The International Chocolate Awards is pleased to announce the Winners of the 2018 Asia-Pacific Competition, which was judged remotely by our international Grand Jury and in Kaohsiung, Taiwan in partnership with the National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism (NKUHT), the PingTung County Government (PTHG) and the Soil and Water Conservation Bureau (SWCB). Judging was hosted at Grand Crus, Kaohsiung.
The 2018 Asia-Pacific competition was held for the first time as in independent competition in Asia and saw a doubling of entries from the previous year (held in 2017 as part of the Americas competition). 700 products were entered by over 100 chocolate companies from 16 different countries.
International Judges
The judging panel included judges from the USA, Europe, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and members of our international Grand Jury panel around the world.
- Winners
- Finalists
- Judges
- Grand Jury
All judging is anonymised, included at the Grand Jury final session, where Golds, Silver and Bronze prizes are awarded by private voting according to the Grand Jury rules.
All Gold, Silver and Bronze winners are eligible to enter the World Final, with the exception of winners of our Cacao Growing Country Support competitions in Peru and Central America.
Best in competition
Overall ‘best in competition’ single Golds were awarded for the best bar in the combined dark and combined milk chocolate categories, as voted for by the Grand Jury after all other scores have been compiled.
Prizes are awarded only to entries that meet the required standard in each category.
** Bean-to-bar chocolatier products – recognising the growing trend of flavoured bars and filled chocolate made by chocolate makers, winning products made with an entrant’s own chocolate are marked with (**).
(Prizes are shown in alphabetical order for each medal)
'Best in competition' overall winners
Plain/origin dark bar categories
Gold: Fu Wan Chocolate (Taiwan) - Fu Wan Chocolate, Taiwan #9, 70%, Double Ferment, Rough GroundPlain/origin milk bar categories
Gold: Chocolatier Palet d'Or (Japan) - Artisan tablet Vietnam 51%Barrette plain/origin
Barrette fondenti plain /origin
Gold: Jade Li Chocolatier (Taiwan) - Dark66
+ Gold: Taiwan
+ Gold: Chocolate Maker
+ Gold: Growing Country
Silver: Asian Socola (Japan) - Asian Socola 72%
Silver: Ezaki Glico (Japan) - Vietnam 70%
Silver: Hey Fun Chocolate (Taiwan) - Dark Chocolate 70% -Peru (Porcelana)
Silver: JL Chocolate (Taiwan) - Taiwan Pingtung 85% Dark Chocolate
Silver: Joy Cacao and Coffee Plantations (Taiwan) - Joy3
Silver: Magie du Chocolat (Japan) - Peru 63
Bronze: JL Chocolate (Taiwan) - Taiwan Pingtung 75% Dark Chocolate
Bronze: Kad Kokoa (Thailand) - Chiangmai Single Origin
Bronze: Magie du Chocolat (Japan) - Vietnam 65
Bronze: Malagos Chocolate (Philippines) - Malagos 65% Dark Chocolate
+ Gold: Philippines
Bronze: Marou Chocolate (Vietnam) - Marou Dak Lak 70%
+ Gold: Vietnam
Bronze: Marou Chocolate (Vietnam) - Marou Dong Nai 72% dark chocolate
Bronze: 曾志元巧克力 Zengzhiyuan Chocolate (Taiwan) - 曾志元72%巧克力
Micro-batch - Barrette fondenti plain /origin
Gold: The Smooth Chocolator (Australia) - Piura Blanco Peru 67%
+ Gold: Australia
+ Gold: Chocolate Maker
+ Gold: Directly Traded
Silver: Cacao Alun (Japan) - Cacao Blanco Piura ( * Grabbag Coffee Stop)
