Craft Chocolat Challenge
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
KESSHO
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