A new Mahurangi chocolate maker has swept away the competition taking the top gong, a Category Winner title and multiple medals at this year’s New Zealand Chocolate Awards.
Foundry Chocolate was named NZ Chocolate Awards’ 2020 Supreme Winner for its Foundry Chocolate Anamalai Estate, India 70%. Foundry is also Category Winner with the same bar in the Bean-to-Bar – Chocolate Bar Plain Category. Their Supreme Award and the Category Winner titles were accompanied by seven Gold Medals and five Silver Medals.
Foundry Chocolate was established by chocolate maker David Herrick and his wife Janelle in September 2018. The pair focus on bean-to-bar chocolate making, using only two ingredients, single-origin cacao beans and organic sugar. Foundry specialises in dark chocolate, sourcing beans from the world’s most expressive cacao growing regions; Peru, Tanzania, Colombia, Papua New Guinea, Bolivia, Vanuatu, Mexico, India and Ecuador and crafting them to produce chocolate with distinctive flavours. https://foundrychocolate.co.nz/
Other Awards Category Winners are a range of favourite New Zealand chocolate makers and chocolatiers; Hogarth Chocolate, Wellington Chocolate Factory, Miann Chocolate Factory, Shirl & Moss, Schoc Chocolates, Devonport Chocolates, Baron Hasselhoff’s and She Universe. Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals winners were announced also showing New Zealand’s bourgeoning chocolate industry.
Organisers of the NZ Chocolate Awards were pleased to have judged 120 NZ-made chocolates on the first Saturday of March, in a pre-Covid-19 environment. Judging was by an esteemed panel of 10 food professionals lead by international chocolate judge Elle Coco. Coco has judged at the British Academy of Chocolate and the International Chocolate Awards, her move to Wellington enabled her to take on the role of head judge when the NZ Chocolate Awards were last held in 2018.
She said “It was wonderful to judge again and New Zealand should feel proud of the quality produced by their chocolate industry. The Awards this year gave us some fantastic entries from new and existing producers. Just like the last time we had some really unusual, true kiwiana flavours and inclusions which are innovative and exciting and show the local chocolate industry is evolving.”
“Tough times are ahead for everyone and the chocolate industry is no exception but they can get through with consumer support. Many chocolate makers have online ordering so now is a great time to get to know local chocolate makers albeit virtually. Be safe, be well, be happy and don’t forget to treat yourself to quality chocolate.”
NZ Chocolate Awards Co-Director, Kathie Bartley says she’s pleased to announce the winners before Easter. Traditionally Easter is the busiest time of year for sales for chocolate. So this year will be challenging. However, many of NZ Chocolate Awards winners have product for sale in supermarkets or via online sales.
“Easter 2020 will be different as we experience it in our ‘bubbles’. However, we wanted to ensure kiwis were aware of all our local award-winning chocolate makers, so that where possible people can enjoy their chocolate in their homes this Easter.
Like so many New Zealand businesses, our small chocolate producers are doing it tough at the moment. We’re pleased we can provide some small amount of relief by celebrating their amazing dedication to making delicious chocolate products for kiwis to enjoy, ” she said.
The NZ Chocolate Awards 2020 judging panel was; Luke Owen Smith (owner of The Chocolate Bar in Wellington and regular judge), Arno Sturny (senior lecturer at AUT School of Hospitality & Tourism teaching the diploma in patisserie who has a Master of Gastronomy specialising in the history of New Zealand chocolate), Juan Balsani (Head Chef at Auckland’s Baduzzi), Ganesh Khedekar (head Pastry Chef at pastry chef at LSG Sky Chef), Jasbir Kaur (tutor at Ignite Colleges and accomplished international food judge),Tamara Rubanowski (Head of Content at FMCG Business and experienced industry awards judge), Helen Jackson (food writer and self-confessed chocoholic), Fiona Smith (food writer and experienced food judge who was Head Judge of the Cuisine Artisan Awards for a decade), and Ginny Grant (food writer and regular restaurant and food judge).
The Category Winners are listed below. For a full list of NZ Chocolate Awards 2020 Medal Winners visit https://nzchocolateawards.co.nz/
NZ CHOCOLATE AWARDS 2020 SUPREME WINNER
Foundry Chocolate Anamalai Estate, India 70%
NZ CHOCOLATE AWARDS CATEGORY WINNERS
Bean-to-Bar – Chocolate Bar Plain Category Winner
Foundry Chocolate Anamalai Estate, India 70%
Bean-to Bar – Chocolate Bar with Flavours and/or Inclusions: Joint Category Winners
Hogarth Chocolate Maple & Walnut
Wellington Chocolate Factory Raspberry Milk Chocolate Bar
Flavoured Chocolate Bar Category Winner
Schoc Chocolates Fennel
Best Filled Chocolate Category Winner
Devonport Chocolates Feijoa Honey Bonbon
Bark or Brittle/Dipped Fruit and Nut Category Winner
Baron Hasselhoff’s Pirate Mary-Rosemary Infused Salted Caramel
Open Class Easter Category Winner
Miann Chocolate Factory Half Dozen Eggs
Open Class Drinking Chocolate Category Winner
She Universe Hot Chocolate Orblets Mayan Chilli