Silver: Cacaotier Gokan (Japan) - Cacaotier Bar (Chuao Noir)
Silver: Chocolatier Palet d'Or (Japan) - Artisan tablet Haiti 72%
Silver: Dandelion Chocolate Japan (Japan) - 70% Maya Mountain, Belize
Silver: Dandelion Chocolate Japan (Japan) - 70% San Francisco de Macorís, Dominican Republic
Silver: Dandelion Chocolate Japan (Japan) - 70% Wampu, Honduras
Silver: green bean to bar Chocolate (Japan) - Nativo Blanco - Peru - 73%
Silver: green bean to bar Chocolate (Japan) - Tanzania 70%
+ Gold: Japan
Silver: green bean to bar Chocolate (Japan) - Vietnam 70%
Silver: Musée du Chocolat Théobroma (Japan) - Peru Piura 70%
Silver: Musée du Chocolat Théobroma (Japan) - Venezuela Chuao 70%
Silver: Musée du Chocolat Théobroma (Japan) - Vietnam Ben Tre 70%
Silver: SmallRoom (South Korea) - Small Room Bean to Bar - Costarica 70%
+ Gold: South Korea
Silver: Sweets Escalier (Japan) - Belize 70%
Silver: The Smooth Chocolator (Australia) - Ramnath Trinidad 67%
Silver: The Smooth Chocolator (Australia) - Tanzania Kokoa Kamili 70%
Bronze: Chocolatier Palet d'Or (Japan) - Artisan tablet Cuba 72%
Bronze: Chocolatier Palet d'Or (Japan) - Artisan tablet Vietnam 72%
Bronze: Chocolatier Palet d'Or (Japan) - L'essence de cacao gran couva 72%
Bronze: Hogarth Craft Chocolate (New Zealand) - Porcelana
Bronze: MILTOS (Japan) - Madagascar, Sambirano
Bronze: Musée du Chocolat Théobroma (Japan) - Madagascar Cacao Project
Bronze: Sweets Escalier (Japan) - Brasil Amazonas wild cacao 70%
Bronze: The Roasting Masters (South Korea) - Maleku
Bronze: Wellington Chocolate Factory (New Zealand) - Peru Chocolate Bar
Barrette ad alta% cioccolato fondente (sopra 85%)
Gold: Joy Cacao and Coffee Plantations (Taiwan) - Joy1
+ Gold: Taiwan
Silver: Amazon food company (Vietnam) - Bapula Chocolate Baria Organic 92%
Silver: Bonny Chocolate (邦尼巧克力工坊） (Taiwan) - 85% Dark Chocolate Bars
Silver: Fu Wan Chocolate (Taiwan) - Fu Wan Chocolate, Philippines 85%
Silver: Hey Fun Chocolate (Taiwan) - Dark Chocolate 85% -Peru (Porcelana)
Silver: Malagos Chocolate (Philippines) - Malagos 85% Dark Chocolate
Silver: 曾志元巧克力 Zengzhiyuan Chocolate (Taiwan) - 曾志元85%巧克力
Bronze: Cacao Stella (Taiwan) - 85% cacao blanco - Peru
Bronze: Deershop 驯鹿巧克力 (China) - Deershop Colombia Tumaco Dark Chocolate 85% ( * Denise Castronovo)
Bronze: Hey Fun Chocolate (Taiwan) - Dark Chocolate 85% - Pingtung, Taiwan
Bronze: Hey Fun Chocolate (Taiwan) - Dark Chocolate 100% - Pingtung, Taiwan
Bronze: Hogarth Craft Chocolate (New Zealand) - Hacienda Victoria
Bronze: Metiisto Artisan Chocolate (Australia) - Patovaki 85%
Barrette fondenti ruvide plain/origin
Gold: Fu Wan Chocolate (Taiwan) - Fu Wan Chocolate, Taiwan #9, 70%, Double Ferment, Rough Ground
Silver: Minimal - Bean to Bar Chocolate - (Japan) - Colombia Tumaco 75%
Bronze: Minimal - Bean to Bar Chocolate - (Japan) - Philippines Dela serna 65%
Barrette fondenti plain /origin prodotte con zuccheri alternativi naturali
Gold: Cacai Cacao (Taiwan) - 70% Davao Chocolate - coconut nectar sugar
Silver: Cacai Cacao (Taiwan) - 70% Pingtung Chocolate - Brown Sugar
Silver: Coco Kyoto (Japan) - Vietnam
Silver: Earth Loaf Artisan Chocolate (India) - 72% Tamil Nadu Single Origin
Bronze: Chitra'm Craft Chocolates (India) - Chitra'm Craft Chocolates - 70% Dark Chocolate (Palm Sugar)
Barrette al latte plain/origin
Silver: Ezaki Glico (Japan) - Madagascar and Ghana 44% cacao
