (**)
Bronze: Ara Chocolat (France) – Chuncho 88% (87.7) (**)
Bronze: Aurélien Plassard Chocolatier (France) – Tablettes 90% Guatemala (87.5) (**)
Bronze: Kina Chocolates (Spain) – 100% Chuncho (87.3) (**)
Bronze: Acaoyer (France) – Madagascar 85% – T’Mar (86.8) (**)
Bronze: Aroko Chocolate (Italy) – Tesoro di Chuao (86.7) (**)
Bronze: Höganäs Chocolate (Sweden) – Höganäs – 100% Dark Chocolate Bar (86.6) (**)
Bronze: Meybol Cacao (Germany) – Solo Kakao 90% (86.6) (**)
Plain/origin milk chocolate bars
Gold: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) – O’Payo Milk 50% (89.0) (**)
+ Gold: Chocolate Maker
+ Gold: Direct Traded
+ Gold: Organic
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) – Dark Milk 65% (87.5) (**)
Bronze: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) – Dark Milk 55% (86.4) (**)
Bronze: Chocolaterie Morin (France) – Equateur Esmeralda LAIT 48% A. Morin (85.8) (**)
Bronze: Vigdis Rosenkilde (Norway) – 60% Dark Milk Chocolate (85.8) ( * Theobroma Inversiones S.A.C (Cacaosuyo)) (**)
Micro-batch – Plain/origin milk chocolate bars
Silver: Casa Cacao | El Celler de Can Roca (Spain) – 48% Milk Chocolate from indonesia (88.5) (**)
Silver: Standout Chocolate (Sweden) – Dark Milk Madagascar Sambirano 60% (87.8) (**)
Silver: Shoukâ Chamonix (France) – Tanzanie Lait 60% de Cacao (87.0) (**)
Bronze: Shoukâ Chamonix (France) – Venezuela Lait 52% de Cacao (86.6) (**)
Bronze: Maychoco (Spain) – Chocolate con Leche 55%, Dark Milk (86.4) (**)
Bronze: Beskid Chocolate (Poland) – Peru Ukajali River 50% (86.3) (**)
Bronze: TËRT Kakao (Estonia) – Peru Ucayali River Dark Milk (85.9) (**)
Bronze: TËRT Kakao (Estonia) – Nicaragua O’Payo Dark Milk (85.7) (**)
Plain/origin chocolate bars with alternative ingredients
Gold: Clorawfila (Spain) – Tuma 72%, Waslala – Nicaragua (89.5) (**)
+ Gold: Chocolate Maker
+ Special: Alternate sugars
Silver: Kaicao (Spain) – 90% Cacao Hacienda la Carrera (88.0) (**)
Silver: Kaicao (Spain) – 85% Quinacho Cooperative Peru (87.3) (**)
Silver: Kaicao (Spain) – 75% Kokoa Kamili Tanzania (87.3) (**)
Silver: Trufas Martinez (Spain) – Dark Vegan Mylk Chufa de Valencia (86.6) (**)
+ Special: Alternate vegan milk
Silver: Kaicao (Spain) – 75% Oko Caribe, Dr (86.4) (**)
Bronze: Depetris Riccardo / Depetris…i Ciculaté (Italy) – Cioccolato del MONVISO – ChocoAmel (85.6) (**)
Plain/origin white chocolate bars
Gold: Divina Colina (Germany) – White Chocolate Cream Bar (88.6) (**)
+ Gold: Chocolate Maker
Silver: Chocolaterie Morin (France) – Pérou Chanchamayo Blanc 40% A. Morin (87.9) (**)
Bronze: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) – White 40% (85.5) (**)
Flavoured bars
Dark chocolate bars with an infusion or flavouring
Gold: Ivee Promenade (Poland) – Red Currant. Dark Chocolate Brazil 70% (89.9) (**)
+ Special: Cacao flavoring/aging
