Auckland: After intense tasting New Zealand’s top chocolates have been named, with award- winners from Matakana to Queenstown.
Judging was held at The Fresh Factory, Auckland on Wednesday 12 September. The panel comprised of 15 of this country’s top food experts led by Head Judge, Elle Coco (Crocker) who assessed 135 New Zealand made chocolates.
Today the top chocolates have been named – many sharing the theme of being unique to New Zealand – using local ingredients such as Manuka honey or incorporating Kiwi favourites such as hokey pokey or Central Otago Pinot Noir.
The 48 medal winners consist of 15 Gold Medals, 17 Silver Medals and 16 Bronze Medals.
Gold Medal winners in the bean to bar section, chocolate makers who import cacao and make their own chocolate are:
- Hogarth Craft Chocolate, Buttered Toast & Sea Salt
- Hogarth Craft Chocolate, Manuka Honey & Cocoa Nib
- Hogarth Craft Chocolate, Sarsaparilla & Candied Orange
- OCHO Limited, 100% Cacao Solomons, Bean-to-bar Chocolate Bars, Dark Chocolate Bar
- OCHO Limited, 75% Cacao Fiji, Bean-to-bar Chocolate Bars, Dark Chocolate Bar
Other Gold Medal winners across all categories are:
- Honest Chocolat, Manuka Honey Chocolate Tablet
- House of Chocolate, Banana & Hokey Pokey organic Dark Chocolate Bar
- Choco Loco, A Currant Affair
- Devonport Chocolates, Hauraki Salted Caramel Chocolate
- House of Chocolate, Caramelised Hazelnut Gianduja Bonbon
- Schoc Chocolates, Blackberry and Vanilla
- Sublime Chocolates, Akarua Pinot Noir Bonbon
- The Chocolate Workshop, Passionfruit Bonbon
- She Universe, Decadent Date
- Hogarth, Hazelnut Spread
Head judge Elle Coco says “I’m thrilled to see the talent and craftsmanship of this year’s’ entrants, some of whom already have international recognition – and some who will no doubt gain such recognition in the future.
“With such a great array of entries it’s been a real challenge determining this year’s winners. But with a panel of expert judges across the food industry, we’ve achieved the mammoth task of determining the most inspiring and worthy winners for 2018!”
The judging panel members were; Luke Owen-Smith (owner of The Chocolate Bar, Wellington), Ganesh Khedekar (Pastry Chef and member of NZ Culinary Olympic Team 2016) , Shaun Tyagi (Head Chef, Harbourside Ocean Bar Grill), Trudi Nelson (Food writer and media personality), Sam Mannering (Head Chef and owner of the Homestead), Sarah Harrap (Pastry Chef, Criollo Chocolates and Desserts), Kathy Paterson (Food editor Bite magazine), Vicky Ravlich-Horan (chef and editor Nourish magazine) , Manesh Manthena (Pastry Chef, Harbourside Ocean Bar Grill) , Jasbir Kaur (President, NZ Chefs Auckland Branch), Ginny Grant (Senior food writer, Cuisine), Emma Rawson (Editor This NZ Life and passionate foodie), Anna King Shahab (food writer and judge), Lorna Subritzky (food enthusiast and media personality) and Kimberley Dixon (Editor, Hospitality Business).
Winners of the Best Packaging Awards and Best in Class Awards including the 2018 Supreme Champion will be announced on Thursday 4 October, ahead of the NZ Chocolate and Coffee Show at The Cloud in Auckland’s CBD on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 October.
The NZ Chocolate Awards would not be possible without the support of Fresh.co.nz, Intermedia NZ, Marvellous Marketing, Label & Litho, NZ Life & Leisure and Antipodes.