Barrette al latte plain/origin (sopra 50%)
Gold: Cacaodada (South Korea) - Peru 54.8% dark milk
Gold: Chocolatier Palet d'Or (Japan) - Artisan tablet Vietnam 51%
Silver: Chocolatier Palet d'Or (Japan) - L'essence de cacao gran couva 51%
Silver: MILTOS (Japan) - Brazil milk
Silver: Musée du Chocolat Théobroma (Japan) - Venezuela Chuao Dark Milk 60%
Silver: PARADAi Chocolate (Thailand) - Belize - Dark Milk 63%
Silver: Pâtisserie jun ujita (Japan) - Tablette chocolat au lait
Silver: Sweets Escalier (Japan) - Belize milk 60%
Silver: Sweets Escalier (Japan) - Costarica milk 60%
Silver: Sweets Escalier (Japan) - Peru piura milk 60%
Bronze: Cacao Alun (Japan) - Gran Chililique Milk ( * Grabbag Coffee Stop)
Bronze: Cacaotier Gokan (Japan) - Cacaotier Bar (Piura Lacte)
Bronze: Chocolatier Palet d'Or (Japan) - Artisan tablet Cuba 51%
Bronze: Chocolatier Palet d'Or (Japan) - Artisan tablet Haiti 51%
Bronze: green bean to bar Chocolate (Japan) - Palo Blanco - Peru - 50% Milk
Bronze: Hogarth Craft Chocolate (New Zealand) - Alto Beni Dark Milk
Bronze: Meiji (Japan) - Velvet Milk
Bronze: PARADAi Chocolate (Thailand) - Thailand Nakhon Si Thammarat - Dark Milk 58%
Micro-batch - Barrette al latte plain/origin
Silver: Chocolatier Palet d'Or (Japan) - Artisan tablet Madagascar 40%
Bronze: Chocolatier Palet d'Or (Japan) - Artisan tablet Cuba 40%
Bronze: Musée du Chocolat Théobroma (Japan) - Vietnam Ben Tre Milk 46%
Barrette bianche plain/origin
Silver: Chocolatier Palet d'Or (Japan) - L'essence de cacao White
Barrette aromatizzate
Barrette cioccolato fondente con infusione o aromi
Gold: Fu Wan Chocolate (Taiwan) - Regent Taipei x Fu Wan Chocolate, Taiwan Tie Guan Yin Tea 62% (**)
Silver: Fossa Chocolate (Singapore) - La Esperanza Coffee Chocolate (**)
Silver: Fu Wan Chocolate (Taiwan) - Fu Wan Chocolate, Taiwan 62%, Black Pepper (**)
Silver: Fu Wan Chocolate (Taiwan) - Fu Wan Chocolate, Taiwan 62%, White Pepper & Fleur de Sel (**)
Silver: Fu Wan Chocolate (Taiwan) - Fu Wan Chocolate, Taiwan Magao (Wild Pepper) 62% (**)
Silver: Fu Wan Chocolate (Taiwan) - Regent Taipei x Fu Wan Chocolate, Taiwan Charcoal Oolong Tea 62% (**)
Silver: Fu Wan Chocolate (Taiwan) - Regent Taipei x Fu Wan Chocolate, Taiwan Red Jade Tea 62% (**)
Silver: Leventetlesoleil (Taiwan) - C'est la vie
Silver: Leventetlesoleil (Taiwan) - elixir
Silver: Magie du Chocolat (Japan) - Yuzu (**)
Silver: Nanaya (Japan) - craft chocolate houjicha (**)
Silver: Sweets Escalier (Japan) - Madagascar sansho-japanese pepper 75%
Silver: Sweets Escalier (Japan) - Vietnam 75% shichimitougarashi
Bronze: Fu Wan Chocolate (Taiwan) - Fu Wan Chocolate, Taiwan Ancient Coffee 62% (**)
Bronze: Fu Wan Chocolate (Taiwan) - Fu Wan Chocolate, Taiwan Fleur De Sel 70% (**)
Bronze: Nanaya (Japan) - craft chocolate matcha (**)
Barrette di cioccolato fondente con inclusioni o pezzi
Gold: Hogarth Craft Chocolate (New Zealand) - Manuka Honey & Cocoa Nib (**)
Silver: green bean to bar Chocolate (Japan) - Chuao 70% - Nibs
Silver: JL Chocolate (Taiwan) - Taiwan Pingtung 75% Nibs Dark Chocolate (**)
Silver: Leventetlesoleil (Taiwan) - Black Gold
Silver: Meiji (Japan) - Dominica with Yuzu Chenpi (**)
Silver: Samurai Nanbu Cracker Tablet supervised by Chocolatier Hideaki Sarudate (Japan) - Nanbu Tablet with Sesame Cracker
Bronze: Cacaotier Gokan (Japan) - Cacaotier Bar (Mikkabi Mikan)