Silver: Casa Cacao | El Celler de Can Roca (Spain) – 70% Dark Chocolate W/ Macallan Whiskey (89.0) (**)
+ Special: Alcohol
Silver: Lady Merveilles (France) – Chocolat Noir Whisky 75% Nicaragua (88.7) (**)
Silver: SAM Schoggi (Switzerland) – Dunkli Schoggi mit Schweizer Arvenöl (88.4) (**)
Silver: Nittedal Sjokoladefabrikk (Norway) – Villpepper Og Kaffirlime (87.9) (**)
+ Special: Gastronomic
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) – Nicaliso 70% Cinnamon Leaf (87.9) (**)
Silver: Fjåk Chocolate (Norway) – Thai Chili (87.3) (**)
Silver: Ivee Promenade (Poland) – Blueberry.Dark Chocolate Philippines 70% (87.3) (**)
Bronze: Standout Chocolate (Sweden) – Nordic Autumn Apple (86.7) (**)
Bronze: Chocokoo (Estonia) – Costa Rica Black Garlic (86.5) (**)
Bronze: Casa Cacao | El Celler de Can Roca (Spain) – 80% Dark Chocolate W/ Green Tea Jasmine (86.3) (**)
Bronze: Standout Chocolate (Sweden) – Nordic Summer Blossom (86.3) (**)
Bronze: Fjåk Chocolate (Norway) – Mulled Wine (86.1) (**)
Bronze: Standout Chocolate (Sweden) – Nordic Nature Sugar Kelp & Sea Salt (86.0) (**)
Bronze: Lady Merveilles (France) – Chocolat noir Hydromel 75% Belize (86.0) (**)
Dark chocolate bars with inclusions or pieces
Gold: Depetris Riccardo / Depetris…i Ciculaté (Italy) – Cioccolato Del Monviso : al Genepy (90.2) (**)
+ Special: Alcohol
Silver: Vigdis Rosenkilde (Norway) – 70% Piura with cacao nibs (89.4) (**)
+ Special: Classic
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) – La Dalia 60% Nibs (89.3) (**)
Silver: chocoMe (Hungary) – Chocome Atelier – Åkesson 69% With Yuzu (88.9) (**)
Silver: Fjåk Chocolate (Norway) – Vermouth O’clock (88.7) (**)
Silver: Motoki_Labo (France) – Un Après-midi D’automne (88.6) (**)
Silver: 20°Nord 20°Sud (France) – Tsarafandray – Mada & Poivre Sauvage (87.6) (**)
Bronze: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) – Medagla 70% Soy (86.8) (**)
Bronze: Kestar Chocolate (Romania) – Venezuela Villa Franca 70% Crunchy (86.8) (**)
Bronze: chocoMe (Hungary) – Chocome Atelier – Rugoso 70% With Panko (86.7) (**)
Bronze: Kina Chocolates (Spain) – Oli & Sal (85.9) (**)
Bronze: chocoMe (Hungary) – Chocome Atelier- Choroni 72% With Iyokan (85.7) (**)
Bronze: chocoMe (Hungary) – Chocome Atelier-choroni 72%,blood Orange (85.5) (**)
Dark chocolate bars with a filling
Gold: Guido Castagna (Italy) – Mes Gianduja Fondente (91.7) (**)
+ Special: Naked
Gold: Depetris Riccardo / Depetris…i Ciculaté (Italy) – Cioccolato del Monviso: l’altro Gianduja (91.5) (**)
+ Gold: Alternate theobromas
+ Special: Naked
Silver: Depetris Riccardo / Depetris…i Ciculaté (Italy) – Cioccolato del Monviso: il Gianduja (87.8) (**)
Silver: Beaningful (Lithuania) – Hazelnut Gianduja (87.4) (**)
Bronze: Guido Castagna (Italy) – Cento+Fondente Ripieno Giuinott (86.5) (**)
Milk chocolate bars with an infusion or flavouring
