Hospitality Business Magazine

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

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.

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-TOBAR 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-TOBAR 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

A Currant Affair by Choco Loco

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

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.