NZ CHOCOLATE AWARDS 2018 MEDAL WINNERS
— BEAN TO BAR —
Bean-to-bar Flavoured
GOLD MEDAL
Hogarth Craft Chocolate, Buttered Toast & Sea Salt
Hogarth Craft Chocolate, Manuka Honey & Cocoa Nib
Hogarth Craft Chocolate, Sarsaparilla & Candied Orange
SILVER MEDAL
Wellington Chocolate Factory, Coconut Milk Chocolate
BRONZE MEDAL
Wellington Chocolate Factory, ANZAC Bar
Bean-to-bar Chocolate Bars, Dark
GOLD MEDAL
OCHO Limited, 100% Cacao Solomons, Bean-to-bar Chocolate Bars, Dark Chocolate Bar
OCHO Limited, 75% Cacao Fiji, Bean-to-bar Chocolate Bars, Dark Chocolate Bar
SILVER MEDAL
Hogarth Craft Chocolate, Peru
Bean-to-bar Chocolate Bars, Milk
SILVER MEDAL
Chocolatier Mirams, 49% Samoan dark milk chocolate tablet
— FLAVOURED CHOCOLATE BARS —
GOLD MEDAL
Honest Chocolat, Manuka Honey Chocolate Tablet
House of Chocolate, Banana & Hokey Pokey organic Dark Chocolate Bar
SILVER MEDAL
The Remarkable Chocolate Co, 70% Dark Chocolate, Ginger and Salted Caramel
BRONZE MEDAL
Bennetts of Mangawahi, Plum Crumble
La Petite Chocolat, 56% Dark with Orange and Sesame
She Universe, Awaken Me, 58% Cacao, Caramelised Hazelnut, Cacao and Vanilla
Schoc Chocolates, NOEL
Trade Aid, SALT TOFFEE CRISP 70% Cocoa Dark Organic Chocolate
— FILLED CHOCOLATE —
GOLD MEDAL
Choco Loco, A Currant Affair
Devonport Chocolates, Hauraki Salted Caramel Chocolate
House of Chocolate, Caramelised Hazelnut Gianduja Bonbon
Schoc Chocolates, Blackberry and Vanilla
Sublime Chocolates, Akarua Pinot Noir Bon Bon
The Chocolate Workshop, Passionfruit Bonbon
SILVER MEDAL
Bennetts of Mangawhai, Sesame Caramel in Dark Chocolate
Bennetts of Mangawhai, Hazelnut Praline
Honest Chocolat, Espresso Martini Bonbon
Honest Chocolat and Batch 10, Honey Bourbon
Honest Chocolat, Raspberry and Pink Peppercorn Caramel
House of Chocolate, Bourbon Butterscotch Caramel Bonbon
House of Chocolate, Banoffee Bonbon
BRONZE MEDAL
Aroha Chocolate, Raspberry Truffle
Bennetts of Mangawhai, Vanilla Truffle
She Universe, Open Sesame
Vaniyé Patisserie, Praline Bar
— CHOCOLATE PRODUCTS INCLUDING BARK OR BRITTLE/DIPPED FRUIT & NUTS —
Bark or Brittle
SILVER MEDAL
The Remarkable Chocolate Company, Organic Dark Chocolate Bark with Roasted Almonds and Crispy Quinoa
The Remarkable Chocolate Company, Organic Dark Chocolate Bark with Marshmallow, Toasted Coconut and Raspberries
Dipped Fruit & Nuts
GOLD MEDAL
She Universe, Decadent Date
SILVER MEDAL
House of Chocolate, Caramelised Nut Dragées
BRONZE MEDAL
She Universe, Chocolate Rolled Cacao Bean
— DRINKING CHOCOLATE —
SILVER MEDAL
Weta Coffee Limited, Weta Hot Chocolate
BRONZE MEDAL
West Coast Cocoa, Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Trade Aid, Organic Drinking Chocolate
Vaniyé Patisserie, Caramelised Dark Hot Chocolate
— BEST NZ MADE PRODUCT USING CHOCOLATE —
GOLD MEDAL
Hogarth Craft Chocolate, Hazelnut Spread
SILVER MEDAL
She Universe, Chocolate Brownie of Chocolate Brownies
Apero Cambridge, Chocolate Hazelnut Spread
BRONZE MEDAL
Sweetie Pie, Chocolate Cake
Forty Thieves, Hazelnut Crunch with Organic Cocoa