Newcomers take top filled chocolate honours at this year's Academy awards

Organisers said producers La Carambole Patisserie (Netherlands), La Fève by Pavel Pavlov (Norway, with the chocolatier from Sofia, Bulgaria), Realm of Cream (UK, but Hungarian origin) have achieved golds for the first time.

The newcomers appear alongside familiar producers such as Cōchu Chocolatier from Canada who achieved a Gold, Chocolat Grace and Valenza Chocolatier from the United States with silvers and bronzes, and Eponine and Lauden from the North of England.

A UK newcomer, Niblette from Uxbridge, also achieved a clutch of silver accolades, organizers announced.

This year’s flavours spanned the globe, with golds and silvers going to Plum Pálinka, Cucidati and Sea Buckthorn, as well as exotic Sudachi, Hojicha, Sancho pepper, Kheer and Chai Masala.

Sara Jayne Stanes, chair of the Academy, said: “It is incredibly pleasing to see the breadth of winners this year. The primary aim of these awards are to recognise brilliant producers and chocolatiers from across the world, encouraging more to bring their products to the wider market and to show consumers what beautifully made chocolates are all about​.

“Our newcomers this year are testament to the widening appreciation of fine chocolate across so many new countries and regions​.”

Formed in 2005, The Academy of Chocolate is an independent membership body that promotes real chocolate and includes Angus Thirlwell, co-founder and chief executive at Hotel Chocolat as one of its members.

Stanes said the awards were judged prior to the escalation of COVID-19 measures taken in the UK and future judging of the other categories has been postponed until further notice. “We keenly look forward to the day we can start judging the remaining entries​.”

• A full list of awards can be found on academyofchocolate.org.uk​​