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2024 - Season 3

Cacao beans from 33 regional cacao farms spanning 18 different countries of origin.​

66 Chocolate Bars accepted from 4 continents, 14 countries,  13 States.​

11 judges from various backgrounds​

Dark Chocolate Category - 24 entries​

Milk Chocolate Category - 15 entries​

White Chocolate Category - 7 entries

Inclusions Category - 20 entries

2024 Winners

Top Overall - Gold
Embers Chocolate
74% Dark Chocolate Wild Harvest Bolivia

Top Overall - Silver
Heritage Chocolate
60% Cashew Butter & Fleur de Sel

Top Overall - Bronze
Gansett Craft Chocolate
Milk Chocolate Coffee

Best Dark - Gold
Embers Chocolate
74% Wild Harvest Bolivia

Best Dark - Silver
Makai Chocolate
70% Hamakua Coast Hawaii

Best Dark - Bronze
21 Degrees Estate
70% Kahalu'u Hawaii

Best Milk - Gold
Gansett Craft Chocolate
Milk Chocolate Coffee

Best Milk - Silver
Sweets Escalier
60% Chuao, Venezuela

Best Milk - Bronze
Encore Coffee Company
Cafe Mocha

Best White - Gold
Blue Spruce Chocolates
Not Quite White w/ Passion Fruit

Best White - Silver
Thor's Chocolate
Raspberry Cream

Best White - Bronze
Mellōw Chocolate
Coco Caramel

Best Inclusion - Gold
Heritage Chocolate
60% Cashew Butter & Fleur de Sel

Best Inclusion - Silver
Mellōw Chocolate
Cookie Double Oat

Best Inclusion - Bronze
KES
SHO

Black Sesame

Top Innovation
AWKI
Serenity

Top Innovation
Choco Forest
70% Smoked Dark Chocolate

Top Innovation
bean to bar chocolate NAGANO
60% Dark Milk Chocolate

2024 Judging Panel

Judge 1 Profile

Chocolate Maker/Chocolatier

Preferred Cuisine: Italian

Preferred Chocolate: Milk Chocolate

Preferred Beverages: Red Wine, Vodka, Not a beer drinker

 

Judge 2 Profile

Chocolate Journalist & Experienced Chocolate Judge 

Preferred Cuisine: Comida tipica y criolla (typical local wherever I am)

Preferred Chocolate: Unusual Flavorings and Inclusions

Preferred Beverages: Coffee & Fermented

 

Judge 3 Profile*

Chocolate Revewier

Preferred Cuisine: I've traveled and eaten great cuisine all over the world, and I love it all

Preferred Chocolate: Usually dark, but I am all in on any well-made chocolate

Preferred Beverages:  Yerba mate or flavored sparkling water

 

Judge 4 Profile

Chocolate Journalist

Preferred Cuisine: Thai

Preferred Chocolate: dark milk with sea salt.

Preferred Beverages: any full-bodied red wine

 

Judge 5 Profile

Chocolate Lover/Customer

Preferred Cuisine: Thai

Preferred Chocolate: 70% and higher Dark chocolate, Tanzanian

Preferred Beverages: Water

 

Judge 6 Profile

Chocolate Reviewer

Preferred Cuisine: Indian

Preferred Chocolate: Dark (in the 70% range) with sea salt

Preferred Beverages: Hot Chocolate, of course!

 

Judge 7 Profile

Chocolate Adventurer

Preferred cuisine: BBQ

Preferred Chocolate: Dark

Preferred Beverages: gin and tonic.  Dark German Beers

 

Judge 8 Profile

Chocolate Seeker

Preferred Cuisine: Cajun

Preferred Chocolate: Dark Chocolate

Preferred Beverages: Bourbon, Margaritas, some wines

 

Judge 9 Profile

Chocolate Educator/Writer

Preferred Cuisine: Mediterranean

Preferred Chocolate: 70-85% dark

Preferred Beverages: Herbal tea, strong decaf coffee & seltzer water

 

Judge 10 Profile

Chocolate enthusiast & reviewer

Preferred cuisine: French 

Preferred chocolate: complex earthy dark chocolate

Preferred beverages: herbal tea

 

Judge 11 Profile*

Former Chocolate Maker/Chef/Technical Writer

Preferred Cuisine: Italian

Preferred Chocolate: Fruity dark chocolate

Preferred Beverages: Tea, red wine, citrus juices

* Certified Chocolate Taster

2024 Sponsors

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