Bronze: Fu Wan Chocolate (Taiwan) - Fu Wan Chocolate, Papua New Guinea 70%, Taiwan Mango (**)
Bronze: green bean to bar Chocolate (Japan) - Madagascar 70% -Nibs
Bronze: Marou Chocolate (Vietnam) - Maison Marou - Caramelized Popped Rice (**)
Bronze: Sweet Pea & Poppy (Australia) - The Andes
Bronze: Theo and Philo Chocolate (Philippines) - 65% Dark Chocolate with Black Sesame, Cashew and Pili Nuts (**)
Bronze: Theo and Philo Chocolate (Philippines) - 65% Dark Chocolate with Calamansi (**)
Barrete cioccolato fondente ripiene
Gold: Musée du Chocolat Théobroma (Japan) - Yuzu marzipan
Silver: LoGA SoLAR, Ming Zhun Business Company and National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism Benit (Taiwan) - Taiwanese Bride Cake chocolate withe Butterfly ginger
Bronze: JL Chocolate (Taiwan) - Taiwan Plum Wine 75% Dark Chocolate (**)
Barrette ciccolato al latte con infusione o aromi
Gold: Ezaki Glico (Japan) - Yuzu (**)
Silver: Ezaki Glico (Japan) - Japanese strawberry "Amaou" (**)
Silver: Ezaki Glico (Japan) - Japanese “Shoyu” (**)
Bronze: Chitra'm Craft Chocolates (India) - Chitra'm Craft Chocolates - Milk Chocolate (Mango Lassi) (**)
Bronze: Wellington Chocolate Factory (New Zealand) - Raspberry Milk Chocolate Bar (**)
Barrette di cioccolato al latte con inclusioni o pezzi
Gold: Ezaki Glico (Japan) - Ume-boshi (**)
Silver: Ishiya (Japan) - Tokibi
Bronze: Bennetts of Mangawhai (New Zealand) - Plum Crumble
Bronze: Cemas Kakanen (Taiwan) - Danhongmeiren Taiwan Chocolate (**)
Bronze: Ishiya (Japan) - Grinded Tokibi
Bronze: Jasper and Myrtle (Australia) - Lemon Myrtle and Macadamia Milk chocolate (**)
Bronze: Sweet Pea & Poppy (Australia) - Orange Cardamom Pecan
Bronze: Theo and Philo Chocolate (Philippines) - Milk Chocolate Adobo (**)
Barrette di cioccolato al latte ripiene
Gold: Le Ruban Chocolat (Taiwan) - Litsea cubeba (mountain pepper) and almond bar
Barrette al cioccolato bianco aromatizzato con infusione o aromi
Gold: Ishiya (Japan) - Kokuto Kinako
Silver: Ishiya (Japan) - Azuki & Ten-cha
Silver: Ishiya (Japan) - Iwai Kuro Kinako
Silver: Ishiya (Japan) - Matcha Grinded in Oil
Silver: Monsieur Truffe (Australia) - Australian Plum (**)
Barrette al cioccolato bianco con inclusioni o pezzi
Gold: Musée du Chocolat Théobroma (Japan) - Kakinotane challenge
Silver: Ishiya (Japan) - Touji
Silver: Ishiya (Japan) - Yuzu & Salt
Silver: Jade Li Chocolatier (Taiwan) - Rose Strawberry (**)
Bronze: Cacao Kenkyusyo (Japan) - Crispy Caramel white chocolate (**)
Bronze: Cacaotier Gokan (Japan) - Cacaotier Bar (Hojicha Anise)
Bronze: Fossa Chocolate (Singapore) - Salted Egg Cereal Blond Chocolate (**)
Ganaches, paletes, praline e tartufi alla ganache
Ganache o tartufi di cioccolato fondente non aromatizzato
Silver: Malagos Chocolate (Philippines) - 72% Dark Chocolate Ganache (**)
Ganache o tartufi con cioccolato fondente aromatizzato
Gold: Fu Wan Chocolate (Taiwan) - Fu Wan Chocolate, Taiwan #1 62% Fleur de Sel Caramel Nama Choco (**)
Silver: Chuang Chocolate (Taiwan) - WuSong Fights the Tiger
Silver: Le Ruban Chocolat (Taiwan) - Chrysanthemum
Silver: Malagos Chocolate (Philippines) - Rhum (**)
Silver: 慕夏巧克力 Mucha salon du chocolat (Taiwan) - Jasmine(茉莉兒) (**)
Bronze: Chuang Chocolate (Taiwan) - Shanghai Nights
Bronze: Fu Wan Chocolate (Taiwan) - Fu Wan Chocolate, Apple Whisky 70% Nama Chocolate (**)
Bronze: Le Ruban Chocolat (Taiwan) - Ginger lily