Gold: Fjåk Chocolate (Norway) – Green Szechuan Pepper (90.4) (**)
+ Special: Gastronomic
Silver: Fjåk Chocolate (Norway) – 50% Milk & Wild Blueberry (90.0) (**)
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) – O’Payo Milk Sansho 50% (89.4) (**)
Silver: Standout Chocolate (Sweden) – Caramelized Goat Cheese (89.4) (**)
Silver: S T R A N G E R craft chocolate (Ukraine) – Milk & Chocolate 47% Cocoa (88.9) (**)
Silver: Casa Cacao | El Celler de Can Roca (Spain) – 50% Milk Chocolate with Chai Tea (88.9) (**)
+ Special: Ingredients
Silver: Tobago Estate Chocolates (Sweden) – Tobago Estate Chocolate Sea Salt (87.9) (**)
Silver: Harrer Chocolat (Hungary) – Orange Mandarin Milkchocolate (87.7) (**)
Bronze: Fjåk Chocolate (Norway) – 50% Milk & Licorice Root (86.2) (**)
Bronze: Standout Chocolate (Sweden) – Cloudberry Caramel (85.5) (**)
Milk chocolate bars with inclusions or pieces
Gold: Fjåk Chocolate (Norway) – Milk Nibs & Oak Smoked Salt (89.5) (**)
+ Special: Gastronomic
Silver: Maychoco (Spain) – Chocolate con Leche y Queso (89.3) (**)
Silver: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) – Peter Carlsen – Limited Edition (87.4) (**)
Silver: SAM Schoggi (Switzerland) – Halbdunkli Schoggi Paranuss&Kürbiskernen (87.4) (**)
Silver: Utopick Cacao (Spain) – Tonka y Pera (87.3) (**)
Bronze: Feitoria do Cacao (Portugal) – Chocolate de Leite Nicarágua 57% + Nibs (85.9) (**)
Bronze: Utopick Cacao (Spain) – Sanguineli Azahar (85.7) (**)
Bronze: chocoTales of Warsaw (Poland) – Milk Choco W/ Brown Butter & Smoked Salt (85.6) (**)
White chocolate bars with an infusion or flavouring
Gold: Míšina čokoláda (Czech Republic) – Vegan Raspberry Chocolate 42% (92.3) (**)
+ Special: Ground-in
+ Special: Vegan
Silver: Harrer Chocolat (Hungary) – Cascara (88.0) (**)
Silver: Prague Chocolate Steiner & Kovarik (Czech Republic) – White Chocolate 40% With Asparagus (87.8) (**)
White chocolate bars with inclusions or pieces
Gold: Depetris Riccardo / Depetris…i Ciculaté (Italy) – Cioccolato Del Monviso – Viola Mirtillo (91.1) (**)
+ Special: Local ingredients
Silver: Kaicao (Spain) – 37% White Camel Milk Chocolate (90.1) (**)
+ Special: Non-cow milk
Silver: Depetris Riccardo / Depetris…i Ciculaté (Italy) – C.monviso Lampone, Rosa Canina, Ibiscus (88.8) (**)
Silver: Maychoco (Spain) – Chocolate Blanco Vegano al Té Marroquí (88.5) (**)
Bronze: Friis-Holm Chokolade (Denmark) – White Nibs (86.4) (**)
Bronze: Beskid Chocolate (Poland) – Blonde 40% With Salted Almonds (85.5) (**)
Ingredients from cacao
Cocoa Powder
Silver: Chocolaterie Morin (France) – Poudre Madagascar Sambirano A. Morin (86.4) (**)
Cocoa Butter
Gold: Chocolaterie Morin (France) – Beurre Pérou Chanchamayo A. Morin (88.6) (**)
(*) Declared chocolate maker for private label bars.
(**) Winner has declared the product is made with their own bean-to-bar chocolate or couverture.