Bronze: Le Ruban Chocolat (Taiwan) - Smoked mountain pepper
Bronze: Musée du Chocolat Théobroma (Japan) - Truffle Yuzu
Bronze: 慕夏巧克力 Mucha salon du chocolat (Taiwan) - Cocktail series-Tequila Sunrise
Bronze: 慕夏巧克力 Mucha salon du chocolat (Taiwan) - Osmanthus(桂花兒) (**)
Bronze: 拾米屋米花/蘇怡帆 (Taiwan) - （premium)百年梅酒威士忌
Ganache o tartufi al cioccolato al latte
Silver: Le Ruban Chocolat (Taiwan) - White sesame
Ganaches o tartufi di cioccolato bianco
Gold: Le Ruban Chocolat (Taiwan) - Roasted oolong tea
Silver: 拾米屋米花/蘇怡帆 (Taiwan) - （mountain)老手路包種茶
Bronze: Cona's (Taiwan) - 不簡單 (**)
Bronze: Fu Wan Chocolate (Taiwan) - Fu Wan Chocolate, Rose Lychee 36% Nama Chocolate
Ganache o tertufi prodotti utilizzando ciccolati misti Fondente /latte/bianco per copertura o ripieno
Gold: Le Ruban Chocolat (Taiwan) - Longan flower and pineapple
Silver: Le Ruban Chocolat (Taiwan) - Osmanthus and apricot
Silver: LF Chocolates (Hong Kong) - Honey Yuzu Bonbon
Silver: 慕夏巧克力 Mucha salon du chocolat (Taiwan) - Opera
Bronze: Chuang Chocolate (Taiwan) - Green Lemon&Tender Ginger
Bronze: Chuang Chocolate (Taiwan) - Orange & Elderflower
Bronze: Chuang Chocolate (Taiwan) - Snow Flower
Bronze: LF Chocolates (Hong Kong) - Coffee Crunch Bonbon
Bronze: LF Chocolates (Hong Kong) - Peanut Butter Bonbon
Bronze: 拾米屋米花/蘇怡帆 (Taiwan) - (Oriental Beauty)東方美人威士忌
Praline a base di noci e noci ricoperte
Praline a base di frutta/ gianduja con ciccolato fondente
Bronze: Chuang Chocolate (Taiwan) - Ginger & Hazelnut Praline
Marzapane ricoperto al cioccolato fondente
Bronze: Chuang Chocolate (Taiwan) - Chinese azuki bean paste & Marzipan
Praline a base di noci/gianduja con cioccolato al latte
Bronze: Cona's (Taiwan) - 榛果夾心 (**)
Bronze: Musée du Chocolat Théobroma (Japan) - Black sesame
Dragées al latte/noci intere ricoperte di cioccolato al latte
Gold: Ezaki Glico (Japan) - Fried Almond (**)
Dragées di cioccolato bianco, noci intere ricoperte
Silver: Cona's (Taiwan) - 有機紅玉茶夏果 (**)
Caramello
Caramello ricoperti con cioccolato fondente
Gold: Bennetts of Mangawhai (New Zealand) - Macadamia Caramel
Silver: Bennetts of Mangawhai (New Zealand) - Sesame Caramel in Dark Chocolate
Bronze: Chuang Chocolate (Taiwan) - Pink Peppercorn Caramel
Bronze: Malagos Chocolate (Philippines) - Salted Caramel (**)
Altre - frutti/zucchero/burro/crema
Paste di frutta, gelatine, gelée ricoperte con cioccolato fondente
Bronze: LoGA SoLAR, Ming Zhun Business Company and National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism Benit (Taiwan) - Rose Litchi Chocolate
Bronze: Mister Chocoloco (Taiwan) - Mixed truffle- Cranberry
Spalmabili
Spalmabili con cioccolato fondente (senza latte in polvere)
Gold: Hogarth Craft Chocolate (New Zealand) - Dark Hazelnut Spread
(*) Declared chocolate maker for private label bars.
(**) Winner has declared the product is made with their own bean-to-bar chocolate or couverture.
Triple MMM Special Award
A special prize given by our founding partners, Maricel Presilla, Martin Christy and Monica Meschini. The Triple MMM (or Mmm…) prize represents products chosen by the founders because of a personal appreciation of a product tasted during judging. This prize reflects personal enjoyment of the product awarded and is not based on the competition scores.
2018 Asia-Pacific MMM: Fu Wan Chocolate (Taiwan) – Regent Taipei x Fu Wan Chocolate, Taiwan Tie Guan Yin Tea 62%
